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ge-þencan

  • verb [ weak ]
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Grammar
ge-þencan, -þencean, ic -þence, ðú -þencest, -þencst, he -þenceþ, -þencþ, pl. -þencaþ, -þenceaþ; p. ic, he -þohte, ðú -þohtest, pl. -þohton; pp. -þoht.
to think, conceive, perceive, reflect upon, weigh; meditari, considerare, pensare
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  • Hwylc eówer mæg sóþlíce geþencan ðæt he geeácnige áne elne to hys anlícnesse

    quis autem vestrum cogitans potest adjicere ad staturam suam cubitum unum,

      Mt. Bos. 6, 27: Exon. 77 a; Th. 289, 34; Wand. 58, 100 a; Th. 378, 6; Deor. 12.

  • Ðú meaht sweotole geþencean

    thou mayest clearly perceive,

      Bt. Met. Fox 5, 2; Met. 5, 1.

  • To geþencanne

    to think,

      Exon. 112 a; Th. 429, 3; Rä. 42, 8.

  • Ðú [God] eal gód [MS. good] ánes geþeahte ðínes geþohtest, and hí ðá worhtest

    thou [God] didst conceive all good by the counsel of thyself alone, and then didst create it,

      Bt. Met. Fox 20, 79; Met. 20, 40.

  • Snyttro geþencaþ weras wísfæste

    think prudence, oh ye wise men!

      Elen. Kmbl. 626; El. 313.
to think about, remember, consider maturely, to take to heart; recogitare, iterum cogitare, reminisci
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  • He sceal geþencan gǽstes þearfe

    he shall think about the need of his soul,

      Exon. 23 b; Th. 65, 20; Cri. 1057.

  • Geþenceþ

    thinketh,

    117 a;
      Th. 449, 27; Dóm. 77.

  • Ic geþence

    reminiscor,

      Ælfc. Gr. 29; Som. 33, 54.

  • Ic ánne ánlépne ne mæg geþencean I cannot remember a single one, Past. pref; Swt. 3, 18; Hat. MS. Ðæt he ne mæg ende geþencean

    that he cannot consider his end,

      Beo. Th. 3473; B. 1734.

  • Gif he hit geþencan can

    if he can consider it,

      Salm. Kmbl. 814; Sal. 406: Exon. 115 b; Th. 445, 8; Dóm. 4.

  • Hwæt! ðú lyt geþohtest

    lo! thou didst consider little,

    Soul
      Kmbl. 45; Seel. 23.
to think of, bear in mind, remember; recordari, cogitare, memor esse
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  • Mæg geþencan, ðæt geond ðas woruld witig Dryhten wendeþ geneahhe

    he may bear in mind that throughout this world the sagacious Lord alternates abundantly,

      Exon. 100 b; Th. 379, 70; Deór. 31: 83 b; Th. 314, 5; Mód. 9.

  • Ðe his synna geþenceþ

    who bears in mind his sins,

    117 a;
      Th. 450, 6; Dóm. 83.

  • Sóþfæste beót geþenceaþ

    the righteous think of the promise [of God],

      Ps. Th. 106, 41: 118, 74.

  • Ic ealde dagas geþohte

    cogitavi dies antiquos,

      76, 5.

  • Geþenc se snottra fengel hwæt wit sprǽcon

    let the sagacious prince bear in mind what we have spoken,

      Beo. Th. 2952; B. 1474: Exon. 13 a; Th. 23, 18; Cri. 370.
to excogitate, devise, invent, conceive; excogitare, struere, invenire
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  • Ðú meaht rǽd geþencan

    thou mayest devise counsel,

      Cd. 27; Th. 35, 28; Gen. 561.

  • Mid swilcum mæg man rǽd geþencean

    with such one may devise counsel,

      15; Th. 19, 4; Gen. 286.

  • He worn geþenceþ hinderhóca

    he devises a number of stratagems,

      Exon. 83 b; Th. 315, 19; Mód. 33.

  • Se geréfa hét ða hálgan margaretan on karcerne betýnan óþ ðæt he geþohte hú he hire mægþhád forspilde

    the prefect ordered the holy Margaret to be shut up in prison until he had devised how he might destroy her virginity,

      Nar. 41, 17.

  • He cwæþ ðæt he nán ryhtre geþencan ne meahte

    he said he could conceive nothing more right,

      Th. Ch. 171, 15.

  • Hý grófon ǽghwylcne stán swá se cásere geþohte

    they carved every stone as the emperor devised,

      Shrn. 146, 17.
to resolve, intend, wish; intendere, velle
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  • Uton geþencan Hǽlende héran

    let us resolve to obey the Saviour,

      Cd. 227; Th. 305, 9; Sat. 644.

  • Se awyrgda geþohte ðæt he heofencyninge héran ne wolde

    the accursed one resolved that he would not obey heaven's king,

      220; Th. 284, 4; Sat. 316: 217; Th. 276, 11; Sat. 187.

  • Ðú geþohtest ðæt ðú ðíne mægþhád Meotude sealdes

    thou didst resolve that thou wouldest give to the Lord thy maidenhood,

      Exon. 12 a; Th. 18, 23; Cri. 288.
Derived forms
DER. þencan.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “ge-þencan.” 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/16443.

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  • ge-þencan, v.

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