belave
belave · belaves · belaved · belaving
To lave or wash aboutTo lave or wash about; wash all over; wash.
Meaning
3 senses(transitive)To lave or wash about; wash all over; wash.
(archaic, intransitive)To remain, continue; to belay
(archaic, intransitive)To be alive
Origin
From Middle English bilaven (“to wash all over”), from bi-, be- + laven (“to wash, pour waFrom Middle English bilaven (“to wash all over”), from bi-, be- + laven (“to wash, pour water on”), equivalent to be- + lave.
Anomalous alteration of beleve (“to remain, be alive”) and belive (“to remain, stay”), both from Middle English beliven (“to remain”), from Old English belīfan (“to remain”), from Proto-Germanic *bilībaną (“to remain”). More at belive, leave.
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Forms
belaves, belaving, belaved, belavedWord family
1 related wordsRelatedbelive
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle