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Definition 2025

þurfan

þurfan

Old English

Verb

þurfan

  1. to need [+genitive]
  2. to be obliged (to do something)

Conjugation

Descendants

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þurbaną ‎(“to need, to have to”), from Proto-Indo-European *terp- ‎(“to satisfy”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian *thurva, Old Saxon thurvan, Middle Dutch durven (Dutch durven), Old Norse þurfa (Swedish tarva), Old High German thurfan (German dürfen), Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌽 ‎(þaurban). The Indo-European root also led to Ancient Greek τέρπω ‎(térpō), Old Church Slavonic трѣбѣ ‎(trěbě), Russian требовать ‎(trebovatʹ).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈθurvɑn/

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