langian

See also: Langian

Old English[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *langōn, from Proto-Germanic *langōną (“to grow long, seem long, yearn”). Equivalent to lang +‎ -ian.

langian

(intransitive) to get longer
- c. 994, Ælfric, On the Seasons of the Year
  Þonne sē dæġ langaþ, þonne gǣþ sēo sunne norðweard oþ þæt hēo becymþ tō þām tācne þe is ġehāten cancer.
  As the days grow longer (lit. "the day grows longer"), the sun moves northwards until it reaches the sign that is called Cancer (ōðre naman on þis ġeþēode crabba, ac þæs swīgaþ hēr Ælfrīċ).
(impersonal) (with accusative subject) to long or grieve
- Blickling Homilies, "Holy Thursday"
  Þā ongann hine eft langian on his cyþþe.
  Then he began to long for his homeland again.

To signify what one longs for, the prepositions on or æfter were used, or the object was placed in the genitive case.

Conjugation of langian (weak class 2)