FromProto-West Germanic*drīban, fromProto-Germanic*drībaną, fromProto-Indo-European*dʰreybʰ-(“to drive, push”).
Cognate withOld Frisiandrīva (West Frisiandriuwe),Old Saxondrīvan,drīƀan (Low Germandrieven),Dutchdrijven,Old High Germantrīban (Germantreiben),Old Norsedrífa (Danishdrive,Swedishdriva),Gothic𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽(dreiban).
drīfan
| infinitive | drīfan | drīfenne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | drīfe | drāf |
| second person singular | drīfst | drife |
| third person singular | drīfþ | drāf |
| plural | drīfaþ | drifon |
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | drīfe | drife |
| plural | drīfen | drifen |
| imperative | ||
| singular | drīf | |
| plural | drīfaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| drīfende | (ġe)drifen | |