hwæne

hwæne is an Old English word that functions as an interrogative pronoun. It translates to "whom" in Modern English. It is used to ask a question about a person who is the object of an action or preposition. For example, in a sentence like "hwæne se cyning gefreoðode?" (Whom did the king free?), hwæne refers to the person being freed. The word is the accusative case of the interrogative pronoun "hwā," which means "who." Therefore, hwæne is specifically used when the person being questioned is the direct object or the object of a preposition. Its usage is directly analogous to the use of "whom" in English, distinguishing it from the nominative case "hwā" (who). Understanding hwæne is crucial for comprehending the grammatical structure and meaning of Old English sentences, particularly those involving direct questions about individuals.