ween

[ ween ]

/ win /

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verb (used with or without object) Archaic.

to think; suppose.

to expect, hope, or intend.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ween

before 900; Middle English wenen,Old English wēnan to expect; cognate with German wähnen to imagine, Old Norse væna,Gothic wēnjan to hope, expect

OTHER WORDS FROM ween

un·weened, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ween

wean, ween

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ween in a sentence

It satisfied the part of me that grew up and was weened on SNL.
Michaela Watkins: Fired From ‘SNL’ To Hollywood’s Funniest Scene-Stealer|Kevin Fallon|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Alas, false treason, said King Mark, I weened that young traitor had been dead.
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)|Thomas Malory
Wit you well the lady was glad, and so was Sir Launcelot, for he weened that he had had another in his arms.
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)|Thomas Malory
This Solomon had an evil wife, wherethrough he weened that there had been no good woman, and so he despised them in his books.
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)|Thomas Malory

And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, for he felt himself so sore y-hurt that he weened there to have had his death.
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)|Thomas Malory
Then Sir Lancelot laughed no more, but grieved, for he weened that he had harmed the youth, and he liked him passing well.
The Blue Flower, and Others|Henry van Dyke

British Dictionary definitions for ween

ween

/ (wiːn) /

verb

archaic to think or imagine (something)

Word Origin for ween

Old English wēnan; related to Old Saxon wānian, Gothic wēnjan, German wähnen to assume wrongly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012