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Anglo-Saxon

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MAGAN

  • verb [ preterite-present ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
MAGAN, (the infin. does not occur in W. S. but mæge glosses posse,
  • Mk. Skt. p. 3, 1
    • ;
and <b>magende</b>
(cf. Icel. megandi) = quiens,
  • Ælfc. Gr. 41
    • ;
  • Som. 44, 21.
Wright's OE grammar
§78; §240; §481; §544;
Show examples

  • Megende

    valens,

    • Kent. Gl. 189:
to be strong, efficacious, to avail, prevail, be sufficient
Show examples

  • Gif ðú meht

    si vales,

    • Kent. Gl. 52.

  • Wel mæg ðæm dæg wérignise his

    sufficit diei malitia sua,

    • Mt. Kmbl. Lind. 6, 34: Mk. Skt. Lind. Rush. 14, 41.

  • Ne meg mon

    non praevaleat homo,

    • Ps. Surt. 9, 20.

  • Ne mágon úre woruldfrýnd ús ðonne ǽnigum góde

    our friends will avail us nothing then,

    • Wulfst. 151, 12.

  • Helle gatu me mágon ongén ða

    portæ inferi non prævalebunt adversum eam,

    • Mt. Kmbl. 16, 18.
  • Magan tó to serve a purpose, be good for, have an effect, be the cause of :

    -- Ne mæg tó náhte

    ad nihilum valet,

    • 5, 13.

  • Biþ men ful lytle ðý bet ðeáh ðe hé gódne fæder hæbbe, gif hé self tó náuhte ne mæg,

    • Bt. 30, 1
      • ;
    • Fox 108, 30.

  • Tó hwan mæg ðis eorþlíce hús, gif hit ýdel stent,

    • Homl. Th. ii. 582, 12: 432, 15: Past. Swt. 7, 12.

  • Him mæg tó sorge ðæt hé nát hwæt him tóweard biþ

    it causes him anxiety that he knows not what will happen to him,

    • Bt. 11, 1
      • ;
    • Fox 32, 12.

  • Wæs geworden ðætte seó ylce eorþe mihte tó hǽle

    factum est ut ipsa terra gratiæ salutaris haberet effectum,

    • Bd. 3, 11
      • ;
    • S. 535, 34: Exon. 21 b
      • ;
    • Th. 57, 21
      • ;
    • Cri. 922: 100 a
      • ;
    • Th. 374, 17
      • ;
    • Seel. 127: 82 b
      • ;
    • Th. 311, 30
      • ;
    • Seef. 100.

  • Magan wið

    (cf, Icel. mega við) to prevail with or against, to be efficacious against (of a medicine) to be good for (a disease) :

    -- Gif ic swá wel wið ðé mæg

    if I am so influential with thee,

    • Homl. Skt. 3,176.

  • Wið ǽlcum áttre mágon

    contra venexum valent,

    • Bd. 1, 1
      • ;
    • S. 474, 36.

  • Ðeós wyrt mæg wið manega untrumnyssa,

    • Herb. 171, 1
      • ;
    • Lchdm. i. 300, 24: L. Med. ex Quad. 5, 3
      • ;
    • Lchdm. i. 348, 9: L. M. 2, 64
      • ;
    • Lchdm. ii. 290, 10.

  • Ðis mæg horse wið ðon ðe him biþ corn on ða fét,

    • Lchdm. iii. 62, 24.

  • Migtigra wíte wealdeþ ðonne hé him wið mǽge

    one too mighty for him to withstand is the disposer of punishment,

    • Cd. 200
      • ;
    • Th. 249, 1
      • ;
    • Dan. 523.
to be strong, be in good health
(
so Icel. mega vel, &c.)
Show examples

  • 'Hú mæg he?' Hig cwǽdon ðǽt hé wel mihte

    'sanusne est?' 'Valet,' inquiunt,

    • Gen. 29, 6.

  • Ðá sǽde se cnapa ðæt hé swíðe wel mihte,

    • Homl. Skt. 3, 435.

  • Ðonne ðú mé getrymedest, ðæt ic teala mihte,

    • Ps. Th. 70, 20.
to be able, may (because a thing is possible)
Show examples

  • Ic mæg

    queo;

    magende

    quiens,

    • Ælfc. Gr. 41
      • ;
    • Som. 44, 21.

  • Ic mæg

    queo,

    ðú miht

    quis,

    hé mæg

    quit;

    ic mihte

    quivi,

    • 30
      • ;
    • Som. 35, 5.
With infin.
Show examples

  • Ic mid handum ne mæg heofon gerǽcan,

    • Cd. 216
      • ;
    • Th. 275, 9
      • ;
    • Sat. 169.

  • Hér ys seó bót hú ðú meaht ðíne æceras bétan,

    • Lchdm. i. 398, 1: Cd. 27
      • ;
    • Th. 36, 1
      • ;
    • Gen. 565.

  • Ðú .. ðe ǽghwylc miht wundor gewyrcean,

    • Ps. Th. 76, 11.

