hwelpian

Old English

Etymology

Composed of hwelp +‎ -ian. Compare Middle English chīlden (already attested c. 1175 in the Ormulum).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxwel.pi.ɑn/, [ˈʍeɫ.pi.ɑn]

Verb

hwelpian

1. to give birth (of some animals)

   Sē lēohwelp, þonne hē ġehwelpod biþ, slǣpþ þrī dagas.

   After a lion cub is born, it sleeps for three days.

   Sēo wylfen hwelpaþ swā fela hwelpa swā sēo biċċe dēþ.

   Wolves give birth to as many pups as dogs do.

   Otras hwelpiaþ on heora holum þe hīe under trēowum dulfon nēah ēam. Æfter ānum mōnaþ mæġ sē otorhwelp þæt hol forlǣtan, and æfter twām mōnaþum hē mæġ swimman.

   Otters give birth in dens that they've dug under trees located near rivers. After a month, an otter pup can leave the den; after two months, it can swim.

Conjugation

Conjugation of hwelpian (weak class 2)

infinitive	hwelpian	hwelpienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	hwelpiġe	hwelpode
second person singular	hwelpast	hwelpodest
third person singular	hwelpaþ	hwelpode
plural	hwelpiaþ	hwelpodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	hwelpiġe	hwelpode
plural	hwelpiġen	hwelpoden
imperative
singular	hwelpa
plural	hwelpiaþ
participle	present	past
	hwelpiende	(ġe)hwelpod

Descendants

• Middle English: whelpen
  • English: whelp