*alaną

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂él-e/o-, the thematic present of root *h₂el-. The transitive sense ‘to nourish, rear’ was inherited directly, while ‘to grow, mature, grow old’ developed from its intransitive or medial use (Markey & Mees 2014: 4–5; Rix et al. 2001: 262). Ringe (2017: 211–14, 275) explains the long vowel of the preterite singular as arising in vowel-initial Strong class 6 verbs through contraction of the reduplicating syllable with the root syllable; thus, it entails the Germanic restructuring of an originally thematic PIE present. Cognate with Latin alō and Old Irish ailid; compare also Ancient Greek ἀλδαίνω (aldaínō), an extended formation from the same root.