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Anglo-Saxon

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ymb

  • preposition
Dictionary links
Grammar
ymb, ymbe, umbe, embe, emban; prep.
Wright's OE grammar
§112; §234; §292; §559; §594; §645;
About, by
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  • Ymb

    erga,

      Wrt. Voc. ii. 32, 62.
with acc.,
local,
about, round
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  • Ymbe ða dúne

    circum montem,

      Ælfc. Gr. 47; Zup. 269, 8.
marking an object which forms a centre for others
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  • Ymb ðone écan æðele stondaþ hæleð ymb héhseld,

      Cd. Th. 267, 32; Sat. 47: Beo. Th. 804; B. 399: Elen. Kmbl. 519; El. 260: Judth. Thw. 25, 19; Jud. 268.

  • Ymb ðæt

    circumquaque

    (turmas circumquaque cum simulacro debacchantes,
      Ald. 52), Wrt. Voc. ii. 83. 33: 18, 47.

  • Ymb hine wǽgon wígend unforhte,

      Cd. Th. 189, 5; Exod. 180.

  • Hí ymb þeódenstól þringaþ,

      Exon. Th. 25, 7; Cri. 397.

  • Hié ymb ða gatu feohtende wǽron,

      Chr. 755; Erl. 50, 26.

  • Hý fuhton stíðlíce ymbe ða hálgan sáwle, Wulfst. 236, 23. ¶

    in combination with

    útan :-- Fuglas þringaþ útan ymbe æþelne,
      Exon. Th. 209, 1; Ph. 164: Andr. Kmbl. 1741; An. 873.

  • Ymb ðæt líc útan stondan,

      Blickl. Homl. 217, 21.
marking an object near to which are others
Show examples

  • Geségon hý englas twégen ymb ðæt frumbearn blícan,

      Exon. Th. 32, 3; Cri. 507.

  • Hine twégen ymb weardas wacedon,

      109. 5; Gú. 85.

  • Ealle ða ðe ymbe mé standaþ,

      Blickl. Homl. 141, 1.

  • Hine ymb monig sǽrinc selereste gebeáh,

      Beo. Th. 1383; B. 689.

  • Mycel menegeo ymbe Tirum (

    circa

    Tyrum),
      Mk. Skt. 3, 8.

  • Cynewulf and Offa gefuhton ymb Benesingtún and Offa nam ðone tuun,

      Chr. 777; Erl. 54, 1.

  • Ymbe Brúnanburh, 937; Erl. 112, 5: Hy. 10, 23. (b 1) about a person,

    in attendance upon

    :-- Hé sundernytte beheóld ymb aldor
      Dena, Bec. Th. 1340; B. 668.
marking an object which is surrounded or enclosed
Show examples

  • Hié worhton fæsten ymb hié selfe,

      Chr. 885; Erl. 82, 21.

  • Wall ymb ǽfæste,

      Cd. Th. 231, 16; Dan. 248.

  • Ymbe ða herehúþe hlemmeþ tógædre grimme góman,

      Exon. Th. 363, 29; Wal. 61.

  • Hí ymb his heáfod gebígdon beág þyrnenne,

      69, 25; Cri. 1126: 400, 20; Rä. 21, 4.

  • Wæs fleóhnet ymbe ðæs folctogan bed áhongen, Judth. Thw. 22, 4; Jud. 47. ¶

    in combination with

    útan :-- Is ðǽr cyrice ymb ða stówe útan getimbred,
      Blickl. Homl. 125, 20: 127, 32.

  • Ymb ðínne beód útan

    in circuitu mensae tuae,

      Ps. Th. 127, 4.
marking an object along whose border others are placed
Show examples

  • Unc módige ymb mearce sittaþ,

      Cd. Th. 114, 21; Gen. 1907.

  • Hié wícedon ymb ðæs wæteres wylm,

      Elen. Kmbl. 77; El. 39: 271; El. 136: Exon. Th. 188, 2; Az. 39.

  • Ymb ða gifhealle

    round the walls of the hall,

      Beo. Th. 1680; B. 838.

  • Ðæt ríce súð licgeþ ymbe Gealboe and ymb Geador,

      Salm. Kmbl. 383-4; Sal. 191.

  • Is hyge ymb heortan gerúme,Cd. Th. 47,

      11; Gen. 759: 23, 5; Gen. 354: Exon. Th. 306, 21; Seef. 11.
marking an object throughout or along which there is position or movement
Show examples

  • Ic lǽrde sibbe ymb ða burh Hierusalem and manige þeóda,

      Blickl. Homl. 185, ll. Hé
    ymb ðæs wæteres stæð werod samnode, Elen. Kmbl. 119; El. 60: 453; El. 227.

  • Æfter dúnscræfum, ymb stánhleoðo,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2467; An. 1235: 3152; An. 1578.

  • Ymb ða weallas scínaþ engla gástas,

      Cd. Th. 305, 25; Sat. 652.

  • Ymbe hárne stán tigelfágan trafu stódan,

      Andr. Kmbl. 1682; An. 843.

  • Ymbe Sanere feld,

      Salm. Kmbl. 417; Sal. 209.

  • Ymb healfa gehwone,

      Exon. Th. 4, 31; Cri. 61.

  • Sár eft gewód ymb ðæs beornes breóst,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2495; An. 1249.
marking an object round which anything moves
Show examples

  • Faraþ ymbe ða burh

    circuite urbem,

      Jos. 6, 3, 12: Beo. Th. 6319; B. 3170.

  • Hý him ymb hond flugon,

      Exon. Th. 146, 14; Gú. 709.

  • Hí ymb ða eaxe hwearfaþ,

      Bt. 39, 3; Fox 214, 23: Met. 28, 22.
in combination with útan
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  • Hé ymb ðás útan hweorfeþ,

      Exon. Th. 422, 13; Rä. 41, 5.
temporal,
at
Show examples

  • Ymbe (embe, v. l.) underntíde . . . ymbe ða sixtan and nigoðan tíde

    circa horam tertium . . . circa sextant et nonam horam,

      Mt. Kmbl 20, 3, 5.

  • Ymbe underntíd, ðá ðá se bróðor wæs gewunod tó mæssigenne,

      Homl. Th. ii. 358, 20.

  • Ofer Eástron ymbe gangdagas oððe ǽr,

      Chr. 891; Erl. 88, 16.

  • On ðýs geáre ymb Martines mæssah,

      913; Erl. 100, 33.

  • Ymb ðone tiéman wǽren micel snáwgebland,

      Ors. 4, 8; Swt. 186, 33.

  • Þeáh hine mon gefó ymb niht,

      L. In. 72; Th. i. 148, 8.
after
Show examples

  • Ic sende rén nú ymb seofon niht ofer eorðan

    adhuc et post dies septem ego pluam super terram,

      Gen. 7, 4.

  • On ðisse tíde nú ymbe twelf mónð

    tempore isto in anno altero,

      17, 21.

  • Næs hit lengra fyrst ac ymb áne niht,

      Beo. Th. 270; B. 135.

  • Ymb twá niht,

      Cd. Th. 181, 18; Exod. 63.

  • Ymb fyrst wucan bútan ánre niht,

      Menol. Fox 172; Men. 87.

  • Ymb fíftig nihta æfter ðære gecýþdan ǽriste,

      Blickl. Homl. 133, 13.

  • Hé forþférde ymb .xx. wintra his ríces, bútan án ne wæs ðágyt gefylled

    defunctus est anno regni sui vicesimo necdum impleto,

      Bd. 5, 18; S. 635, 19.

  • Ymb hwíle,

      Blickl. Homl. 217, 30.

  • Ymb long,

      L. In. 21; Th. i. 116, 7: Bt. 39, 2; Fox 214, 8.

  • Ymb tela micel fæc,

      Chr. 942; Erl. 116, 21.

  • Ymbe án lytel,

      Jn. Skt. 16, 16.

  • Ymb lytel fæc,

      Elen. Kmbl. 543; El. 272.

  • Ymbe geára rina,

      Chr. Pref.; Erl. 3, 17.

  • Ymb wintra hwearft,

      Exon. Th. 188, 5; Az. 41. (b 1) where the point from which the time is measured is given by ðæs,
preceding
Show examples

  • Ðæs ymb án geár,

      Ors. 3, 10; Swt. 138, 28: 3, 11; Swt. 152, 19: Chr. 871; Erl. 74, 6, 8, 14, 25: Exon. Th. 29, 21; Cri. 466.

