stefn

Old English

Alternative forms

• stemn, stæfn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /stefn/, [stevn]

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *stebnu, from Proto-Germanic *stebnō. Cognate with Old Frisian stifne, Old Saxon stemna, Old High German stimna, Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌰 (stibna).

Noun

stefn f

1. voice
   • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1uoting "Circumdederunt me gemitus"

     Dēaþes ġeōmerunga mē beēodon, and helle sārnyssa mē beēodon, and iċ on mīnre ġedrefednysse Drihten clypode, and hē of his hālgan temple mīne stemne ġehyrde.

     The moaning of death surrounded me, and the pains of hell surrounded me, and in my distress I called out to the Lord, and from his holy temple he heard my voice.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 1:3

     Clipiendu stefn on þǣre wēstenne: "Ġeġearwiaþ Dryhtnes weġ, dōþ ryhte his sīþas.

     A voice calling out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Declension

Strong ō-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	stefn	stefna, stefne
accusative	stefne	stefna, stefne
genitive	stefne	stefna
dative	stefne	stefnum

Descendants

• Middle English: steven
  • English: steven

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *stamniz.

Noun

stefn m

1. alternative form of stemn

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	stefn	stefnas
accusative	stefn	stefnas
genitive	stefnes	stefna
dative	stefne	stefnum