nerian

Old English

Alternative forms

• nerġan, neriġan, neriġean

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *naʀjan.

Cognate with Old Frisian nera, Old Saxon nerian, Old High German nerian (German nähren).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈner.jɑn/, [ˈnerˠ.jɑn]

Verb

nerian

1. to save; rescue; preserve
   • Wyrd oft nereð / unfǣġne eorl þonne his ellen dēah. ― Fate will often save a man not fated to die, when his courage is strong. (Beowulf, ll. 572-3)

Conjugation

Conjugation of nerian (weak class 1)

infinitive	nerian	nerienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	nerie	nerede
second person singular	nerest	neredest
third person singular	nereþ	nerede
plural	neriaþ	neredon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	nerie	nerede
plural	nerien	nereden
imperative
singular	nere
plural	neriaþ
participle	present	past
	neriende	(ġe)nered

Derived terms

• ġenerian
• nergend, neriend, neriġend (“savior”)

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *naʀjan. Cognate with Old English nerian, modern Dutch (ge)neren.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɛ.ri.ɑn/, [ˈne.ri.ɑn]

Verb

nerian

1. to save

   that kind uueldi nerean af ther nōdi - the child wanted to save himself from need. (Heliand, verse 2102)

Conjugation

Conjugation of nerian (weak class 1)

infinitive	nerian
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	neriu	nerida
2nd person singular	neris	nerides
3rd person singular	nerid	nerida
plural	neriad	neridun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	nerie	neridi
2nd person singular	neries	neridis
3rd person singular	nerie	neridi
plural	nerien	neridin
imperative	present
singular	neri
plural	neriad
participle	present	past
	neriandi	ginerid, nerid

Descendants

• Middle Low German: nēren
  • Low German: nähren