moten

Middle English

/ˈmoːtən/

verb

Definitions

To have or need to; must.
To feel strongly obliged to; should (really).
To be able to; might, can.
To be permitted to; may, can.
To be about to or going to; will, shall.

Etymology

Inherited from Old English mōtan (may, be able to, have the opportunity to, must, be compelled to, be allowed) inherited from Proto-Germanic *mōtaną (have to, be able to, be delegated, be allowed to).

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*mōtaną

Gloss

have to, be able to, be delegated, be allowed to

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

must English
müssen German
*mōtaną Proto-Germanic
motan Old English
mōste Old English
mōtan Old English
moste Middle English
muozan Old High German
𐌲𐌰𐌼𐍉𐍄𐌰𐌽 Gothic
muotan Old Dutch
motan Old Saxon
mōtan Old Saxon
mōta Old Frisian

moste