scyan

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Old English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *skiuhijan (to put to flight, startle, frighten), from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz (shy). Cognate with Old English sċyhhan, Old High German *scūhen attested in scūhenti. Compare Middle Low German schü̂wen, schûwen, schûen (to fear, shun, avoid), Middle High German schiuhen, schiuwen, schūen, schūhen (to fear, scare, frighten).

Possibly related to Old English sċyndan from Proto-Germanic *skundijaną from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewt- (to shake, rattle). It may be backformed in the present tense from the alternative form scȳhtan (scȳhte in the preterite), from Proto-Germanic *skūhtijaną, either Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewt- (to shake, rattle), or from the from an unattested Proto-Germanic *skūhtiz (see tyht and tyhtan for a similar pattern).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

sċȳan

  1. to prompt, urge
    Ða ǣrestan synne se weriga gāst sċȳde
    The weary spirit urged the first sins
    Forðon mid ðȳ se weriga gāst ða synne sċȳþ on mōde
    Because by this the weary spirit urges those sins
  2. to persuade, suggest
    Wē getǣceþ ł sċȳaþ him
    We teach / suggest to him
    Ōðer him ðās eorþan ealle sægde lǣne... Ōðer hine sċyhte ðæt hē sceaðena gemōt nihtes sōhte
    Some said to him the entire world to be transitory... others persuaded him that he sought a meeting of criminals at night
  3. to sky, be afraid, flee

Conjugation

[edit]

Synonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]
  • sċȳnnes (suggestion, persuasion, incitement)