tharen

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English þurfan, from Proto-Germanic *þurbaną. The vocalism in -a- is due to leveling from the present singular forms, while the loss of -f/-v- is probably due to simplification of the consonant cluster in forms like thurfte → thurte, which then analogically spread to forms lacking a cluster.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθaːrən/, /ˈθarən/

Verb

tharen

1. (auxiliary) To need to, to be required to
2. To need, to require, to necessitate.
3. (auxiliary) To have to, to be obligated to, to ought to
4. (auxiliary) To be capable of, to be willing to

Usage notes

This verb is frequently conflated with durren due to its similarity with that verb.

Conjugation

Conjugation of tharen (preterite-present, defective)

infinitive	—
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	thar, tharf	thurte, thurfte
2nd-person singular	tharst	thurtest, thurftest
3rd-person singular	thar, tharf	thurte, thurfte
subjunctive singular	thare, thurve
imperative singular	—	—
plural1	tharen, thare, thurven, thurve	thurten, thurte, thurften, thurfte
imperative plural	—	—
participles	—	—

¹Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: thair (dialectal)
• Scots: thair

References

• “thurven, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-25.

Etymology 2

Pronoun

tharen

1. Alternative form of þeiren