sterven

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sterven, from Old Dutch stervan, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną, itself either from Proto-Indo-European *(s)terp- (“to lose force; lose sensibility, become numb; be dead, be motionless”) or from *sterbʰ- (“to be stiff, become stiff”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɛrvə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ster‧ven
• Rhymes: -ɛrvən

Verb

sterven

1. to die

Conjugation

Conjugation of sterven (strong class 3+7)
infinitive	sterven
past singular	stierf
past participle	gestorven
infinitive	sterven
gerund	sterven n
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	sterf	stierf
2nd person sing. (jij)	sterft, sterf2	stierf
2nd person sing. (u)	sterft	stierf
2nd person sing. (gij)	sterft	stierft
3rd person singular	sterft	stierf
plural	sterven	stierven
subjunctive sing.1	sterve	stierve
subjunctive plur.1	sterven	stierven
imperative sing.	sterf
imperative plur.1	sterft
participles	stervend	gestorven
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Synonyms

• doodgaan
• heengaan
• ontslapen
• overlijden

Derived terms

adjectives

• sterfelijk

nouns

• sterfbed
• sterfdag
• sterfhuis
• sterfjaar
• sterveling

verbs

• aansterven
• afsterven
• besterven
• heensterven
• insterven
• leegsterven
• ontsterven
• opsterven
• uitsterven
• versterven
• voorsterven
• voortsterven
• wegsterven

Descendants

• Afrikaans: sterf, sterwe
• Jersey Dutch: stêrve
• Negerhollands: sterv

Anagrams

• streven, venster, venters

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch stervan, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstervən/

Verb

sterven

1. to die

Inflection

Conjugation of sterven (strong class 3)

infinitive	base form	sterven
	genitive	stervens
	dative	stervene
		indicative			subjunctive
		present	past		present	past
1st person singular		sterve	starf		sterve	storve
2nd person singular		sterfs, sterves	storfs, storves		sterfs, sterves	storves
3rd person singular		sterft, stervet	starf		sterve	storve
1st person plural		sterven	storven		sterven	storven
2nd person plural		sterft, stervet	storft, storvet		sterft, stervet	storvet
3rd person plural		sterven	storven		sterven	storven
		imperative
singular		sterf, sterve
plural		sterft, stervet
		present	past
participle		stervende	gestorven

Descendants

• Dutch: sterven
  • Afrikaans: sterf, sterwe
• Limburgish: stèrve

Further reading

• “sterven (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “sterven”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sterve

Etymology

From Old English steorfan, from Proto-West Germanic *sterban, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɛrvən/
• Rhymes: -ɛrvən

Verb

sterven

1. To die or perish.
2. To perish from cold or hunger; to starve.

Conjugation

Conjugation of sterven (strong class 3)

infinitive	(to) sterven, sterve
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	sterve	starf
2nd-person singular	stervest	storve, sturve, starf
3rd-person singular	sterveth	starf
subjunctive singular	sterve	storve1, sturve1
imperative singular		—
plural2	sterven, sterve	storven, storve, sturven, sturve
imperative plural	sterveth, sterve	—
participles	stervynge, stervende	storven, storve, ystorven, ystorve

¹ Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
² Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: starve, sterve
• Scots: sterve

References

• “sterven” in Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary: Based on Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 7th edition, Springfield, Mass.: G[eorge] & C[harles] Merriam, 1963 (1967 printing), →OCLC.