sweltan

Old English

Alternative forms

• swealtan, swiltan
• sƿeltan — wynn spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *sweltaną. Cognate with Old Saxon sweltan, Old Dutch *sweltan, Old High German swelzan, Old Norse svelta, Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌹𐌻𐍄𐌰𐌽 (swiltan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswel.tɑn/, [ˈsweɫ.tɑn]

Verb

sweltan

1. to die

   Mē is lēofre þæt iċ on mīnum fōtum swelte þonne iċ on mīnum cnēowum libbe.

   I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.

Conjugation

Conjugation of sweltan (strong class 3)

infinitive	sweltan	sweltenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	swelte	swealt
second person singular	swilst, swiltst	swulte
third person singular	swilt	swealt
plural	sweltaþ	swulton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	swelte	swulte
plural	swelten	swulten
imperative
singular	swelt
plural	sweltaþ
participle	present	past
	sweltende	(ġe)swolten

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:ang:sweltan.

Descendants

• Middle English: swelten
  • English: swelt

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Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *sweltaną, whence also Old English sweltan, modern Dutch zwelten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsweltɑn/

Verb

sweltan

1. to die

   gisāhun iro barn qualmu sueltan — they saw their child die (Heliand, verse 750)

Conjugation

Conjugation of sweltan (strong class 3)

infinitive	sweltan
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	swiltu	swalt
2nd person singular	swiltis	swulti
3rd person singular	swiltid	swalt
plural	sweltad	swultun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	swelte	swulti
2nd person singular	sweltes	swultis
3rd person singular	swelte	swulti
plural	swelten	swultin
imperative	present
singular	swelt
plural	sweltad
participle	present	past
	swiltandi	giswoltan, swoltan