līcian
The Old English verb for 'to like' is līcian.
līcian is used to express that something is found pleasing or agreeable.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Old English, līcian functions as an impersonal verb meaning 'to be pleasing to'. Because of this, the thing being liked acts as the subject of the sentence, while the person who feels the liking is expressed as an indirect object in the dative case.
Did you know?
- The word līcian is closely related to the Old English word līc, meaning 'body' or 'corpse'. This suggests that 'liking' something originally meant it 'fit' or 'suited' one's physical form.
- Old English used līcian in a way similar to the modern Spanish verb gustar, where the thing liked is the subject of the sentence.
- While modern English uses 'like' for both affection and similarity, the Old English līcian specifically handled the feeling of pleasure. Similarity was expressed using a different word, gelīc.
Example conversation
Mildryth and Eadric are discussing a garden.
- MildrythMē līciaþ þās blōstman.I like these flowers.
- EadricHīe sindon fægere.They are beautiful.
- MildrythHwilce līciaþ þē?Which ones do you like?
- EadricMē līciaþ þā rēadan.I like the red ones.