  • Ðæs ymb óðer swylc bútan ánre wanan,

      Menol. Fox 279; Men. 141: 359; Men. 181.

  • Ðæs ymbe lytel,

      Chr. 1038; Erl. 167, 6.

  • Ðæs ymb litel fæc,

      Guthl. 18; Gdwin. 76, 6.
following
Show examples

  • Ymb feówer hunde wintra and ymb feówertig ðæs ðe Tróia áwésted wæs

    anno post eversionem Trojae ccccxiv,

      Ors. 2, 2; Swt. 64, 20.
  • Ymb .xxxi. wintra ðæs ðe hé ríce hæfde. Chr. 755; Erl. 48, 25.

  • Ymbe .xli. wintra bútan ánre niht ðæs ðe Ælfréd cyning forþférde,

      941; Erl. 116, 2: 606; Erl. 20, 25: 855; Erl. 68, 32: Cd. Th. 167, 21; Gen. 2769.

  • Ymb swýðe lang ðæs ðe hine God álýsde,

      Ps. Th. 17, arg. (b 2)
  • of recurring periods

    Saturnus ne cymþ ðǽr ǽr ymb þrittig wintra ðǽr hé ǽr wæs,

      Bt. 39, 3; Fox 214, 25.

  • Ǽlce geáre ymbe twelf mónaþ,

      Ors. 1, 10; Swt. 46, 9.

  • Ǽfre ymbe ðæt feórðe geár,

      Lchdm. iii. 246, 13.

  • Simble ymb þrítig nihtgerímes,

      Andr. Kmbl. 313; An. 157.
  • Symble ymbe seofon niht, Soul Kmbl. 19; Seel. 10.

  • Emb stemn

    uicissim,

      Germ. 388, 77: Scint. 140, 17.
of past time
Show examples

  • Ymb þreó niht com þegen Hǽlendes

    the Saviour's servant came three days ago,

      Cd. Th. 291, 5; Sat. 426.

  • Ðæs ymb áne niht,

      300, 26; Sat. 571.
in figurative senses,
about,
marking approximation
Show examples

  • Ymb ðæt

    plus minus,

      Wrt. Voc. ii. 117, 50: 68, 24.
marking the object of speaking, enquiry, telling, etc.
Show examples

  • Hé ymb Godes word and Cristes geleáfan (Godes word ymbe Cristes geleáfan,

      M. 422, 9) bodude and lǽrde, Bd. 5, 11; S. 626, 29.

  • Ymb ðín líf sprecan,

      Cd. Th. 32, 25; Gen. 508: 110, 34; Gen. 1848: Beo. Th. 3194; B. 1595.

  • Hé sægde ymb Godes ríce,

      Blickl. Homl. 117, 13.

  • Wítgan sægdon ymb ðæt æþele bearn, ðæt . . . ,

      Exon. Th. 73, 26; Cri. 1195.

  • Hælde se cyng swíðe deópe spǽce wið his witan ymbe ðis land, hú hit wǽre gesett,

      Chr. 1085; Erl. 218, 23.
  • Wé cweþaþ lof ymb hié. Blickl. Homl. 149, 32.

  • Wé beót áhófon ymbe heard gewinn,

      Byrht. Th. 138, 3; By. 214.

  • Ðislíc cýðan ymb dígle wyrd,

      Elen. Kmbl. 1077; El. 541.

  • Ǽrendgewrit ymb Cristes þrowunga,

      Blickl. Homl. 177, 3.

  • Fitte ymb fisca cynn,

      Exon. Th. 360, 6; Wal. 1.

  • Hé gieddade ymb his ǽriste,

      236, 10; Ph. 572.

  • Ðá ðá hí umbe óþer þing gesprecon hæfdon umbe ðæt hí sprecan woldon,

      Chr. 1070; Erl. 208, 12.

  • Se esne ðe ic hér ymb sprice,

      Exon. Th. 430, 32; Rä. 44, 17: Met. 10, 45.

  • Ðe ic ðé recce ymb,

      17, 20.

