brucan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *brūkan (“to enjoy, use”).

Cognates

Cognate with Old Frisian brūka, Old Saxon brūkan, Old Dutch *brūkan, Old High German brūhhan, Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (brukjan). The Indo-European root was also the source of Latin fruor (“enjoy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbruː.kɑn/

Verb

brūcan (+ genitive)

1. to use
2. to enjoy
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     Uton nū brūcan þisses undernmetes swā þā sċulon þe heora ǣfenġifl on helle ġefeċċan sċulon.

     Now let's enjoy this breakfast as comrades who must fetch their dinner in hell.

3. to harness, take advantage of, employ, exploit

Conjugation

Conjugation of brūcan (strong class 2)

infinitive	brūcan	brūcenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	brūce	brēac
second person singular	brȳcst	bruce
third person singular	brȳcþ	brēac
plural	brūcaþ	brucon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	brūce	bruce
plural	brūcen	brucen
imperative
singular	brūc
plural	brūcaþ
participle	present	past
	brūcende	(ġe)brocen

Synonyms

• nēotan
• notian
• nyttian

Derived terms

• brūcing
• ġebrūcan
• þurhbrūcan

Descendants

• Middle English: brouken
  • English: brook
  • Scots: brook, brouk