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Webster 1913 Edition


Ern

Ern

,
Verb.
I.
[Cf.
Erme
.]
To stir with strong emotion; to grieve; to mourn.
[Corrupted into yearn in modern editions of Shakespeare.]
[Obs.]

Definition 2024


Ern

Ern

See also: ern, ERN, and -ern

English

Proper noun

Ern

  1. A diminutive of the male given name Ernest.
    • Enid Blyton, The Mystery of the Hidden House
      'That's a good one, that is!' said Ern.

ern

ern

See also: ERN, Ern, and -ern

English

Pronunciation

Noun

ern (plural erns)

  1. Alternative spelling of erne

Etymology 2

From Middle English ernen, from Old English irnan, iernan (to run, move quickly), metathetic variant of rinnan (to run). More at run.

Alternative forms

Verb

ern (third-person singular simple present erns, present participle erning, simple past and past participle erned)

  1. (Britain dialectal) To run; flow.
  2. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) To (cause to) coagulate; curdle (milk) by adding rennet and applying heat.

Etymology 3

Of obscure origin. Perhaps an alteration of erme, from Middle English ermen, from Old English yrman, ierman. Compare also Old Scots urn, uren. More at erme.

Verb

ern (third-person singular simple present erns, present participle erning, simple past and past participle erned)

  1. (intransitive, obsolete) To stir with strong emotion; grieve; mourn.
  2. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) To pain; torture.
  3. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) (of the eyes) To cause to water; smart.
Related terms

Anagrams


Icelandic

Adjective

ern (comparative ernari, superlative ernastur)

  1. brisk, active

Declension