mancynn
Old English
editEtymology
editFrom Proto-Germanic *manakunją. Cognate with Old Saxon mankunni, Old High German mancunni, and Old Norse mannkyn. Equivalent to mann (“human”) + cynn (“race”). Compare ielfcynn (“elfkind”) and entcynn (“giant-kind”), which are formed similarly.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editmancynn n
Usage notes
edit- The phrase þæt mennisċe cynn (“the human race”) also occurs on occasion: hē siþþan tō helle ġefōr and þæt mennisċe cynn ālīesde (“he descended to hell and set the human race free”).
- Manncynn means humanity as in mankind. Humanity as in "the state of being human" is mennisċnes, humanity as in "humaneness" is mennisċlīcnes.
- "Mankind" in the gendered sense, i.e. "men as a group," is wǣpnedcynn. Compare wīfcynn (“womankind”).
Declension
editDeclension of mancynn (strong a-stem)
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
nominative | mancynn | — |
accusative | mancynn | — |
genitive | mancynnes | — |
dative | mancynne | — |