"be" meaning in Middle English

See be in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /beː/, /bøː/ (note: West Midland) Forms: ben [plural], bes [plural], bee [alternative], bey [alternative], beo [alternative]
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰey-der. Proto-Germanic *bijǭ Proto-West Germanic *bijā Old English bēo Middle English be Inherited from Old English bēo, from Proto-West Germanic *bijā, from Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”). Etymology templates: {{etymon|enm|:inh|ang:bēo<id:bee>|id=bee|tree=1}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰey-der. Proto-Germanic *bijǭ Proto-West Germanic *bijā Old English bēo Middle English be [Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*bʰey-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*bijǭ", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*bijā", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "bēo", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "be", "lang" : "enm" }" data-id="bee" data-lang="enm" data-title="be" id="Middle_English:_bee">, {{yesno||i|I}} I, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|bēo|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=bee|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English bēo, {{inh+|enm|ang|bēo|id=bee}} Inherited from Old English bēo, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*bijā}} Proto-West Germanic *bijā, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*bijō|t=bee}} Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”), {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*bʰey-|t=bee}} Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”) Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} be, {{enm-noun|ben|pl2=bes}} be (plural ben or bes)
  1. A bee (insect that collects pollen)
    Sense id: en-be-enm-noun-2V~QQktn Categories (other): Middle English entries with etymology trees, Bees Disambiguation of Bees: 23 0 35 38 2 2
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Verb

Head templates: {{head|enm|verb|altform=1}} be
  1. alternative form of been Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: been
    Sense id: en-be-enm-verb-FOkUNFaH
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Verb

Etymology: From Old English bēo, bēom, first-person singular of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *biumi, first-person singular of *beuną. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|bēo}} Old English bēo, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*biumi}} Proto-Germanic *biumi Head templates: {{head|enm|verb form}} be
  1. first-person singular present indicative of been Tags: first-person, form-of, indicative, present, singular Form of: been
    Sense id: en-be-enm-verb-VdVCu3Ba Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Bees Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 4 4 36 39 10 7 Disambiguation of Bees: 23 0 35 38 2 2
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 3

Verb

Etymology: From Old English bēo, singular subjunctive of bēon. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|bēo}} Old English bēo Head templates: {{head|enm|verb form}} be
  1. singular present subjunctive of been Tags: form-of, present, singular, subjunctive Form of: been
    Sense id: en-be-enm-verb-clhT8yne Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Bees Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 4 4 36 39 10 7 Disambiguation of Bees: 23 0 35 38 2 2
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 4

Verb

Etymology: From Old English bēo, 2nd-person singular imperative of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *beu, 2nd-person singular imperative of *beuną. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|bēo}} Old English bēo, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*beu}} Proto-Germanic *beu Head templates: {{head|enm|verb form}} be
  1. singular imperative of been Tags: form-of, imperative, singular Form of: been
    Sense id: en-be-enm-verb-oLqrIWSB
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 5

Verb

Forms: been [alternative]
Etymology: Old English bēoþ (with the -þ replaced with an -n levelled in from the past and subjunctive, then lost), present plural of bēon (“to be”), from Proto-Germanic *biunþi, third-person present plural of *beuną (“to be, become”). Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|bēoþ}} Old English bēoþ, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*biunþi}} Proto-Germanic *biunþi Head templates: {{head|enm|verb form}} be
  1. plural present of been Tags: form-of, plural, present Form of: been
    Sense id: en-be-enm-verb-LB7Z2iy8
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 6

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Tok Pisin",
          "lang_code": "tpi",
          "word": "bi"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "bee"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "bee"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "bie"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ],
      "word": "been"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:bēo<id:bee>",
        "id": "bee",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰey-der.\nProto-Germanic *bijǭ\nProto-West Germanic *bijā\nOld English bēo\nMiddle English be\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*bʰey-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bijǭ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bijā\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"bēo\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"be\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"bee\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"be\" id=\"Middle_English:_bee\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "bee",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo",
        "id": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*bijā"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *bijā",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*bijō",
        "t": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*bʰey-",
        "t": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”)",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰey-der.\nProto-Germanic *bijǭ\nProto-West Germanic *bijā\nOld English bēo\nMiddle English be\nInherited from Old English bēo, from Proto-West Germanic *bijā, from Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "ben",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bee",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bey",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beo",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ben",
        "pl2": "bes"
      },
      "expansion": "be (plural ben or bes)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 0 35 38 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Bees",
          "orig": "enm:Bees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              16
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              10,
              14
            ]
          ],
          "english": "Just like bees swarm from a hive / Out of the devil's arse there were driven / Twenty thousand friars on a rout / And throughout Hell they swarmed all about […]",
          "ref": "1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Somnours Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 79, recto:",
          "text": "Right ſo as bees / out swarmen from an hyue / Out of the deueles ers / ther gonne dryue / Twenty thouſand freres / on a route / And thurgh oute helle / swarmeden aboute […]",
          "translation": "Just like bees swarm from a hive / Out of the devil's arse there were driven / Twenty thousand friars on a rout / And throughout Hell they swarmed all about […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A bee (insect that collects pollen)"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-noun-2V~QQktn",
      "links": [
        [
          "bee",
          "bee#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/beː/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/bøː/",
      "note": "West Midland"
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "alternative form of been"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-verb-FOkUNFaH",
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "3",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*biumi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *biumi",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, bēom, first-person singular of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *biumi, first-person singular of *beuną.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 4 36 39 10 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 0 35 38 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Bees",
          "orig": "enm:Bees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "first-person singular present indicative of been"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-verb-VdVCu3Ba",
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "form-of",
        "indicative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "4",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, singular subjunctive of bēon.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 4 36 39 10 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 0 35 38 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Bees",
          "orig": "enm:Bees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "singular present subjunctive of been"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-verb-clhT8yne",
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "5",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*beu"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *beu",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, 2nd-person singular imperative of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *beu, 2nd-person singular imperative of *beuną.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "singular imperative of been"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-verb-oLqrIWSB",
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "imperative",
        "singular"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "6",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēoþ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēoþ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*biunþi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *biunþi",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Old English bēoþ (with the -þ replaced with an -n levelled in from the past and subjunctive, then lost), present plural of bēon (“to be”), from Proto-Germanic *biunþi, third-person present plural of *beuną (“to be, become”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "been",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "plural present of been"
      ],
      "id": "en-be-enm-verb-LB7Z2iy8",
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with etymology trees",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰey-",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Tok Pisin",
          "lang_code": "tpi",
          "word": "bi"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "bee"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "bee"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "bee"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "bie"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ],
      "word": "been"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:bēo<id:bee>",
        "id": "bee",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰey-der.\nProto-Germanic *bijǭ\nProto-West Germanic *bijā\nOld English bēo\nMiddle English be\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*bʰey-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bijǭ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bijā\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"bēo\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"be\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"bee\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"be\" id=\"Middle_English:_bee\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "bee",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo",
        "id": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*bijā"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *bijā",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*bijō",
        "t": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*bʰey-",
        "t": "bee"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”)",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰey-der.\nProto-Germanic *bijǭ\nProto-West Germanic *bijā\nOld English bēo\nMiddle English be\nInherited from Old English bēo, from Proto-West Germanic *bijā, from Proto-Germanic *bijō (“bee”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (“bee”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "ben",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bee",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bey",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beo",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ben",
        "pl2": "bes"
      },
      "expansion": "be (plural ben or bes)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              16
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              10,
              14
            ]
          ],
          "english": "Just like bees swarm from a hive / Out of the devil's arse there were driven / Twenty thousand friars on a rout / And throughout Hell they swarmed all about […]",
          "ref": "1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Somnours Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 79, recto:",
          "text": "Right ſo as bees / out swarmen from an hyue / Out of the deueles ers / ther gonne dryue / Twenty thouſand freres / on a route / And thurgh oute helle / swarmeden aboute […]",
          "translation": "Just like bees swarm from a hive / Out of the devil's arse there were driven / Twenty thousand friars on a rout / And throughout Hell they swarmed all about […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A bee (insect that collects pollen)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "bee",
          "bee#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/beː/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/bøː/",
      "note": "West Midland"
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "alternative form of been"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "etymology_number": "3",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*biumi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *biumi",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, bēom, first-person singular of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *biumi, first-person singular of *beuną.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English first-person singular forms"
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "first-person singular present indicative of been"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "form-of",
        "indicative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "4",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, singular subjunctive of bēon.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English singular subjunctive forms"
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "singular present subjunctive of been"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "5",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēo"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēo",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*beu"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *beu",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English bēo, 2nd-person singular imperative of bēon, from Proto-Germanic *beu, 2nd-person singular imperative of *beuną.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English singular imperative forms"
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "singular imperative of been"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "imperative",
        "singular"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English non-lemma forms",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English verb forms",
    "Middle English weak nouns",
    "Pages with 63 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bees"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "be"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "be"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "6",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "bēoþ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēoþ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*biunþi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *biunþi",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Old English bēoþ (with the -þ replaced with an -n levelled in from the past and subjunctive, then lost), present plural of bēon (“to be”), from Proto-Germanic *biunþi, third-person present plural of *beuną (“to be, become”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "been",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "be",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English plural forms"
      ],
      "form_of": [
        {
          "word": "been"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "plural present of been"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "been",
          "been#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "form-of",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "be"
}

Download raw JSONL data for be meaning in Middle English (11.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-07 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (e79dea5 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.