noun
wynn
wihn
Wynn (noun) means an old English letter (ƿ) once used to write the "w" sound, before it was replaced by the modern letter W. Example: “Manuscripts written before the 1300s often use wynn instead of the letter w.”
noun
1
An old English letter (ƿ) once used to write the "w" sound, before it was replaced by the modern letter W.
"The Norman scribes gradually replaced wynn by u, uu, vv, and w itself."
— Robert Burchfield, The English Language (1985)
"Manuscripts written before the 1300s often use wynn instead of the letter w."
How to use wynn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical letter shape, not used in modern English but seen in Old English texts.
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Word forms
- Plural
- wynns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Manuscripts written before the 1300s often use _____ instead of the letter w.
Etymology
From Old English wynn, meaning "joy" — runes were traditionally named after words that began with the sound they represented.
Rhymes for wynn
See all rhymes for wynn →Frequently asked questions
What does “wynn” mean?
The word “wynn” means an old English letter (ƿ) once used to write the "w" sound, before it was replaced by the modern letter W. In plain terms, a historical letter shape, not used in modern English but seen in Old English texts.
How do you pronounce “wynn”?
“Wynn” is pronounced wihn (/wɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “wynn” in a sentence?
Here is “wynn” used in a sentence: “Manuscripts written before the 1300s often use wynn instead of the letter w.”
What part of speech is “wynn”?
“Wynn” is a noun.
Where does the word “wynn” come from?
The word “wynn” comes from Old English. From Old English wynn, meaning "joy" — runes were traditionally named after words that began with the sound they represented.
