wacian

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *wakjaną, whence also Old High German wahhēn, Old Norse vaka. Doublet of wæċċan (essentially the same word, perhaps a Northumbrian form), which led to modern English watch.

Alternative forms

• ƿacian — wynn spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑ.ki.ɑn/

Verb

wacian

1. to be/stay awake
   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 14:37

     Þā cōm hē and fand hīe slāpende, and cwæþ tō Petre, "Simon, slǣpst þū? Ne meahtest þū āne tīde wacian?"

     Then he came and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?"

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Decollation of St. John the Baptist"

     Ġif wē tō lange waciaþ, wē āteoriaþ.

     If we stay awake too long, we faint.

2. to keep watch, be on guard

Conjugation

Conjugation of wacian (weak class 2)

infinitive	wacian	wacienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	waciġe	wacode
second person singular	wacast	wacodest
third person singular	wacaþ	wacode
plural	waciaþ	wacodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	waciġe	wacode
plural	waciġen	wacoden
imperative
singular	waca
plural	waciaþ
participle	present	past
	waciende	(ġe)wacod

Synonyms

• wæċċan

Derived terms

• bewacian

Related terms

• wacan

Descendants

• Middle English: wakien
  • English: wake

Etymology 2

From wāc +‎ -ian.

Alternative forms

• ƿācian — wynn spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑː.ki.ɑn/

Verb

wācian

1. to become weakened or tired; to weaken
2. to calm; to lose one's bravery
3. to lose one's riches; to end up in poverty

Conjugation

Conjugation of wācian (weak class 2)

infinitive	wācian	wācienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	wāciġe	wācode
second person singular	wācast	wācodest
third person singular	wācaþ	wācode
plural	wāciaþ	wācodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	wāciġe	wācode
plural	wāciġen	wācoden
imperative
singular	wāca
plural	wāciaþ
participle	present	past
	wāciende	(ġe)wācod

Synonyms

• wǣcan

Related terms

• wāc

Descendants

• Middle English: woken