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weorþan

  • verb [ strong ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
weorþan, (wurþan, wyrþan); p. wearþ, pl. wurdon; pp. worden.
Wright's OE grammar
§66; §85; §94; §106; §111; §168; §225; §226; §231; §238; §239; §253; §263; §299; §301; §302; §305; §474; §476; §488; §500; §637;
absolute,
to come to be, to be made, to arise, come, be
Show examples

  • Gif bánes blice weorðeþ,

      L. Ethb. 34; Th. i. 12, 4.

  • Gif bánes bite weorð,

      35; Th. i. 12, 5.

  • Ende nǽfre ðínes wræces weorþeþ,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2765; An. 1385.

  • Hwá wæs ǽfre, oþþe is nú, oððe hwá wyrþ get æfter ús? Bt. 11,

      1; Fox 30, 24.

  • Hlynn wearð on ceastrum,

      Cd. Th. 153, 30; Gen. 2546.

  • Hwí ne wundriaþ hí hwí ðæt ís weorþe,

      Bt. 39, 3; Fox 214, 35.

  • Ðe læs tó mycel styrung wurde on ðam folce

    ne forte tumultus fieret in populo,

      Mt. 26, 5.

  • Héht lífes weard on mereflóde middum weorðan hyhtlíc heofontimber,

      Cd. Th. 9, 22; Gen. 145.
to come to pass, to be done, to happen, to take place, befall, come, be
Show examples

  • Ðæt weorþeþ for ðyses folces synnum, ðæt ealle ðás getimbro beóþ tóworpene,

      Blickl. Homl. 77, 35.

  • Daga egelícast weorþeþ in worulde,

      Exon. Th. 63, 21; Cri. 1023.

  • Huu worðes ðis

    quomodo fiet istud?

      Lk. Skt. Lind. Rush. 1, 34: 23, 31.

  • Ðǽr wearþ micel gefeoht,

      Chr. 800; Erl. 60, 7: 868; Erl. 72, 28.

  • On ðám gemótan, þeáh rǽdlíce wurðan on namcúðan stówan,

      L. Eth. ix. 37; Th. i. 348, 17.

  • Hwæðer ǽfre wurde þus gerád þing

    si facta est aliquando hujuseemodi res,

      Deut. 4, 32.

  • Eálá ðæt hit wurde, ðæt . . .,

      Met. 8, 39.

  • Sceal se dæg weorþan,

      Exon. Th. 447, 5; Dóm. 34.

  • Þurh hwæt his worulde gedál weorðan sceolde,

      Beo. Th. 6129; B. 3068.

  • Ðætte ríces gehwæs sceolde gelimpan, eorðan dreámas ende wurðan,

      Cd. Th. 223, 6; Dan. 115.

  • Sceal feorhgedál æfter wyrðan,

      Andr. Kmbl. 364; Ass. 182: 430; An. 215. (2 a)
    when the object affected by what happens is given :-- Ne wyrð him nán orne, Lchdm. iii. 16, 4.

  • Ic wát ealre ðysse worulde wurðeþ ende

    omni consummationi vidi finem,

      Ps. Th. 118, 96.

  • Dómas ðe wǽdlum weorðaþ,

      139, 12.

  • Tácnu wurðaþ on eów

    erunt in te signa,

      Deut. 28, 46.
  • Hwæt wearð eów? Andr. Kmbl. 2685; An. 1345.

  • Ðæt ðé sceates ðearf ne wurde,

      Cd. Th. 32, 16; Gen. 504.

  • Unc sceal weorðan swá unc wyrd geteóð,

      Beo. Th. 5045; B. 2526.
to become, be made, be,
with predicative substantive
Show examples

  • Ða hwíle ðe hé ðǽr stód, hé wearþ fǽringa geong cniht, and sóna eft eald man,

      Blickl. Homl. 175, 2.

  • On ðam dæge wurdun Heródes and Pilatus gefrýnd; sóðlíce hig wǽron ǽr gefýnd,

      Lk. Skt. 23, 12.

  • Wá heom ðæs síðes ðe hí men wurdon,

      Wulfst. 27, 4.

  • Weorðan his bearn steópcild, and his wíf wyrðe wydewe

    fiant filii ejus orphani, et uxor ejas vidua,

      Ps. Th. 108, 9.

  • Ðæt wé ðæs morðres meldan ne weorðen,

      Elen. Kmbl. 856; El. 428.
with predicative adjective,
to get, grow
Show examples

  • Gif ðú lárna ðínra éste wyrðest,

      Andr. Kmbl. 965; An. 483.

  • Gif eáre þirel weorðeþ,

      L. Ethb. 41; Th. i. 14, 6.

  • Gif hé healt weorð,

      65; Th. i. 18, 14.

  • Ðé weorð on ðínum breóstum rúm,

      Cd. Th. 33, 13; Gen. 519.

  • Gif ða cearwylmas cólran wurðaþ,

      Beo. Th. 570; B. 282.

  • Ða deáde ne weorðaþ (v. l. wurðaþ)

    qui non gustabunt mortem,

      Lk. Skt. 9, 27.

  • Ðá wearð hé druncen

    inebriatus est,

      Gen. 9, 21.

  • Ðæt wíf wearð wráð ðam geongan cnapan

    mulier molesta erat adolescenti,

      39, 10.

  • Wearð hé swíðe yrre

    iratus est valde,

      39, 19.

  • Hwelc siððan wearð herewulfa síð,

      Cd. Th. 121, 23; Gen. 2014.

  • Ða fixas wurdon deáde

    pisces mortui sunt,

      Ex. 7, 21.

  • Mierce wurdon cristne,

      Chr. 655; Erl. 28, 1.

  • Mé milde weorð

    miserere mei,

      Ps. Th. 56, 1: 66, 1.

  • Monigfaldge worðe

    habundaverit,

      Mt. Kmbl. Lind. 5, 20.

  • Nǽnges þinges máre þearf ðonne his unriht yppe wurde,

      Blickl. Homl. 175, 10.

  • Eálá ðæt úre tída nú nemihtan weorðan swilce,

      Bt. 15; Fox 48, 18.

  • Sǽne weorðan,

      Andr. Kmbl. 408; An. 204.

  • Wyrðan,

      874; An. 437.

  • Wurðan,

      Cd. Th. 27, 8; Gen. 414.

  • Wæs óðere ǽghwilc worden mǽgburh fremde,

      102, 3; Gen. 1694: 135, 2; Gen. 2236.

  • Wearð hé acol worden,

      223, 24; Dan. 124.

  • Eal cristen folc is þurh geleáfan geleáful worden,

      Wulfst. 279, 30.

  • Ða dysegan sint wordene blinde,

      Met. 19, 29.
with prepositional phrase
Show examples

  • Heó wearð mid cilde,

      Homl. Th. i. 24, 26.

  • Ðæt ic tó ðínum willan weorþan móte

    that I may be to thy liking,

      Ps. C. 104.
with adverb,
where the subject is given
Show examples
  • Heó wyrð glædlíce on hyre heortan, Anglia viii. 324, 16.

  • Óþ ðæt ðín fót weorðe fæste on blóde

    ut intinguatur pes tuus in sanguine,

      Ps. Th. 67, 22.
with impersonal construction
Show examples

  • Wearð mé on hige leóhte,

      Cd. Th. 42, 20; Gen. 676.

  • Ðá wearþ hyre rúme on móde,

      Judth. Thw. 22, 39; Jud. 97.

  • Gif men férlíce wyrde únsófte,

      Rtl. 114, 24.
with prepositions (see also IV),
weorþan of to come from, be caused by, be produced from or
by
Show examples

  • Wiþ geswelle ðam ðe wyrð of fylle oððe of slege,

      Lchdm. ii. 72, 22.

  • Hwý ðæt ís mæge weorþan of wætere,

      Met. 28, 60.
weorþan on,
to get into a state of being, feeling, to become the adjective connected with the noun,
get
Show examples

  • Gif hé wyrþ on ungeþylde

    if he gets impatient;

    cum dederit impatientiae manus,
      Bt. 11, 1; Fox 32, 33.

  • Weorþeþ (-aþ, MS.) oft on wón se sido

    in hoc hominum judicia depugnant,

      39, 9; Fox 226, 4.

  • Ðá wearþ Holofernus on gytesálum

    he grew merry, as the wine flowed,

      Judth. Thw. 21, 17; Jud. 21.

  • Wurdan gesweoru on seledreáme

    exultaverunt colles,

      Ps. Th. 113, 6.

  • Hié weorðen on ungeðylde,

      Past. 45; Swt. 341, 3.
to get into a state of action, to come to be doing something, to fall to an action,
to take to
Show examples

  • Hé wierð (wirð, Hatt. MS.) swíðe hræðe on fielle

    citius corruit,

      Past. 39; Swt. 286, 17.

  • Wénst ðú ðæt ðú ðæt hwerfende hweól, ðonne hit on ryne wyrþ (when it gets a-running), mæge oncyrran

    tu volventis rotae impetum retinere conaris?

      Bt. 7, 2; Fox 18, 36.

  • Hé on fylle wearð,

      Beo. Th. 3093; B. 1544.

  • Hé wearð on fleáme,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2771; An. 1388.

  • Hé wearð on slǽpe,

      Homl. Skt. i. 18, 161.

  • Hí on slǽpe wurdon,

      23, 249.

  • Hig wurdon on fleáme

    terga verterunt,

      Jos. 7, 4.

  • Hié weorðen on murcunga

    they fall a*-*grumbling;

    ad murmurationem proruunt,
      Past. 45; Swt. 341, 3.
to come to be something,
become, turn into
Show examples

  • Mé weorð on God þeccend and on trume stówe

    esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in locum munitum,

      Ps. Th. 70, 2.

  • Ðæt heó on sealtstánes wurde anlícnesse,

      Cd. Th. 154, 32; Gen. 2564.

  • Hé mé ys worden on hǽlu

    foetus est mihi in salutem,

      Ps. Th. 117, 14.
weorþan tó,
of change in material condition,
to become, turn to
Show examples

  • Ðú eart dust, and tó duste wyrst

    pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris,

      Gen. 3, 19.

  • Weorðeþ tó duste,

      Ps. Th. 89, 6.

  • Tó wætere weorðeþ,

      147, 7: Met. 28, 63.

  • Se wyrm wyrð tó eorþan,

      Lchdm. ii. 44, 16.

  • Weorp ðíne girde beforan Pharaone, and heó wirð tó næddran (

    vertetur in colubrum

    ),
      Ex. 7, 9.

  • Seó eá ðǽr wyrþ tó miclum sǽ,

      Ors. 1, 1; Swt. 12, 28.

  • Weorðaþ hig tó acxan

    fatiscunt in cinerem,

      1, 3; Swt. 32, 15.

  • Bearwas wurdon tó axan,

      Cd. Th. 154, 8; Gen. 2552.

  • Sume wurdon tó wulfan,

      Bt. 38, 1; Fox 194, 36: Met. 26, 79.

  • On eorþan gangan and tó eorþan weorþan,

      Blickl. Homl. 123, 10.

  • Seó eá ne mæg weorþan tó ǽwelme, ac se ǽwelm mæg weorþan tó eá,

      Bt. 34, 1; Fox 134, 15.
of the state or condition to which things come, of the event of matters,
to become, have as issue, come to
Show examples

  • Ǽlc þing wyrþ tó náuhte,

      Bt. 34, 1; Fox 134, 13.

  • Hí weorþaþ him selfe tó náuhte,

      21; Fox 74, 36.

  • Tó hwan wearð hondrǽs hæleþa

    what was the event of the combat,

      Beo. Th. 4149; B. 2071.

  • Ðonne hié ne giémaþ tó hwon óðerra monna wíse weorðe

    when they do not care to what a state other men get,

      Past. 5; Swt. 41, 24.

  • Hé ðóhte ðæt hé hine ofslóge, wurde siððan tó ðæm ðe hit meahte (

    be the event what it might

    ),
      34; Swt. 235, 10.

  • Lyt ðú geþóhtes tó hwon ðínre sáwle síð siþþan wurde,

      Exon. Th. 368, 12; Seel. 20.

  • Hí bidon tó hwon his ðing weorþan sceolde

    quem res exitum haberet exspectantes,

      Bd. 3, 11; S. 536, 32.

  • Tó hwon sculon wit weorðan

    what is to become of us?

      Cd. Th. 50, 28; Gen. 815.

  • Eall mín mægen is tó náuhte worden,

      Ps. Th. 21, 11.
where a character or function is taken by anything,
to become, turn, turn to
Show examples

  • Mé tó aldorbanan weorðeþ wráðra sum

    some fell one will become the destroyer of my life,

      Cd. Th. 63, 18; Gen. 1034.

  • Hé wierð tó ðæs onlícnesse ðe áwriten is

    usque ad ejus similitudinem ducitur, de quo scriptum est,

      Past. 17; Swt. 111, 21.

