different between flowen vs blowen

English

Verb

flowen

1. (obsolete) past participle of flow

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English fl?wan, from Proto-Germanic *fl?an?. Compare flod.

Alternative forms

• flowenn, flwy, flue, flowe, flouen, flo?en

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fl?u??n/

Verb

flowen

1. To flow, stream, or issue; (of liquids or fluids) to move:
   1. To flow downwards; (of liquids or fluids) to spout or trickle.
   2. To act like a fluid; to be turbulent or temporary.
   3. (figuratively) To move like liquid; to move smoothly or flowingly.
   4. (rare) To become turbulent or rough; to start moving (of the oceans)
2. To become affected by a flood or deluge; to be flooded or covered in liquid.
3. To become high; to flow (of the ocean's tidal motion).
4. To be carried by water or carried in an analogous motion; to be propelled smoothly.
5. (rare, figuratively) To enjoy or utilise (material goods or possessions)
6. (rare, figuratively) To have a profuse amount or multitude of something.
7. (rare, figuratively) To appear (of feelings)

Usage notes

This verb is mainly weak in Middle English, but some traces of its historic status as a class 7 strong verb still remain.

Conjugation

Related terms

• flowyng
• overflowen

Descendants

• English: flow
• Scots: flow

References

• “flouen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-11-12.

English

Noun

blowen (plural blowens)

1. (obsolete, vulgar) A prostitute; a courtesan.
   • 1840, Regular Slangsman, The Flash Mirror, Or, Kiddy's Cabinet (page 12)

     Poll Strokem, an old blowen, well known about the streets of London, was continually crying; see her whenever you would, she was all snot and slobber, like a calf's head on a hot summer's day […]

Synonyms

• blowess

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English bl?wan, from Proto-Germanic *bl?an?.

Alternative forms

• blawen, blowyn, bloawen, blowe, blow, blouen

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bl?u??n/
• (Northern ME) IPA^(key): /?bl?u?(?n)/

Verb

blowen

2. To blow; to produce a current of air:
   1. To blow as to eliminate or remove; to blow away or blow off.
   2. To breathe out; to emit air out of the mouth while breathing.
   3. To blow upon a musical instrument as to produce a sound.
   4. To inhale; to breathe in (something).
   5. To blow upon a fire to intensify it; to intensify.
   6. To blow up; to blow as to cause the inflation of something.
   7. To gasp, to struggle to breath.
3. To introduce a disease or illness by breathing.
4. To perform the smelting of metal.
5. To make a sound, especially flatulence.
6. To talk crudely and proudly; to insult.
7. To announce, to proclaim, to spread news.
8. (rare) To be shifted around by the wind.

Conjugation

Derived terms

• blower
• blowyng

Descendants

• English: blow
  • Northumbrian: blaa
• Scots: blaw

References

• “blouen, v.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-14.

Etymology 2

From Old English bl?wan, from Proto-Germanic *bl?an?.

Alternative forms

• blowe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bl?u??n/

Verb

blowen

2. To blossom; to flower.

3. (figuratively) To grow, to flourish.

Conjugation

Usage notes

This verb is occasionally weak, but usually remains strong, probably due to influence from Etymology 1.

Derived terms

• blowyng

Descendants

• English: blow

References

• “blouen, v.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-12.