shapen

S1H4A1P3E1N1

verb

To shape, form.

“ill-shapen”

OriginMiddle English schapen ← Old English ġesċapen ← Proto-Germanic *skapanaz →
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Meanings

shapen1

verbshapen (third-person singular simple present shapens, present participle shapening, simple past and past participle shapened)

present singular third person shapens · participle present shapening · participle past shapened · past shapened

  1. rareTo shape, form.

shapen2

verb
  1. obsoleteparticiplepastpast participle of shape
adjectiveshapen (comparative more shapen, superlative most shapen)

comparative more shapen · superlative most shapen

  1. in compoundsShaped; wrought with a definite shape.

    ill-shapen

    1 more example

    well-shapen

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
shapeshaped

Origin

shapen · verb

From shape (“external form”) + -en (“to make like”).

Full word history & related roots →

shapen · verb, adjective

  1. Proto-Germanic*skapaną
  2. Proto-Germanic*skapanaz
  3. Old Englishġesċapen
  4. Middle Englishschapen
  5. Englishshapen

From Middle English schapen, ischepen, from Old English ġesċapen, from Proto-Germanic *skapanaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic *skapaną, equivalent to shape + -en (past participle ending).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

phanes
Cite this entry
APA

shapen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shapen

MLA

“shapen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shapen. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shapen,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shapen.

Source: shapen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.