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yean

(yēn)

v. yeaned, yean·ing, yeans

v.intr.

To bear young. Used of sheep and goats.

v.tr.

To give birth to (young); bear. Used of sheep and goats.

[Middle English iyenen, yenen, from Old English *geēanian : ge-, verb pref.; see kom in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + ēanian, to bear young.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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