wēpan
In Old English, the phrase for cry is wēpan.
The verb wēpan is an intransitive verb meaning to shed tears. When describing the state of someone who is crying, you might encounter the adjective sorhful, which means full of sorrow or the adjective earm, which means miserable.
Meaning: intransitive: to shed tears (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the West Saxon dialect, the verb greótan could be used as an alternative to geocgan or wēpan.
Did you know?
- Old English literature often depicts 'weeping' as a social or communal activity, where groups of women would wēpan together as a formal part of a funeral rite.
- While wēpan means to shed tears, the Old English language had a separate word, hrēran, which could describe the 'stirring' or churning of emotions that leads to crying.
- The Old English word greótan was used to describe the audible, vocal part of a cry, such as wailing, whereas wēpan focused on the silent or liquid aspect of tears.
Examples in context
- Æt his begravunge wǣron his geferan earmlice geocgendeAt his burial, his companions were crying miserably.
- Hīe wēpaþ swīðe.They cry very much.
Example conversation
Mildryth is sad and Godric notices.
- MildrythIc wille wēpan for þisse sorge.I want to cry because of this sorrow.
- GodricHū mæg ic helpan þē, Mildryth?How can I help you, Mildryth?
- MildrythNe mæg nān mann helpan mē.No man can help me.
- GodricNe wēp þū, mīn frēond.Do not cry, my friend.
