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Anglo-Saxon

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weorc

  • noun [ neuter ]
  • adverb
Dictionary links
Grammar
weorc, es; n.
Wright's OE grammar
§7; §85; §94; §182; §278; §310; §343; §562;
Work; opus.
work, operative action, operation
Show examples
  • Godes willa is weorc

    God's will is operative,

      Hexam. 6; Norm. 10, 24.
  • Ðæt Godes weorc (uoerc,

      Lind.: were, Rush.)
    wǽre geswutelod on him, Jn. Skt. 9, 3.
  • Gesweotula þurh searocræft ðín sylfes weorc, and sona forlǽt weall wið wealle,

      Exon. Th. 1, 17; Cri. 9.
working, doing, performance
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  • Be rihtes weorce betweox Wealum and Englum

    concerning the doing of justice between Welsh and English,

      L. O. D. 2 ; Th. i. 352, 14. v. V a. V b.
in a collective sense,
work, doings, actions,
what a person does
Show examples
  • Se ðe óþrum forwyrneþ wlitigan wilsíþes, gif his weorc ne deág. Exon. Th. 2,

      19; Cri. 21.
  • Weorc ánra gehwæs beorhte blíceþ in ðám blíþan hám,

      238, 3 ; Ph. 598.
  • Ðæt hé ne forleóse his weorces wlite,

      97, 9; Cri. 1588.
  • Hé getrymede heora geleáfan mid ðon heofonlícon weorce. Blickl. Homl. 17, 8.
  • Ðis is wæstm wíses and goodes ðe his sóðfæst weorc symble lǽste,

      Ps. Th. 57, 10.
what happens
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  • Ðæs dæges weorc byð egesfull eallum gesceaftum,

      Wulfst. 182, 7.
work, labour, occupation, employment, any form of long-sustained or
habitual activity
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  • Weorc opus, cræftca

    opifex,

      Wrt. Voc. i. 73, 37.
  • Towlíc weorc

    weaving;

    textrinum opus,
      26, 13: 82, 11.
  • Hí mótan bletsian eal Cristen folc, and him godcunde lác fore*-*bringan . . . ðis weorc biþ deóflum se mǽsta teóna,

      Blickl. Homl. 47, 6.
  • Hé nǽfre Godes weorces ne áblon, ah hé ealle niht þurhwacode on hálgum gebedum,

      227, 6.
  • God geswác hys weorces

    (the work of creation

    ),
      Gen. 2, 3.
  • Weorces

    (the building of the tower of Babel)

    wísan,
      Cd. Th. 101, 28 ; Gen. 1689.
  • Út færð man tó weorce his,

      Ps. Spl. 103, 24.
  • Hí sóhton weras tó weorce

    (building),

      Cd. Th. 100, 30; Gen. 1672 : Exon. Th. 1, 4; Cri. 3.
  • Ðú leóda feala forlǽrdest, nú leng ne miht gewealdan ðý weorce,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2729; An. 1367.
  • Yrþlingc, hú begǽst ðú weorc ðín Coll. Monast. Th. 19, 11.
  • Sum mæg wrætlíce weorc áhycgan heáhtimbra gehwæs,

      Exon. Th. 296, 1; Crä. 44.
  • Weorc gebannan, Beo. Th. 149; B. 74. IVa.

    a particular act of labour

    :-- Wirc six dagas ealle ðín weorc,
      Ex. 20, 9.
  • Gif hý út an æcere wurc (v. l. weorc) hæbben si opera in agris habuerint, R. Ben. IV b.

    workmanship

    :-- Wæs ðæt hús hwemdragen, nalas æfter gewunan mennisces weorces, ðæt ða wágas wǽron rihte,
      Blickl. Homl. 207, 18.
a work, deed, any action
Show examples
  • Déd ł wærc

    opus,

      Jn. Skt. p. 1, 6.
  • Hwæt dó wé ðæt wé wyrceon Godes weorc (uerco,

      Lind.: were, Rush.)? Ðá andswarode se Hǽlend : Ðæt is Godes weorc (uerc, Lind.: werc, Rush.),
    ðæt gé gelýfan on ðone ðe hé sende, 6, 29.
  • Wénan ðæs weorces, ðæt hé wísdóm mæge wið ofermétta gemengan,

      Met. 7, 7.
  • Hý weorces

    (taking the forbidden fruit)

    onguldon,
      Exon. Th. 153, 22; Gú. 829.
  • Wérig ðæs weorces,

      436, 20 ; Rä. 55, 10.
  • Tó hwon syndon gé ðyses weorces swá hefige? gód weorc heó wæs wyrcende on mé,

      Blickl. Homl. 69, 15.
  • Nis eów ðæs weorces þearf, ðæt gé ða ciricean hálgian,

      205, 36.
  • Wræclícne hám weorce tó leáne,

      Cd. Th. 3, 18 ; Gen. 37.
  • Ða ðe ðý worce gefǽgon,

      232, 31; Dan. 268.
  • Mon mæg ðý ilcan weorce (ipso facto) cweban ðæt nétenu send gesǽlige, gif man cwiþ, ðæt ða men sén gesǽlige, ða heora líchoman lustum fyligaþ

    to say that those men are happy, who follow their body's lusts, is at the same time to say that beasts are happy,

      Bt. 31, tit.; Fox xvi, 9.
  • Án weorc (uoerc,

      Lind.: were. Rush.) ic worhte. Jn. Skt. 7, 21: Blickl. Homl. 71, 30.
  • Hé Godes eorre þurh his selfes weorc áfunde,

      Ps. C. 25.
  • Gif hé ðonne git máre weorc geworht hæbbe

    if then he have committed a greater crime,

      L. C. S. 30; Th. i. 394, 12.
  • Hwylce ðæs gódan mannes weorc and his dǽda wǽron,

      Blickl. Homl. 55, 13.
  • Weorcu

    opera,

      Scint. 20, 19.
  • Wæstm gódra weorca,

      Blickl. Homl. 71, 36: Exon. Th. 66, 31; Cri. 1080.
  • Eargra weorca,

      80, 8 ; Cri. 1304.
  • Dǽdum georn, wís in weorcum,

      185, 7 ; Az. 4: 159, 4; Gú. 921.
  • Weorcum fáh,

      Elen. Kmbl. 2484; El. 1246.
  • Mid ælmessan and mid mildheortum weorcum,

      Blickl. Homl. 37, 19 : 73, 16.
  • Leánigean æfter his weorcum and dǽdum,

      123, 34.
  • Ne dó gé ná æfter heora worcum (v.l. weorcum: wærcum, Rush.) . . . Ealle heora worc

    (v.l.

    weorc : werca,
      Lind.: wærc, Rush.)
    hig dóðt, ðæt menn hí geseón, Mt. Kmbl. 23, 3-5.
  • Weorc (uoerca,

      Lind.: were, Rush.), Jn. Skt. 9, 4.
  • Uoerco,

      Lind. 10, 32.
  • God gesihþ ealle úre wyrc (weorc,

      Cott. MS.), Bt. 41, 4; Fox 252, 1. Va.
  • Ic dó swá ic ne sceolde, hwíle mid weorce, hwíle mid worde,

      Hy. 3, 44.
  • Ðonne on úrum móde bið ácenned sum ðing gódes, and wé ðæt tó weorce áwendaþ,

      Homl. Th. i. 138, 23.
  • Ðæm synfullan náuht ne helpaþ his gódan geðóhtas, for ðæm ðe hé hæfð gearone willan tó ðæm weorce,

      Past. 54; Swt. 423, 27 : 11; Swt. 73, 4.
  • Bið sió costung ǽresð on ðæm móde, ðonne féreþ útweardes tó ðære hýde, óððæt hió út ásciét on weorc,

      Swt. 71, 8.
  • Sínra weorca wlite and worda gemynd,

      Exon. Th. 64, 15; Cri. 1038.
  • Gescád witan worda and worca,

      Beo. Th. 583; B. 289.
  • Wordum ne worcum,

      2204; B. 1100.
  • Wordum and weorcum,

      Cd. Th. 278, 17; Sat. 223.
  • Wercum,

      267, 34; Sat. 48.
  • Mid wordum oððe mid weorcum cýðan,

      Past. 21; Swt. 157, 21.
  • Se ðe ðás ǽ mid sprǽcon and mid wordum gefylð and nele mid worcum,

      Deut. 27, 26.
  • Swilce hé mid weorcum hí gesprǽce,

      Homl. Th. ii. 290, 2.
  • Sume him ðæs hádes hlísan willaþ wegan on wordum, and ða weorc ne dóð,

      Exon. Th. 105, 33 ; Gú. 105. Vb. of
    f
  • Hwæðer mín word beó mid weorce ge*-*filled,

      Num. 11, 23.
  • Hwí hé nolde gehýrsumian his hǽsum mid weorce,

      Homl. Skt. i. 21, 61.
  • Hé wolde his gebeót mid weorcum gefremman,

      25, 621.
  • Ðæt ðú mid weorcum gefille ealle ða ǽ,

      Jos. 1. 7.
  • Se ðe mægna gehwæs weorcum

    (actually, indeed)

    wealdeþ,
      Exon. Th. 121, 3 ; Gú. 283.
  • Ðín gewitnes is weorcum geleáfsum,

      Ps. Th. 92, 6.
a work, what is wrought
Show examples
  • Weorc

    machina,

      Wrt. Voc. ii. 57, 53.
  • Ðá wæs geforðad ðín fægere weorc,

      Hy. 9, 24.
  • Nánwuht nis fæste stondendes weorces á wuniende,

      Bt. 9; Fox 26, 21 : Met. 6, 17.
  • Bisiuuidi uuerci (uerci, werci)

    opere plumario,

      Txts. 80, 699.
  • Weorce

    fabrica,

      Wrt. Voc. ii. 38, 35.
  • Is ðam weorce þearf, ðæt se cræftga cume, and gebéte,

      Exon. Th. 1. 21; Cri. 11.
  • Com God wera weorc sceáwigan, beorna burhfæsten and ðæt beácen somod,

      Cd. Th. 101, 9; Gen. 1679.
  • Se wealdend ðe ðæt weorc (

    the universe

    ) staðolade,
      Andr. Kmbl. 1598 ; An. 800 : Exon. Th. 43, 19; Cri. 691.
  • Mé glíwedon wrætlíc weorc smiþa,

      408, 18 ; Rä. 27, 14.
  • Mycel wǽrun ðíne weorc,

      Ps. Th. 103, 23.
  • Ðá sceáwode Scyppend úre his weorca wlite, Cd. Th. 13, 23; Gen. 207 : 239, 2 ; Dan. 364: Met. 20, 21. VIa.

    a strong building, fortress

    :-- Babylonia ðe ǽr wæs ealra weorca fæstast and wunderlecast and mǽrast,
      Ors. 2, 4; Swt. 74, 24.
  • Bewrigene mid weorcum, Cd. Th. 218, 24; Dan. 44. VIb.

    work, what is done, effect produced

    :-- Ða flǽsclícan willan cumaþ oft þurh deófles sceónessa ǽr tó manna heortan, ǽr Drihtnes weorc ðǽr wunian móte,
      Blickl. Homl. 19, 8.
pain, travail, grief, v. weorcsum
Show examples
  • Ðæt ðám weligan wæs weorc tó þolianne,

      Exon. Th. 276, 21 ; Jul. 569.
  • Ðæt wæs weorc Gode,

      Cd. Th. 217, 18; Dan. 24.
  • Ne hié sorge wiht, weorces ne wiston,

      49, 2; Gen. 786 : Andr. Kmbl. 2556; An. 1279.
  • Wæs hé tó ðæs árfæst, ðæt him wæs on weorce, ðæt hé leng from Cristes onsýne wǽre,

      Blickl. Homl. 225, 28.
  • Hé ðæs weorc gehleát, frécne wíte,

      Cd. Th. 166, 10; Gen. 2745.
  • Hé ðæs gewinnes weorc þrowade, leódbealo longsum,

      Beo. Th. 3447; B. 1721: Apstls. Kmbl. 160; Ap. 80: Rood Kmbl. 155; Kr. 79.
  • Ic weorc þrowade, earfoða dǽl,

      Exon. Th. 485, 12; Rá. 71, 12.
  • Wore, Cd. Th. 19, 24 ; Gen. 296. ¶

    the instrumental or dative is used in the phrase weorce wesan with the dative of the person — to be painful to a person (cf. torne; adv. )

    :-- Mé næs se hrædlíca ende mínes lífes swá miclum weorce, swá mé wæs ðæt ic læs mǽrðo gefremed hæfde, ðonnemín willa wǽre,
      Nar. 32, 27.
  • Him wæs on móde myccle weorce (cf. on weorce, 225, 28

    supra

    ) and mycel tweó, hwæt hié be ðære dorstan dón,
      Blickl. Homl. 205, 9.
  • Him wæs ðæt swíþe myccle weorce, ðæt hé swá ungefulwad forðféran sceolde. 217, 22.
  • Ðá wæs him ðæt swíþe sár and myccle weorce,

      219, 14.
  • Mé ða fraceðu sind on módsefan mǽste weorce,

      Exon. Th. 247, 2 ; Jul. 72.
  • Ne mé weorce sind wítebrógan,

      250, 30; Jul. 135.
  • Wæs Abrahame weorce on móde, ðæt hé on wræc drife his selfes sunu,

      Cd. Th. 168, 31; Gen. 2791.
  • Denum eallum wæs weorce on móde tó geþolianne,

      Beo. Th. 2841; B. 1418.
Etymology
[O. Sax. werk work, pain: O. Frs. werk: O. H. Ger. weran opus, operatio, fabricatio, materia, opera: Icel. verk.]
Similar entries
v. æcer-, and-, beadu-, bóc-, cræft-, dǽd-, dæg-, ellen-, firen-, frum-, fyrn-, ge-, gúð-, hand-, heáh-, heaðo-, here-, in-, irre-, láð-, mægen-, mǽr-, mán-, mis-, níþ-, niht-, ofer-, orleg-, sigor-, stán-, þeów -, þreá-, þrýþ-, unriht-, untíd-, unwit-, weall-, weorold-, wic-, wundor-weorc.
Linked entries
v.  weorce weorc-sum werc.
Full form

Word-wheel

  • weorc, n.; adv.