  • Ymb ðæt áscian,

      Bt. 39, 4; Fox 216, 29.

  • Gif ðú gehýre ymb ðæt hálige treó fróde frignan,

      Elen. Kmbl. 881; El. 442: 1065; El. 534: Beo. Th. 712; B. 353.
marking the object of thought, feeling, etc.
Show examples

  • Giorne ymb láre,

      Past. pref.; Swt. 3, 10.

  • Giémen ymb ða gehiérsuman,

      12; Swt. 74, 14: Exon. Th. 267, 13; Jul. 414.

  • Hé ná ymb his líf cearaþ,

      Beo. Th. 3077; B. 1536.

  • Ymb sáwle forht,

      Exon. Th. 456, 10; Hy. 4, 64.

  • Ymb ðæs geongan feorh onbryrded,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2236; An. 1119.

  • Ymb da mé fyrwet bræc,

      Salm. Kmbl. 493; Sal. 247.

  • Heó wundrade ymb ðæs weres snyttro,

      Elen. Kmbl. 1914; El. 959.

  • Ðæt seó forlǽtene cyrice ne hycgge ymb ða ðe on hire neáwiste lifgeaþ,

      Blickl. Homl. 43, 1: Exon. Th. 473, 3; Bo. 9: Menol. Fox 571; Gn. C. 55.

  • Ic þence ymbe míne synna

    cogitabo pro peccato meo,

      Ps. Th. 37, 18: Cd. Th. 26, 18; Gen. 408.

  • Ymb wundorwyrd willan gefylde,

      Elen. Kmbl. 2139; El. 1071.

  • Ic nát ymbe hwæt ðú tweóst,

      Bt. 5, 3; Fox 12, 12.
marking the object with which an action is concerned
Show examples

  • Is máre nédþearf ðæt wé winnon ymbe úre sáule þearfe,

      Blickl. Homl. 99, 10.

  • Ymb land sacan,

      Menol. Fox 568; Gn. C. 53: Beo. Th. 5012; B. 2509: 1019; B. 507.

  • Ðæt hé hié ymb ðæt ríce gesémde,

      Ors. 3, 7; Swt. 114, 17: Salm. Kmbl. 505; Sal. 253.

  • Hí sendon ǽrendracan ymbe frið,

      Ors. 3, 11; Swt. 142, 2.

  • Hig dydon ymbe hyne (in

    ei

    ) swá hwæt swá nig woldon.
      Mt. Kmbl. 17, 12.

  • Ðú ymb ðínne esne dydest wel weorðlíce

    bonitatem fecisti cum servo tuo,

      Ps. Th. 118, 65.

  • Hwæt ymb hine gedón wǽre

    quid erga se actum esset,

      Bd. 4, 31; S. 610, 39.

  • Hú hine mon ymbe gedón wolde

    quid ergo eum agere rex promisisset,

      2, 12; S. 513, 20.

  • Ðæt hé móste dón embe ða æþelingas swá hé wolde,

      Lchdm. iii. 424, 27.

  • Ymb his womdǽda Waldendes dóm,

      Ps. C. 19.

  • Hé wæs ymbe Godes þeówdóm ábisgod,

      Blickl. Homl. 211, 31.

  • Beón, wesan ymb to be about a business, be occupied with a matter or a person :-- Gif gé ymb woruldcunde dómas beón scylen

    secularia judicia si habueritis,

      Past. 18; Swt. 131, 6.

  • Hwonne hé móste beón ymbe ðæs líchaman oferfylle,

      Wulfst. 236, 11.

  • Wit sculon git deóplícor ymbe ðæt beón,

      Bt. 5, 3; Fox 12, 12.

  • Gif hwylc ðis dón nylle and læs ymbe beó ðonne wé gecweden habbaþ,

      L. Ath. i. 26; Th. i. 212, 28: iv. I; Th. i. 222, 2.

  • Hé byð á ymbe ðæt án, hú hé on manna sáulum mǽst gesceaðian mæge,

      L. C. E. 26; Th. i. 374, 25.

  • Hé sǽde ðæt Aldberht and Alhhún wǽron ǽr ymb ðæt ylce,

      Chart. Th. 140, 14.

