Old English

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Etymology 1

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From Proto-West Germanic *wakēn.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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wacian

  1. to be/stay awake
    Wacast þū?
    Are you awake?
    wacode ealle þā hwīle þe þū āgān wǣre.
    I stayed awake the whole time you were gone.
    • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Decollation of St. John the Baptist"
      Ġif wē tō lange waciaþ, wē āteoriaþ.
      If we stay awake for too long, we faint.
    • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 14:37
      Þā cōm hē and fand hīe slǣpende, and cwæþ tō Petre, "Simon, slǣpst þū? Ne meahtest þū āne tīde wacian?"
      Then he came and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?"
  2. to keep watch, be on guard
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Basilus, Bishop"
      Uton belucan þas circan and loc geinseglian and ġe ealle siðþan waciað þreo niht wuniġende on gebedum and...
      Let us lock up this church, and seal the lock and do ye all afterward watch three nights, continuing in prayer and...'
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Descendants
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  • Middle English: wakien

Etymology 2

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From wāc +‎ -ian.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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wācian

  1. to become weakened or tired; to weaken
  2. to calm; to lose one's bravery
  3. to lose one's riches; to end up in poverty
Conjugation
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Descendants
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