besprecan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *bisprekaną, equivalent to be- +‎ sprecan. Cognate with Old Saxon bisprekan, Old High German bisprehhan, Old Frisian bispreka.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈspre.kɑn/

Verb

besprecan

1. to speak about; bespeak, mention
2. to speak to, tell, plead, speak against
3. to complain, charge, accuse; beguilt, speak ill of

Conjugation

Conjugation of besprecan (strong class 5)

infinitive	besprecan	besprecenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	besprece	bespræc
second person singular	bespricst	besprǣce
third person singular	bespricþ	bespræc
plural	besprecaþ	besprǣcon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	besprece	besprǣce
plural	besprecen	besprǣcen
imperative
singular	besprec
plural	besprecaþ
participle	present	past
	besprecende	besprecen

Descendants

• Middle English: bespeken, bispeken
  • English: bespeak

References

• Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “besprecan”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[1], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.