  • Ðás feówero ymb woeson ( = woeron?) ðás bóc

    these four were engaged on this book,

      Mk. Skt. p. i. 3.

  • Hé cwæð ðæt hé ne mihte embe munuclíf smeágan, ac wolde beón embe his þincg,

      Homl. Skt. i. 6, 120.

  • Emban ða steóran beon,

      L. Ath. v. 11; Th. i. 240, 17.

  • Settaþ ða tó démerum ðæt hié striénen and stihtien ymb ða eorðiícan ðing

    ut ipsi dispensationibus terrenis inserviant,

      Past. 18; Swt. 131, 8.

  • Ðá gesomnodon wé Ús ymb ðæt,

      L. Alf. 49; Th. i. 56, 19.

  • Gif hwá wiccige ymbe ǽniges mannes lufe (

    alicujus amoris gratia

    ),
      L. Ecg. P. iv. 18; Th. ii. 208, 31.

  • Hiá sieredon ymbe ðone cyning,

      Bt. 16, 2; Fox 52, 21: Cd. Th. 38, 15; Gen. 607.

  • Mé seredon ymb secgas monige,

      296, 6; Sat. 498: Ps. Th. 54, 18.
marking the object in relation to which circumstances are stated
Show examples

  • Ic ðé cýðe hú hit wæs ymb ðæt lond æt Funtial,

      Chart. Th. 169, 16.

  • Sceolde unc yfele gewurðan ymb ðæt heofonríce,

      Cd. Th. 25, 3; Gen. 388.

  • Hú ymb ðæt sceolde,

      Exon. Th. 378, 7; Deór. 12.

  • Sý ymb ríce swá hit mæge,

      301, 29; Fä. 26.

  • Hú ða wísan sind wundorlíce ymb ðæs fugles gebyrd,

      223, 16; Ph. 360.

  • Ðæt wundor ymb ðone beorhtan beám,

      Elen. Kmbl. 2507; El. 1255: 1324; El. 664.
with dative,
local
Show examples

  • Ða weorod ðe him ymb férdon and stódon,

      Blickl. Homl. 99, 25: Beo. Th. 5188; B. 2597.

  • Ða hire midore ymbe þrǽgaþ,

      Met. 28, 23.

  • Geseó ic him his englas ymbe hweorfan,

      Cd. Th. 42, 5; Gen. 669.

  • Him ymb flugon engla þreátas,

      300, 21; Sat. 568,
temporal
Show examples

  • Embe geára ymbrynum,

      Homl. Th. i. 104, 21.

  • Ǽfre ymbe geáres ymbrynum,

      Lchdm. iii. 238, 25.
figurative
Show examples

  • Hé férde embe sumere neóde,

      Homl. Th. ii. 508, 15.
without a case
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  • Æghwider ymb swá swá Édwines ríce wǽre

    sum imperium Aeduini pervenerat,

      Bd. 2, 16; S. 519, 38.

  • Ðonon eode gehwyder ymb (

    circnmquaque

    ),
      3, 17; S. 543, 26.

  • Hié wǽron ymb eal útan mid eágum besett,

      Past. 38; Swt. 195, 19.

  • Hring útan ymb bearh, ðæt heó ðone fyrdhom þurhfón ne mihte,

      Beo. Th. 3011; B. 1503.

  • Hygeþ ymbe se ðe wile,

      Met. 19, 1.

  • Þencð ymb se ðe wile,

      20, 27.

  • Déð ymbe moncynnes fruma, swá him gemet þinceþ,

      29, 41.

  • Ðá cýdde man, ðet hí man eáðe befaran mihte, gif man ymbe beón wolde,

      Chr. 1009; Erl. 141, 34.

  • Hé cýðde hú hé ymbe wolde, gif hé hine gemétte

    he shewed what he would have been about, if he had found him,

      Homl. Th. i. 82, 18.
Etymology
[A. R. Kath. Marh. umbe: O. E. Homl. Laym. umbe, embe: Orm. ummbe; Piers P. um: O. Sax. umbi: O. Frs. umbe: O. H. Ger. umpi: Icel. umb, um.]
Linked entries
v.  emb ymbe ymb-útan emban.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “ymb.” 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/37098.

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Full form

Word-wheel

  • ymb, prep.

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