ern

Alternative spelling of erne.

Noun

  1. Alternative spelling of erne.

Origin

Alteration of erne.

Forms

erns

Verb intransitive, obsolete

  1. To stir with strong emotion; grieve; mourn.
  2. To pain; torture.
  3. To cause to water; smart.

Origin

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.

Forms

erns erning erned

Related

erme

Verb UK, dialectal

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

Origin

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

Forms

erns erning erned earn