swefn

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Old English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *swefn, from Proto-Germanic *swefnaz (sleep, dream), from Proto-Indo-European *swépnos.

Cognate with Old Saxon sweƀan, Old Norse svefn. The Indo-European root also led to Ancient Greek ὕπνος (húpnos), Latin somnus, Old Irish suan, Old Church Slavonic сънъ (sŭnŭ), Lithuanian sãpnas.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

swefn n

  1. dream
    Iċ ġefylde mīn swefn.
    I fulfilled my dream.
    Iċ nǣfre ne ġeman mīnra swefna.
    I never remember my dreams.

Usage notes[edit]

  • “To have a dream” is expressed with mǣtan (to dream), not habban (to have): Ġiestran niht mē mǣtte swefn þæt iċ wǣre fram wulfe forswolgen (“Last night I had [lit. dreamed] a dream that I was devoured by a wolf”).

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

See also[edit]