iffen
Americanconjunction
Etymology
Origin of iffen
1930–35; if + -en, of uncertain origin, perhaps an 2 (hence a variant of archaic an if ) or in’ ( see -ing 2), extracted from conjunctional uses of considering, excepting, etc.; cf. gin 5
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Recall it to my mind iffen ever I forget, Philly.
From Time Magazine Archive
“She gots water right here! You probably be thinking we gotta take these plants to the river! But right here, iffen I open this door, she gots water that squirts out!”
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
“I ’preciates you doing it, sir, but how’s I s’pose to learn iffen I don’t know what you talking ’bout?”
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
“I be whipped iffen I don’t finish the fire twiggies.”
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
“Stew Cat b’go up d’palm on dlee side iffen it b’gettin too terrible. Don* worry ’bout Stew Cat” Yet I could not help worrying.
From "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
