Old English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-West Germanic *swīgēn.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈswiː.ɡi.ɑn/, [ˈswiː.ɣi.ɑn]

Verb edit

swīgian

  1. to be silent (+ genitive = about something)
    swīgode, and spræc þā forþ.
    He paused, and then kept talking.
    • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care
      Sē wīsa swīgaþ oþ hē onġiett þæt him biþ nytre tō sprecenne.
      Wise people stay quiet until they recognize it's more useful for them to talk.
    • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care
      Hīe man sċeal ēac lǣran þæt hīe hwīlum swīgiġen þæs sōðes, for þām swā swā sēo lēasung simle dereþ þām seċġendan, swā dereþ ēac hwīlum sumum mannum þæt sōþ tō ġehīerenne.
      They should also be taught to withhold the truth sometimes, because just as a lie always harms the speaker, it can also hurt some people to hear the truth.

Conjugation edit

Descendants edit

  • Middle English: swīen