attren

Middle English

Etymology

Inherited from Old English ǣtrian, ǣttrian, from Proto-West Germanic *aitrōn, from Proto-Germanic *aitrōną; equivalent to atter (“poison”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈatrən/

Verb

attren (third-person singular simple present attreth, present participle attrende, attrynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle attred) (Northern or Early Middle English)

To poison or envenom
(rare, figurative) To pervert or ruin.

Usage notes

This verb is usually found in the past tense, though other forms sometimes appear.

Conjugation

Conjugation of attren (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) attren, attre
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	attre	attred
2nd-person singular	attrest	attredest
3rd-person singular	attreth	attred
subjunctive singular	attre	attred
imperative singular	attre	—

plural¹	attren, attre	attreden, attrede
imperative plural	attreth, attre	—

participles	attrynge, attrende	attred, yattred

¹Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

English: atter
Scots: etter (vocalism may be due to influence from Old Norse eitra)

References

“attren, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.