Etymology

Probably continuing OE forgyfennes with initial /g/ owing to the influence of gif; see forgif.

PGmc Ancestor

*geƀan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

gefa 'to give', cp. fyr-gefa, fyrir-gefa 'forgive'
(ONP gefa (vb.); cp. fyrir-gefa (vb.), fyrgefa (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far geva, Icel gefa, Norw giva, Dan runic gaf (past sg.), giƀu (pres. 1st sg.), Dan give, Sw giva

OE Cognate

OE forgyfennes ‘remission, release, forgiveness, indulgence’

Phonological and morphological markers

absence of palatalization of */ɡ/

Summary category

A1*c

Attestation

Forms of the v. and its derivatives with unambiguous initial velar occur mainly in the N in ME; see further gif (v.).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA *3525

The MS reads forgeues, but this is always emended; Skeat prints forge[f]nes.

Bibliography

MED foryēvenes(se (n.), OED forgiveness (n.), DOE for-gyfennes, for-gyfenes, for-gyfnes; see further forgif and gif.