Old English

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Etymology

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From Proto-Germanic *hawwaną, a reduplicating verb, from Proto-Indo-European *kewh₂- (to hew; to hit, strike; to forge). Cognate with Old Dutch houwan (modern Dutch houwen), Old Frisian hawa, Old High German houwan (modern German hauen), Old Norse hǫggva (Icelandic höggva, Swedish hugga), Old Saxon hauwan, hauuan.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈxæ͜ɑː.wɑn/, [ˈhæ͜ɑː.wɑn]

Verb

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hēawan

  1. to strike, smite, slash, cut
  2. to chop, hew, hash, fell wood

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Middle English: hewen