wrixlan
/ˈwriks.lɑn/
The English phrase "change" is translated into Old English as wrixlan.
The verb wrixlan means to become something different. The related noun wending can be used to refer to the process of becoming different.
Meaning: to become something different (verb)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈwriks.lɑn/.
Did you know?
- The roots of wrixlan trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *weyḱ-, which is the ancient ancestor of many words involving the concept of turning or shifting.
- In Old English, the concept of change was deeply linked to 'alternation', making wrixlan feel more like a swap or an exchange than a metamorphosis.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the weather.
- MildrythHwæt, wrixlan wile se dæg?Wait, will the day change?
- GodricGea, hit wunaþ swa.Yes, it usually does.
- MildrythIc ondræde þone rain.I fear the rain.
- GodricNe ondræd þu, Mildryth.Do not fear, Mildryth.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry wrixlan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wrixlan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
