smierwan

Old English

The spelling of this entry has been normalized according to the principles established by Wiktionary's editor community or recent spelling standards of the language.

Alternative forms

• smerian, smirian, smerwan, smirwan, smyrian

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *smirwijan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsmi͜yr.wɑn/, [ˈsmi͜yrˠ.wɑn]

Verb

smierwan (Early West Saxon)

1. to smear, anoint
   • 10th century, DOMINICA SEXTA IN QUADRAGESIMA [1]

     Cwæþ sē wrītere þæt Maria genōme ān pund deorwyrþre smyrenesse, & smyrede mid þæs Hǣlendes fēt, & mid hire loccum dregde

     The author said that Mary took one pound of precious oils and anointed with them the Savior's feet, and then dried them with locks [of her hair].

   • Mid-10th century, Bald's Leechbook, Royal 12 D. xvii, fol. 72 b.

     Þā men þū sċealt smerwan mid þȳ ele þe mon wermōd on sēoðe.

     You must smear them with the oil that is boiled in wormwood.

Conjugation

Conjugation of smierwan (weak class 1)

infinitive	smierwan	smierwenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	smierwe	smierede
second person singular	smierest	smieredest
third person singular	smiereþ	smierede
plural	smierwaþ	smieredon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	smierwe	smierede
plural	smierwen	smiereden
imperative
singular	smiere
plural	smierwaþ
participle	present	past
	smierwende	(ġe)smierwed, (ġe)smiered

Derived terms

• smierwung
• smireness