  • Ne wyrð nán tó láfe none shall become a remnant, i. e.

    none shall be left;

    non remanebit ex eis ungula,
      Ex. 10, 26.

  • Gif þegen geþeáh ðæt hé wearð tó eorle,

      L. R. 5; Th. i. 192, 7.

  • Se tó deófle wearð,

      Cd. Th. 20, 9; Gen. 305.

  • Ic tó meldan wearð

    I turned informer,

      Exon. Th. 279, 30; Jul. 621.

  • Wearð hé Heaðoláfe tó handbonan,

      Beo. Th. 924; B. 460.

  • Hwonne líffreá weorðe ússum móde tó mundboran,

      Exon. Th. 2, 32; Cri. 28.

  • Ðeáh þrǽla hwylc of cristendóme tó wícinge weorðe,

      Wulfst. 162, 6.

  • Ðý læs sió upáhæfenes him weorðe tó wege micelre scylde

    ne elatio via fiat ad foveam gravioris culpae,

      Past. 57; Swt. 439, 11.
where a result is brought about,
to become, prove a source of
Show examples

  • Seó ofering ðé wurþ tó sáre,

      Bt. 14, 1; Fox 42, 16.

  • Hit him wyrþ tó teónan,

      Blickl. Homl. 51, 9.

  • Ðú wurde mé tó hǽlu

    factus es mihi in salutem,

      Ps. Th. 117, 27.

  • Hió wearð mongum tó frófre,

      Exon. Th. 421, 17; Rä. 40, 18.

  • Tó blisse,

      Blickl. Homl. 123, 2.

  • Tó aldorceare,

      Beo. Th. 1817; B. 905.

  • Hé manegum wearð mannum tó hróðre, werþeódum tó wræce,

      Elen. Kmbl. 30; El. 15.

  • Ða byrig, ðe ǽr gafol guldon, wurdon Ciruse tó monegum gefeohtum

    civitates, quae tributariae erant, a Cyro defecerunt; quae res Cyro multorum bellorum causa et origo exstitit,

      Ors. 1, 12; Swt. 54, 14.

  • Ðe læs úre deáþ úrum feóndum tó gefeán weorþe,

      Blickl. Homl. 101, 33.

  • Tó hleó and tó hróþer hæleþa cynne weorðan,

      Exon. Th. 73, 31; Cri. 1198.

  • Tó frófre weorþan,

      Beo. Th. 3419; B. 1707.
to become, be an object of
Show examples

  • Ic eom worden mannum tó leahtrunge and tó forsewennesse

    ego sum opprobrium hominum,

      Ps. Th. 21, 5.
implying movement, change of position,
literal,
to come, get,
with prepositions
Show examples

  • Ðonne hé (

    the moon) betwux ús and hire (the sun )

    wyrþ,
      Bt. 4; Fox 8, 2.

  • Of ðære sǽ cymþ ðæt wæter innon ða eorþan; cymþ ðonne up æt ðam ǽwelme, wyrþ ðonne tó bróce, ðonne tó eá, ðonne andlang eá, óþ hit wyrþ eft tó sǽ,

      34, 6; Fox 140, 17-20.

  • Se regn ðæt deófol on ufan wyrðeþ,

      Salm. Kmbl. p. 148, 5.

  • Swá swá wé of ðisse weorulde weorðaþ,

      Shrn. 202, 4.

  • Gif hí on ðam wuda weorþaþ

    if they get in the wood,

      Bt. 25; Fox 88, 16.

  • Gif hí on treówum weorþaþ,

      Met. 13, 36.

  • Hé wearð him on ánon scipe

    he got him (reflex.) on board a ship,

      Chr. 1052; Erl. 187, 13.

  • Sebastianus geseah hú ða Godes cempan ongunnon hnexian, and wearð him tómiddes (

    he came amongst them

    ),
      Homl. Skt. i. 5, 52.

  • Gif nægl of honda weorðe

    if a nail come off the hand,

      Lchdm. iii. 58, 7.

  • Ðú mihtest ðé féran betwyx ðám tunglum, and ðonne weorþan on ðam rodore,

      Bt. 36, 2; Fox 174, 11.

  • On ðæm rodere ufan weorþan,

      Met. 24, 18.
with adverbs
Show examples

  • Gif eáge of weorð

    if an eye comes out,

      L. Ethb. 43; Th. i. 14, 8.

  • Gif fót of weorðeþ

    if a foot comes off,

      69; Th. i. 20, 1: 70; Th. i. 20, 2: 72; Th. i. 20, 5.

  • Hé wearð him áwege

    he went away, got off,

      Homl. Skt. ii. 25, 228.

  • Hié sume inne wurdon

    some of them got inside,

      Chr. 867; Erl. 72, 14.

  • Móste ic áne tíd úte weorðan,

      Cd. Th. 23, 34; Gen. 369.
figurative
Show examples

  • Adames cynn onféhð flǽsce, weorþeþ foldræste æt ende

    Adam's race shall receive flesh, shall come to the end of its rest in earth,

      Exon. Th. 63, 34; Cri. 1029.

  • Búton monnum and sumum englum, ða weorþaþ hwílum of hiora gecynde

    except men and some angels, who sometimes depart from their nature,

      Bt. 25; Fox 88, 8.

  • His ǽhta weorþaþ on ðæs onwealde ðé hé wyrrest úþe,

      Blickl. Homl. 195, 3.

  • Ic nó ne wearþ of ðam sóþan geleáfan

    nec umquam fuerit dies, qui me ab hac sententia depellat,

      5, 3; Fox 12, 6.

  • Hwí ðæt ís for ðære sunnan scíman tó his ágnum gecynde weorþe,

      39, 3; Fox 216, 1.

  • Ðæt gé of feónda fæðme weorðen

    that ye get out of the foes' grasp,

      Cd. Th. 196, 20; Exod. 294.

  • Ðæt ne loc of heáfde tó forlore wurde

    that not a hair from the head should come to destruction,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2846; An. 1425.
as an auxiliary with participles,
present
Show examples

  • Gif him hwilc yfel gelimpð, ic wurðe syððan geómriende,

      Gen. 42, 38.
past,
of transitive verbs, forming a passive voice
Show examples

  • Eów weorþeþ forgifen hwæt gé sprecaþ,

      Blickl. Homl. 171, 19.

  • Ne weorþeþ sió mǽgburg gemicledu eaforan mínum,

      Exon. Th. 401, 31; Rä. 21, 20.

  • Hé him ábolgen wurðeþ,

      Cd. Th. 28, 4; Gen. 430.

  • Hú wurþ hé elles gelǽred

    how else shall he get taught?

      Bd. pref.; S. 471, 18.

  • Hí weorþaþ bereáfode ǽlcre áre,

      Bt. 29, 2; Fox 104, 16.

  • Ðá wearð Faraones heorte gehefegod

    ingravatum est cor Pharaonis,

      Ex. 8, 32.

  • Ðá him gerýmed wearð, ðæt hié wælstówe wealdan móston,

      Beo. Th. 5959; B. 2983.

  • Swá his mandrihten gemǽted wearð,

      Cd. Th. 225, 21; Dan. 157.

  • Ðý læs hié eft weorðen (wyrðen,

      Hatt. MS.) gedémde, Past. 28; Swt. 190, 15.

  • Seó burh sceolde ábrocen weorþan,

      Blickl. Homl. 77, 29.

  • Ne mihte him bedyrned wyrðan ðæt his engyl ongan ofermód wesan,

      Cd. Th. 17, 18; Gen. 261.
of intransitive verbs
Show examples

  • Ðé sunu weorðeþ cumen,

      Cd. Th. 132, 19; Gen. 2195.

  • Ða geongan leoþu geloden weorþaþ,

      Exon. Th. 327, 20; Vy. 6.

  • Hé sóna wearð hál geworden,

      Blickl. Homl. 223, 26: Cd. Th. 223, 23; Dan. 124.

  • Denum wearð willa gelumpen,

      Beo. Th. 1851; B. 823; 2473; B. 1234.

  • Ðá weard áfeallen ðæs folces ealdor,

      Byrht. Th. 137, 46; By. 202.

  • Ðá wearð se líchama tóslopen,

      Homl. Th. i. 86, 24: Jos. 5, 1.

  • Ðæt hí forwordene weorðen

    ut intereant,

      Ps. Th. 91, 6.
Etymology
[Goth. wairþan: O. Sax. werðan: O. Frs. wertha: O. H. Ger. werdan: Icel. verða.]
Similar entries
v. for-, ge-, mis-weorþan.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “weorþan.” 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/35305.

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  • weorþan, v.

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