Bestrown

/bɪˈstroʊn/ verb

Definition

Past participle of 'bestrow'; having been scattered or spread over a surface.

Etymology

From 'bestrow' with the past participle '-n' suffix (from Old English '-en'). This archaic ending appears in words like 'broken,' 'stolen,' and 'frozen,' marking completed actions in strong verbs.

Kelly Says

The '-n' ending is a ghost of Old English grammar—you see it in adjectives like 'broken' and 'frozen.' 'Bestrown' shows how English once marked past participles with this sound, a system that's almost completely died out in modern speech.

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