sterven

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sterven, from Old Dutch stervan, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną, itself either from Proto-Indo-European *(s)terp- (“to lose force; lose sensibility, become numb; be dead, be motionless”) or from *sterbʰ- (“to be stiff, become stiff”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɛrvə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ster‧ven
• Rhymes: -ɛrvən

Verb

sterven

1. to die

Conjugation

Conjugation of sterven (strong class 3+7)
infinitive	sterven
past singular	stierf
past participle	gestorven
infinitive	sterven
gerund	sterven n
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	sterf	stierf
2nd person sing. (jij)	sterft, sterf2	stierf
2nd person sing. (u)	sterft	stierf
2nd person sing. (gij)	sterft	stierft
3rd person singular	sterft	stierf
plural	sterven	stierven
subjunctive sing.1	sterve	stierve
subjunctive plur.1	sterven	stierven
imperative sing.	sterf
imperative plur.1	sterft
participles	stervend	gestorven
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Synonyms

• doodgaan
• heengaan
• ontslapen
• overlijden

Derived terms

• aansterven
• afsterven
• besterven
• ontsterven
• sterfdag
• sterfbed
• sterfelijk
• sterfhuis
• sterfjaar
• sterveling
• uitsterven
• versterven
• wegsterven

Descendants

• Afrikaans: sterf, sterwe
• Jersey Dutch: stêrve
• Negerhollands: sterv

Anagrams

• streven, venster, venters

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch stervan, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstervən/

Verb

sterven

1. to die

Inflection

Strong class 3
Infinitive	sterven
3rd sg. past	starf
3rd pl. past	storven
Past participle	gestorven
Infinitive	sterven
In genitive	stervens
In dative	stervene
Indicative	Present	Past
1st singular	sterve	starf
2nd singular	sterfs, sterves	storfs, storves
3rd singular	sterft, stervet	starf
1st plural	sterven	storven
2nd plural	sterft, stervet	storft, storvet
3rd plural	sterven	storven
Subjunctive	Present	Past
1st singular	sterve	storve
2nd singular	sterfs, sterves	storves
3rd singular	sterve	storve
1st plural	sterven	storven
2nd plural	sterft, stervet	storvet
3rd plural	sterven	storven
Imperative	Present
Singular	sterf, sterve
Plural	sterft, stervet
	Present	Past
Participle	stervende	gestorven

Descendants

• Dutch: sterven
  • Afrikaans: sterf, sterwe
• Limburgish: stèrve

Further reading

• “sterven (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “sterven”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sterve

Etymology

From Old English steorfan, from Proto-West Germanic *sterban, from Proto-Germanic *sterbaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɛrvən/
• Rhymes: -ɛrvən

Verb

sterven

1. To die or perish.
2. To perish from cold or hunger; to starve.

Conjugation

Conjugation of sterven (strong class 3)

infinitive	(to) sterven, sterve
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	sterve	starf
2nd-person singular	stervest	storve, sturve, starf
3rd-person singular	sterveth	starf
subjunctive singular	sterve	storve1, sturve1
imperative singular		—
plural2	sterven, sterve	storven, storve, sturven, sturve
imperative plural	sterveth, sterve	—
participles	stervynge, stervende	storven, storve, ystorven, ystorve

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: starve
• Scots: sterve

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967