brewen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English brēowan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbriu̯ən/

Verb

brewen

  1. To brew; to make or be involved in making alcoholic beverages (especially beer).
  2. To induce or cause a condition or effect; to foment or effect.
  3. To unfold or begin; to start to happen or take effect.

Usage notes

In later Middle English, this verb tends to become weak.

Conjugation

Conjugation of brewen (strong class 2 or weak in -ed)
infinitive (to) brewen, brewe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular brewe brew, brewed
2nd-person singular brewest browe1, brewedest
3rd-person singular breweth brew, brewed
subjunctive singular brewe browe2, brewed2
imperative singular
plural3 brewen, brewe browen, browe, breweden, brewede
imperative plural breweth, brewe
participles brewynge, brewende browen, browe, brewed, ybrowen, ybrowe, ybrewed

1 Later replaced by the 1st-/3rd-person singular or brewest.
2 Later replaced by the indicative.
3 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: brew
  • Scots: brew

References