axen

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æksən

Noun

axen

1. (UK dialectal) plural of ash

Anagrams

• Xena, anex

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English ācsian, āxian, metathetic forms of āscian, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn.

Alternative forms

• axien, asken, askien, aschen, aishen, axe, axse, aske, asshe, asche, aski, eskien, eschen, easki, eski, ix, oxien, oxen, axie, axsy, asse, asskenn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaksən/, /ˈaskən/, /ˈaʃən/, /ˈɛ-/, /ˈi-/, /ˈɔː-/

Verb

axen

2. (intransitive, transitive, ditransitive) To ask, enquire or question:
   • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[1], published c. 1410, Matheu 7:7-8, page 3v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

     Axe ȝe .· ⁊ it ſchal be ȝouun to ȝou / ſeke ȝe .· ⁊ ȝe ſchulen fynde / knocke ȝe .· ⁊ it ſchal be opened to ȝou / foꝛ ech that axiþ .· takiþ / and he that ſekiþ .· fyndiþ / and it ſchal be openyde to hym .· that knockiþ

     Ask, and you'll receive it; look, and you'll find; knock, and it'll be opened for you. / Because anyone who asks takes, someone that looks finds, and that'll be opened to them that knocks.

   1. To formulate or proffer a question or query.
   2. To ask for a response (to a question or query).
   3. To request knowledge or information.
      • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[2], published c. 1410, Coꝛinthis ·i· 14:35, page 66v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

        but if þei wolen ony þing lerne .· at hoom axe þei her hoſebondis / foꝛ it is foule þing to a womman .· to ſpeke in chirche

        But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home, because it's a revolting thing for a woman to speak in church.

   4. To ask for a favour or reward; to supplicate.
   5. To pray for something; to supplicate a divinity.
3. (transitive) To look for something; to attempt to find something:
   1. To search for an object, place, or person.
   2. To search for recommendations or information.
4. (transitive, intransitive, ditransitive) To want or require (something or someone).
5. (transitive, intransitive, ditransitive) To command or require (someone to do something).
6. (transitive) To trial or examine (something)
7. (rare, transitive, intransitive) To acquire knowledge through examination.
8. (rare, transitive) To endeavour to do (something).
9. (rare, transitive) To aim to visit a location.
10. (rare, transitive) To have a tendency towards a certain way or direction.

Conjugation

Conjugation of axen (weak in -ed/-te)

infinitive	(to) axen, axe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	axe	axed, axte
2nd-person singular	axest	axedest, axtest
3rd-person singular	axeth	axed, axte
subjunctive singular	axe
imperative singular		—
plural1	axen, axe	axeden, axede, axten, axte
imperative plural	axeth, axe	—
participles	axynge, axende	axed, axt

¹Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• asker
• askynge

Descendants

• English: ask (dialectal ax, axe, aks)
• Scots: ask, as, ax
• Yola: ishe

References

• “asken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

Adjective

axen

1. Alternative form of asshen (“ash-coloured”)

Swedish

Noun

axen

1. definite plural of ax