  • Hú mæg ðæt yfel beón ðætte ǽlces monnes ingeþanc wénþ ðætte gód sie,

    • Bt. 24, 4
      • ;
    • Fox 86, 12.

  • Ðæt mæg engel ðín eáþ geféran,

    • 387
      • ;
    • An. 194.

  • Eall ðis mágon him sylfe geseón ... mágun leóda bearn oncnáwan,

    • Exon. 24 a
      • ;
    • Th. 69, 5-12
      • ;
    • Cri. 1115.

  • Hí me mágon ðone earman gefyllan,

    • Bt. 11, 1
      • ;
    • Fox 34, 1.

  • Him ða stormas derian me máhan (mǽgon,

    • Cott. MS.
      • ),
    • 7, 3
      • ;
    • Fox 22, 6.

  • Wé ðæt sóþ mǽgon secgan,

    • Cd. 94
      • ;
    • Th. 121, 21
      • ;
    • Gen. 2013.
    ]

  • [Beo ðan wé mugen understanden,

    • Shrn. 17, 26.
    ]

  • Ðǽt hé ána mǽge geríman,

    • Cd. 163
      • ;
    • Th. 205, 21
      • ;
    • Exod. 439.

  • Ic mæege,

    • Mt. Kmbl. Lind. 26, 61.

  • Ic mége

    possim,

    • Ps. Surt. 70, 8.

  • Ðú meige

    possis,

    • Kent. Gl. 958.

  • Ðæt ic máge geseón,

    • Homl. Th. i. 152, 22.

  • Cunnige máge man of eágum teáras gerǽcan

    try whether tears can be drawn from their eyes,

    • L. P. M. 3
      • ;
    • Th. ii. 288, 4.

  • Gif wé hit mǽgen áþencan,

    • Cd. 21
      • ;
    • Th. 26, 2
      • ;
    • Gen. 400: 226
      • ;
    • Th. 302, 11
      • ;
    • Sat. 597.

  • Ué mǽgi,

    • Rtl. 45, 3.

  • Mǽgi hiá,

    • 95, 16.

  • Wíddra ðonne befæðman mǽge foldan sceattas,

    • 163
      • ;
    • Th. 204, 32
      • ;
    • Exod. 428.

  • [Ðæt heó þurh ða mugen tó lífes wege becumen .. ðæt ða ðe ðǽr ingáþ mugen ðone leóme geseón,

    • Shrn. 12, 10-13.

  • Ne meahte hé æt his hige findan,

    • Cd. 14
      • ;
    • Th. 18, 1
      • ;
    • Gen. 266: Beo. Th. 3322
      • ;
    • B. 1659.

  • Mehte,

    • 2168
      • ;
    • B. 1082.

  • Eáþe heó mehte beón geseald,

    • Blickl. Homl. 69, 7.

  • Swá swá mihte beón fíf þúsend wera,

    • Homl. Th. i. 182, 16.

  • Ðú meahtes geseón ǽgðer ge fét ge heáfod,

    • Past. 35
      • ;
    • Swt. 241, 14: St. And. 10, 22: Exon. 39 b
      • ;
    • Th. 130, 19
      • ;
    • Gú. 440.

  • Mihtest,

    • Blickl. Homl. 175, 28.

  • Ða ne meahton ásecgan,

    • 145, 13: Cd. 115
      • ;
    • Th. 150, 14
      • ;
    • Gen. 2491.

  • Wé ðæt deór gewundigan ne meahte,

    • Nar. 21, 4.

  • Maehtun,

    • Ps. Surt. 20, 12.

  • Mehton,

    • Blickl. Homl. 15, 13.

  • Mihton,

    • 79, 16.

  • Ðæt láðra nǽnig sceððan ne meahte,

    • Beo. Th. 492
      • ;
    • B. 243.

  • Óþ ðæt ðú meahte .. forsión, meahtes .. lácan,

    • Bt. Met. Fox 24, 11-17
      • ;
    • Met. 24, 6-9.

  • Mihte,

    • Blickl. Homl. 45, 27,

  • Swá hit men fægrost geþencean meahton,

    • 125, 23: Elen. Kmbl. 648
      • ;
    • El. 324.

  • Meahten,

    • Exon. 64 a
      • ;
    • Th. 236, 13
      • ;
    • Ph. 573.

  • Meahte,

    • 39 a
      • ;
    • Th. 128, 14
      • ;
    • Gú. 404.

  • Mehten,

    • Ors. 3, 1
      • ;
    • Swt. 98, 3.

  • Mihtan,

    • Blickl. Homl. 45, 14: 137, 1.

  • Mihten,

    • Cd. 224
      • ;
    • Th. 298, 11
      • ;
    • Sat. 500.

  • Mihton,

    • Blickl. Homl. 49, 10.

  • Mihte,

    • Ps. Th. 77, 1.
followed, by a clause
Show examples

  • Hwá mæg ðæt hé ne wundrige,

    • Bt. 34, 10
      • ;
    • Fox 150, 9.
with ellipsis of the infin.
of a verb which occurs elsewhere in the sentence
Show examples

  • