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Anglo-Saxon

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sécan

  • verb [ weak ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
sécan, sécean; p. sóhte; pp. sóht
Wright's OE grammar
§47; §128; §129; §163; §215; §272; §273; §306; §309; §311; §326; §534;
To seek.
to try to find, to look for, make search for
Show examples

  • Ic séce míne gebróðru

    fratres meos quaero,

    • Gen. 37, 16
      • .

  • Hwæne sécst ðú?

    • Jn. Skt. 20, 15
      • .

  • Se ðe sécþ, hé hyt fint,

    • Mt. Kmbl. 7, 8
      • .

  • Hwæðer gé willen on wuda sécan gold ðæt reáde? . . . Hit witena nán ðider né séceþ

    (cf. gé hit ðǽr ne sécaþ, ne finde gé hit nó,)
    • (Bt. 32, 3
      • ;
    • Fox 118, 9)
      • ,
    • Met. 19, 8
      • .

  • Ðonne gé Drihten sécaþ, ðonne geméte gé hine, gif gé hine mid inweardre heortan séceaþ,

    • Deut. 4, 29
      • .

  • Gé séceaþ (soecas,

    • Lind.
    ) ðone Hǽlynd,

    • Mt. Kmbl. 28, 5
      • .

  • Hé áxode hine, hwæt hé sóhte,

    • Gen. 37, 15
      • .

  • Ðín fæder and ic sárigende ðé sóhton,

    • Lk. Skt. 2, 48
      • .

  • Hí sóhton hyne,

    • Mt. Kmbl. 21, 46
      • :
    • Blickl. Homl. 241, 12
      • .

  • Mannes sunu com sécean (tó soecanne,

    • Lind.
    ) and hál dón ðæt forwearð,

    • Lk. Skt. 19, 10
      • .

  • Sécende God

    requirens Deum,

    • Ps. Spl. 13, 3
      • .
to try to get (the source from which a thing is sought marked by tó)
Show examples

  • Ic monnes feorh tó slagan séce (MS. seðe)

    I will require man's life of the slayer,

    • Cd. Th. 92, 7
      • ;
    • Gen. 1525
      • .

  • Ic tó Drihtne séce ðæt ic gód æt him begitan móte

    quaesivi bona tibi,

    • Ps. Th. 121, 9
      • .

  • Gif ðú ðé tó swá mildum mundbyrd sécest,

    • Exon. Th. 252, 29
      • ;
    • Jul. 170
      • .

  • Heó úrne fultum séhþ,

    • Homl. Th. ii. 112, 18
      • .

  • Gumena gehwylcum ðara ðe geóce tó him séceþ,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 2307
      • ;
    • An. 1155
      • .

  • Ðǽr is help gearu manna gehwylcum ðam ðe séceþ tó him,

    • 1818
      • ;
    • An. 911
      • .

  • Gé hí sécaþ tó fremdum gesceaftum,

    • Bt. 14, 2
      • ;
    • Fox 44, 17, 29
      • .

  • Súþ-Seaxna mǽgþ him biscopþéninge séceaþ tó West-Seaxna biscope,

    • Bd. 5, 23
      • ;
    • S. 646, 24
      • .

  • Ðæt se án ne ætburste ðe hé sóhte,

    • Homl. Th. i. 82, 13
      • .

  • Hwílum man ceás ða men ðe noldan swician . . . and syððan hit man sóhte be ðám ðe nearwlícast cúðan swician

    at one time the men were chosen that would not deceive . . . and since they have been looked for among those that could most oppressively deceive,

    • L. I. P. 12
      • ;
    • Th. ii. 320, 24
      • .

  • Ús is nédþearf ðæt wé sécan ðone lǽcedóm úre sáuwle,

    • Blickl. Homl. 97, 31
      • .

  • Biddon wé Drihten ðæs leóhtes ðe nǽfre ne geendaþ . . . ðæt leóht wé sceolan sécan, ðæt wé mótan habban mid englum gemǽne,

    • 21, 14
      • .

  • Bearn Godes brýda ongunnon on Caines cynne sécan,

    • Cd. Th. 75, 33
      • ;
    • Gen. 1249
      • .

  • Woldon tó dúnscræfum drohtoþ sécan,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 3077
      • ;
    • An. 1541
      • .

  • Uton sibbe tó him sécan,

    • Exon. Th. 365, 11
      • ;
    • Wal. 87
      • .

  • Seócan,

    • Ps. C. 109
      • .

  • Hwæt elles is tó sécanne wið ðam hungre nymbe andlyfen,

    • Bd. 1, 27
      • ;
    • S. 494, 16
      • .

  • Hé gǽþ sécende reste,

    • Mt. Kmbl. 12, 43
      • .

  • Sió ǽ sceal beón sóht on ðæs sacerdes múþe,

    • Past. 15
      • ;
    • Swt. 91, 17
      • .
to try to attain an end, strive to effect a purpose, aim at, strive after, make something the object of endeavour
Show examples

  • Ic ne séce mínne willan ac ðæs ðe mé sende,

    • Jn. Skt. 5, 30
      • :
    • 8, 50
      • .

  • Hwæt sécst ðú?

    • 4, 27
      • .

  • León hwelpas sécaþ, ðæt him ǽt God gedéme,

    • Ps. Th. 103, 20
      • .

  • Gif hé ðone dóm ofer hine sóhte

    if the other tried to get judgment upon him,

    • L. Alf. 49
      • ;
    • Th. i. 56, 33
      • .

  • Ðá hálgan ðe on ðyssum lífe náht ne sóhton ne ne gyrndon tó hæbbene,

    • Blickl. Homl. 53, 25
      • .

  • Hí sóhton hine him tó hláforde and tó mundboran

    they tried to get him to be their lord and protector,

    • Chr. 921
      • ;
    • Erl. 107, 29
      • :
    • 922
      • ;
    • Erl. 108, 20, 28
      • .

  • Gif ðæt riht tó hefig sý, séce siþþan ða líhtinge tó ðam cynge,

    • L. Edg. ii. 2
      • ;
    • Th. i. 266, 11
      • .
to try to find out by investigation or examination
Show examples

  • Hwylc séceþ ðæt ðe sóðfæst byþ

    veritatem quis requiret?

    • Ps. Th. 60, 6
      • .

  • Sóhte synnum fáh, hú hé sárlícast meahte feorhcwale findan . . . Feónd hine gelǽrde,

    • Exon. Th. 276, 24
      • ;
    • Jul. 571
      • .

  • Georne smeádon, sóhton searoþancum, hwæt sió syn wǽre,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 827
      • ;
    • El. 414
      • .

  • Ongan on sefan sécean sóðfæstnesse weg tó wuldre,

    • 2295
      • ;
    • El. 1149
      • .

  • Ic ðíne gewitnesse wylle sécan

    testimonia tua exquisivi,

    • Ps. Th. 118, 22
      • .

  • Lǽcedóm sǽcan

    medicamentum explorare,

    • Bd. 1, 27
      • ;
    • S. 494, 18
      • .

  • Hwílum beóþ ða wǽtan on ðære wambe filmenum, ðonne sceal mon ðæt wíslíce sécean,

    • Lchdm. ii. 222, 24
      • .
to try to learn by asking, to ask
Show examples

  • Ða mé cunnon andsware cýðan tácna gehwylces ðe ic him tó séce,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 638
      • ;
    • El. 319
      • .

  • Ðá cwæð Maria tó ðæm engle: Hwæt is ðín nama? Ðá cwæð se engel tó hire: Hwæt sécestú mínne naman?

    • Blickl. Homl. 137, 29
      • .

  • Hé ðá Drihtnes willan sóhte

    he tried to learn what was the will of the Lord,

    • 225, 30
      • .

  • Wíslíce gé dyde, ðætte mannum bedígled wæs on eorþan, ðæt gé ðæt on heofenas tó Gode sóhtan,

    • 201, 2
      • .

  • Tó sécenne,

    • 205, 27
      • .

  • Ic wát ðæt hió wile sécan (ask Cf. Ðá seó cwén ongan fricggan, 1116; El. 560) be ðam sigebeáme,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 840
      • ;
    • El. 420
      • .
to go or come to
Show examples

  • Oft sécende

    frequentantem,

    • Wrt. Voc. ii. 34, 18
      • .
to seek a person, to visit
(cf.
Ger. be-suchen
)
Show examples

  • Ðǽr beóþ gegearwoda Godes mildheortnessa ðǽm mannum ðe ða líchoman séceaþ þurh heora gebedo,

    • Blickl. Homl. 193, 21
      • .

  • Ða ðe æfter deáþe Dryhten sécaþ,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 1200
      • ;
    • An. 600
      • .

  • Ðá hé ðone cyningc sóhte

    when he visited the king,

    • Ors. 1, 1
      • ;
    • Swt. 18, 10
      • .

  • Sárge gé ne sóhton

    ye did not visit the afflicted,

    • Exon. Th. 92, 19
      • ;
    • Cri. 1511
      • .

  • Hig ðæs wyrðe wǽron ðæt Godes englas hig sóhton,

    • L. E. I. 25
      • ;
    • Th. ii. 422, 15
      • .

  • Séc nú ðínne þeów,

    • Blickl. Homl. 87, 31
      • .

  • Hider ic wille ðæt wé sécan Sc̃e Petre,

    • Chr. 656
      • ;
    • Erl. 31, 32
      • .

  • Satan ic sécan wille,

    • Cd. Th. 47, 15
      • ;
    • Gen. 761
      • .

  • Gewít ðú ðínne eft waldend sécan

    go back again to your master,

    • 138, 17
      • ;
    • Gen. 2293
      • :
    • Andr. Kmbl. 1886
      • ;
    • An. 945
      • .
to seek a person for protection, to take refuge with a person.
Similar entries
v. sócn, VI. 2
Show examples

  • Gif hwilc þeóf oððe reáfere gesóhte ðone cing . . . hé hæbbe nigon nihta fyrst. And gif hé ealderman oððe abbud oððe þegen séce, hæbbe þreora nihta fyrst,

    • L. Ath. iv. 4
      • ;
    • Th. i. 222, 28
      • .
to seek a place, to visit, resort to
Show examples

  • Hé (the phenix) sunbeorht gesetu séceþ,

    • Exon. Th. 217, 11
      • ;
    • Ph. 278
      • .

  • Ða men ðe ðyder cóman and ða hálgan stówe sóhton,

    • Blickl. Homl. 125, 28
      • :
    • 201, 11
      • .

  • Hí syððan gewunelíce ðider sóhton

    they afterwards resorted thither,

    • Homl. Th. i. 504, 6
      • .

  • Séce man hundredgemót,

    • L. Edg. ii. 5
      • ;
    • Th. i. 268, 2
      • .

  • Ðæt ðeós onlícnes eorþan séce

    fall to earth,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 1462
      • ;
    • An. 731
      • .

  • Ðeáh heorot holtwudu séce,

    • Beo. Th. 2743
      • ;
    • B. 1369
      • .

  • Ðæt hí secggan ðæm folce ðæt hí sunnandagum Godes cyrican georne sécan,

    • Blickl. Homl. 47, 28
      • :
    • L. C. E. 2
      • ;
    • Th. i. 358, 14
      • .

  • Gif hié ǽnigne feld sécan wolden

    if they should attempt to come into the open country,

    • Chr. 894
      • ;
    • Erl. 90, 11
      • .

  • Gewitan him Norþmen Difelin sécan,

    • 937
      • ;
    • Erl. 115, 4
      • .

  • Ðonne sculon hié ðás helle sécan,

    • Cd. Th. 26, 14
      • ;
    • Gen. 406
      • :
    • 136, 30
      • ;
    • Gen. 2266
      • .

  • Óðerne éðel sécan,

    • Blickl. Homl. 23, 6
      • .

  • Mere sécan

    to go to sea,

    • Exon. Th. 474, 5
      • ;
    • Bo. 25
      • .
to seek immaterial things, to go to war, resort to artifice, etc.
Show examples

  • Ic ne sóhte searoníþas, ne ne swór fela áþa on unriht,

    • Beo. Th. 5469
      • ;
    • B. 2738
      • .

  • Se wuldres dǽl sigorleán sóhte

    the soul has gone to its reward,

    • Exon. Th. 184, 14
      • ;
    • Gú. 1344
      • .

  • Se rinc sóhte óðer líf,

    • Cd. Th. 98, 9
      • ;
    • Gen. 1627
      • .

  • Hí clǽnsunge bæþes sóhton,

    • Bd. 1, 27
      • ;
    • S. 495, 16
      • .

  • Hié noldan leng heora hláforda ne heora wera ræstgemánan sécean,

    • Blickl. Homl. 173, 16
      • .

  • Ðá ðú gehogodest sæcce sécean,

    • Beo. Th. 3982
      • ;
    • B. 1989
      • :
    • 5117
      • ;
    • B. 2562
      • .

  • Fǽhþe sécan,

    • 5020
      • ;
    • B. 2513
      • .
to seek with hostile intent (as in to seek a person's life), to try to get at, to go to attack
Show examples

  • Mé fyrenfulle fǽcne séceaþ, wyllaþ mé lífes ásécean

    me expectaverunt peccatores, ut perderent me,

    • Ps. Th. 118, 95
      • .

  • Him (hié, hí other MSS.) mon mid óðrum floccum sóhte,

    • Chr. 894
      • ;
    • Erl. 90, 14
      • .

  • Hié micle fierd gegadrodon and ðone here sóhton æt Eoforwícceastre,

    • 867
      • ;
    • Erl. 72, 13
      • .

  • Ða ðe míne fýnd wǽron, and míne sáwle sóhton mid níðe,

    • Ps. Th. 69, 2
      • :
    • 85, 13
      • :
    • Mt. Kmbl. 2, 20
      • .

  • Hié alle from him ondrédon, ðæt hí hié mid gefeohte sóhte,

    • Ors. 1, 10
      • ;
    • Swt. 48, 17
      • .

  • Sécan míne fýnd míne sáwle

    persequatur inimicus animam méam,

    • Ps. Th. 7, 5
      • .

  • Ðá hié gewin drugon, and on healfa gehwone heáwan þohton, sáwle sécan,

    • Beo. Th. 1606
      • ;
    • B. 801
      • .

  • Sécean sáwle hord, sundur gedǽlan líf wið líce,

    • 4835
      • ;
    • B. 2422
      • .
Etymology
[
Goth. sókjan
:
O. Frs. séka
:
O. Sax. sókian
:
O. L. Ger. suocan
:
O. H. Ger. suohhan quaerere, petere, exquirere, arcessire, appetere, invisere
:
Icel. sœkja to seek, fetch; to visit, frequent; to prosecute (a suit); to attack.
]
Similar entries
v. á-, for-, ge-, geond-, ofer-, on-, under-sécan.
Linked entries
v.  for-sécan hám-sócn sócn seócan seðe.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “sécan.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014. https://bosworthtoller.com/27299.

Checked: 2
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  • sécan, v.

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