bernen

Middle Dutch

Etymology

A mixture of two verbs:

• Old Dutch brinnan, from Proto-Germanic *brinnaną
• Old Dutch brennen, from Proto-Germanic *brannijaną

Verb

bernen

1. (intransitive) to burn, to be on fire
2. (transitive) to burn, to cause to be on fire or consumed by fire

Inflection

Strong class 3
Infinitive	bernen
3rd sg. past	barn
3rd pl. past	bornen
Past participle	gebornen
Infinitive	bernen
In genitive	bernens
In dative	bernene
Indicative	Present	Past
1st singular	berne	barn
2nd singular	berns, bernes	borns, bornes
3rd singular	bernt, bernet	barn
1st plural	bernen	bornen
2nd plural	bernt, bernet	bornt, bornet
3rd plural	bernen	bornen
Subjunctive	Present	Past
1st singular	berne	borne
2nd singular	berns, bernes	bornes
3rd singular	berne	borne
1st plural	bernen	bornen
2nd plural	bernt, bernet	bornet
3rd plural	bernen	bornen
Imperative	Present
Singular	bern, berne
Plural	bernt, bernet
	Present	Past
Participle	bernende	gebornen

Weak
Infinitive	bernen
3rd sg. past	—
3rd pl. past	—
Past participle	—
Infinitive	bernen
In genitive	bernens
In dative	bernene
Indicative	Present	Past
1st singular	berne	—
2nd singular	berns, bernes	—
3rd singular	bernt, bernet	—
1st plural	bernen	—
2nd plural	bernt, bernet	—
3rd plural	bernen	—
Subjunctive	Present	Past
1st singular	berne	—
2nd singular	berns, bernes	—
3rd singular	berne	—
1st plural	bernen	—
2nd plural	bernt, bernet	—
3rd plural	bernen	—
Imperative	Present
Singular	bern, berne
Plural	bernt, bernet
	Present	Past
Participle	bernende	—

Alternative forms

• barnen

Derived terms

• bernelijc
• berninge
• ontbernen
• verbernen

Descendants

• Dutch: barnen
• Limburgish: borre
• ⇒ Middle Dutch: branden (backformation)
  • Dutch: branden
  • Limburgish: branje, brenje

Further reading

• “bernen”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “bernen”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Middle English

Alternative forms

• bern, berne, birnen, brennen

Etymology

From Old English birnan, metathesis from Proto-West Germanic *brinnan, from Proto-Germanic *brinnaną (“to burn”).

Verb

bernen

1. To burn.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Manciples Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xcix, recto, column 2:

     That for the tyraunt is of greater might / By force of meyne, to ſlee downe right / And brenne houſe & home, & make al playn, / Lo therfore is he called a capitayne / And for the outlawe hath but ſmal meyne / And maie not do ſo great an harm, as he / Ne brynge a countrey to ſo great miſchefe / Men callen him an outlawe or a thefe

     That because the tyrant is of greater might / By force of retinue, to slay downright / And burn house and home, and make all level / Lo therefore is he called a captain / And because the outlaw has but a small retinue / And may not do so great a harm as he [the tyrant] / Nor bring a country to so great mischief / Men call him an outlaw or a thief

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Piers Plowman to this entry?)

Descendants

• English: burn
• Scots: bern, brenn, bren, brend

References

• “brennen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.