"beginnen" meaning in Middle English

See beginnen in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /biˈɡinən/
Etymology: Inherited from Old English beginnan, from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan. The pronunciation with /ɡ/ is due to leveling of the consonant from the past tense and the past participle. Etymology templates: {{yesno||i|I}} I, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|beginnan|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English beginnan, {{inh+|enm|ang|beginnan}} Inherited from Old English beginnan, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*biginnan}} Proto-West Germanic *biginnan Head templates: {{head|enm|verb}} beginnen Inflection templates: {{enm-conj-st|beginn|began|begunn|begunn|3a=begann|c=3|y=0}} Forms: no-table-tags [table-tags], beginnen [infinitive], to beginnen [infinitive], beginne [infinitive], beginne [first-person, present, singular], began [first-person, past, singular], beginnest [present, second-person, singular], begunne [past, second-person, singular], beganne [past, second-person, singular], beginneth [present, singular, third-person], began [past, singular, third-person], beginne [present, singular, subjunctive], begunne [past, singular, subjunctive], beganne [past, singular, subjunctive], beginne [imperative, present, singular], - [imperative, past, singular], beginnen [plural, present], beginne [plural, present], begunnen [past, plural], begunne [past, plural], begannen [past, plural], beganne [past, plural], beginneth [imperative, plural, present], beginne [imperative, plural, present], - [imperative, past, plural], beginnynge [participle, present], beginnende [participle, present], begunnen [participle, past], begunne [participle, past], begynne [alternative], bigynne [alternative]
  1. to start, begin Derived forms: ginnen
    Sense id: en-beginnen-enm-verb-Sto7oiUP Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 5 entries, Pages with entries

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "begin"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "begin"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "tags": [
        "preterite"
      ],
      "word": "begaan"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "beginnan",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English beginnan",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "beginnan"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English beginnan",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*biginnan"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *biginnan",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English beginnan, from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan.\nThe pronunciation with /ɡ/ is due to leveling of the consonant from the past tense and the past participle.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "enm-conj-st",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "to beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "began",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginneth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "began",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begannen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginneth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnynge",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnende",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begynne",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bigynne",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "beginnen",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "beginn",
        "2": "began",
        "3": "begunn",
        "3a": "begann",
        "4": "begunn",
        "c": "3",
        "y": "0"
      },
      "name": "enm-conj-st"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 5 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "ginnen"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              17,
              24
            ]
          ],
          "english": "And then we will begin at the pawn which stands before the rook on the right side of the king, for as much as this pawn appertains to serve the vicar or lieutenant of the king and other officers under him of vital necessity",
          "ref": "1474, Caxton, Game and Playe of the Chesse:",
          "text": "And than we wyll begynne at the pawne whiche standeth to fore the rooke on the right side of the kinge for as moche as this pawne apperteyneth to serue the vicaire or lieutenant of the kynge and other officers vnder hym of necessaryes of vitayll",
          "translation": "And then we will begin at the pawn which stands before the rook on the right side of the king, for as much as this pawn appertains to serve the vicar or lieutenant of the king and other officers under him of vital necessity",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "to start, begin"
      ],
      "id": "en-beginnen-enm-verb-Sto7oiUP",
      "links": [
        [
          "start",
          "start"
        ],
        [
          "begin",
          "begin"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/biˈɡinən/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "beginnen"
}
{
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "ginnen"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "begin"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "begin"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "tags": [
        "preterite"
      ],
      "word": "begaan"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "beginnan",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English beginnan",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "beginnan"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English beginnan",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*biginnan"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *biginnan",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English beginnan, from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan.\nThe pronunciation with /ɡ/ is due to leveling of the consonant from the past tense and the past participle.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "enm-conj-st",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "to beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "began",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginneth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "began",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begannen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beganne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginneth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnynge",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "beginnende",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunnen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begunne",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "begynne",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bigynne",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "beginnen",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "beginn",
        "2": "began",
        "3": "begunn",
        "3a": "begann",
        "4": "begunn",
        "c": "3",
        "y": "0"
      },
      "name": "enm-conj-st"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English class 3 strong verbs",
        "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
        "Middle English lemmas",
        "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
        "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
        "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
        "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
        "Middle English terms with quotations",
        "Middle English verbs",
        "Pages with 5 entries",
        "Pages with entries"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              17,
              24
            ]
          ],
          "english": "And then we will begin at the pawn which stands before the rook on the right side of the king, for as much as this pawn appertains to serve the vicar or lieutenant of the king and other officers under him of vital necessity",
          "ref": "1474, Caxton, Game and Playe of the Chesse:",
          "text": "And than we wyll begynne at the pawne whiche standeth to fore the rooke on the right side of the kinge for as moche as this pawne apperteyneth to serue the vicaire or lieutenant of the kynge and other officers vnder hym of necessaryes of vitayll",
          "translation": "And then we will begin at the pawn which stands before the rook on the right side of the king, for as much as this pawn appertains to serve the vicar or lieutenant of the king and other officers under him of vital necessity",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "to start, begin"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "start",
          "start"
        ],
        [
          "begin",
          "begin"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/biˈɡinən/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "beginnen"
}

Download raw JSONL data for beginnen meaning in Middle English (5.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-01-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-01-01 using wiktextract (96027d6 and 9905b1f). 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.