ascian

English

Etymology

From Latin ascius (“without shadow”), from Ancient Greek ἄσκιος (áskios, “without shadow”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + σκιά (skiá, “shadow”).

Noun

ascian (plural ascians or ascii)

1. person or thing without a shadow
2. person or thing found close to the Equator

Further reading

“ascian”, in Collins English Dictionary.

Anagrams

• Scania

Old English

Alternative forms

• ācsian, āxian, acsiġan, æscian, æxian, axian, axiġan, axiġean, āhsian, ahsian

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑːs.ki.ɑn/

Verb

āscian

1. to ask (+ genitive a question) (+ accusative a person) (+ genitive about something)
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy:

     Ac ānes þinges iċ þē wolde ǣrest āscian.

     But I wanted to ask you one thing first.

   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History:

     “Mīn fæder, mōt iċ þē āwihtes āscian?” Cwæþ hē, “Āsca þæs þe þū wille.”

     “My father, can I ask you something?”
     He said, “Ask whatever you want.”

2. to demand
3. to learn about by asking

Usage notes

• The word meaning to ask for something is biddan.

Conjugation

Conjugation of āscian (weak class 2)

infinitive	āscian	āscienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	āsciġe	āscode
second person singular	āscast	āscodest
third person singular	āscaþ	āscode
plural	āsciaþ	āscodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	āsciġe	āscode
plural	āsciġen	āscoden
imperative
singular	āsca
plural	āsciaþ
participle	present	past
	āsciende	(ġe)āscod

Synonyms

• friġnan

Derived terms

• āscung
• ġeāscian

Descendants

• Middle English: askien, axen, aschen, eskien, eschen, aishen
  • English: ask, aks, ax
    • Sranan Tongo: aksi
  • Scots: ask, as, ax