tæcan

Tæcan is an Old English verb that meant to show, point out, or teach. In Old English texts, it could denote demonstrating something to someone as well as imparting knowledge or instruction. The word is best known today as the ancestor of the modern verb teach, which came to prominence in Middle English and has since evolved into the common educational sense we use today.

Etymology and cognates in Germanic languages point to a Proto-Germanic root associated with signs, indicating, or representation. This semantic field is reflected in related forms across other Germanic languages, where words meaning “to sign,” “to draw,” or “to indicate” appear in cognate traditions. In Old Norse, Icelandic, and related languages, descendants of the same root appear with senses connected to marking or drawing, illustrating a broad link between showing something and teaching it.

Usage and development: In Old English, tæcan covered both “to show” and “to teach.” Over time, the sense related to instruction became the dominant interpretation in later Old English and Middle English, giving rise to the modern English verb teach. The original sense of pointing out or demonstrating gradually narrowed in standard usage, though the historical connection between showing and instructing remains evident in the etymology of teach.

Legacy: Today, tæcan survives only as a historic term. Its direct Modern English descendant is teach, widely used to describe the act of imparting knowledge or guiding learning.