wolven

See also: wölven

English

Etymology

From Middle English wolven, *wilven, *wulven, perhaps continuing Old English wylfen (“wolfish”), from Proto-West Germanic *wulfīn (“wolfish”), equivalent to wolf +‎ -en. Piecewise doublet of lupine, wolf being a cognate of Latin lupus and -en being a doublet of -ine.

Adjective

wolven (comparative more wolven, superlative most wolven)

1. Of or pertaining to wolves; wolflike; wolfish.
   • 2004, Marilyn Mattie Brahen, Claiming Her:

     But the shepherd does protect the sheep from the wolf: therefore, few fall to feed the wolven cubs, the remaining sheep living long to rear more lambs and provide us with wool.

   • 2009, Kate Douglas, Wolf Tales VIII:

     Not a very wolven gesture, but somehow apropos.

   • 2011, Gill McKnight, Indigo Moon:

     “What I mean is, this marking you and hiding you away, it's very wolven. [...]"

Noun

wolven (plural wolven)

1. One who is wolflike in appearance or character. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋɔlvə(n)/
• Rhymes: -ɔlvən

Noun

wolven

1. plural of wolf

West Frisian

Noun

wolven

1. plural of wolf