swigian

Old English

Alternative forms

• swigian, sweogian, sweowian, swugian, swuwian, sugian, suwian
• sƿīgian — wynn spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swīgōną, later variant of *swīgijaną. Cognate with Old Saxon swīgon (Middle Dutch swīghen, Dutch zwijgen), Old High German swīgēn (German schweigen), apparently from Proto-Indo-European *swīk- or *swīg- (possibly also in Greek σιγή (sigḗ)), which would most likely represent an extension of the root *swī "to dwindle; cease" (whence Old High German swintan (“dwindle, fade”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswiː.ɡi.ɑn/, [ˈswiː.ɣi.ɑn]

Verb

swīgian

1. to be silent

Conjugation

Conjugation of swīgian (weak class 2)

infinitive	swīgian	swīgienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	swīgiġe	swīgode
second person singular	swīgast	swīgodest
third person singular	swīgaþ	swīgode
plural	swīgiaþ	swīgodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	swīgiġe	swīgode
plural	swīgiġen	swīgoden
imperative
singular	swīga
plural	swīgiaþ
participle	present	past
	swīgiende	(ġe)swīgod

Related terms

• swīgan

Descendants

• Middle English: swīen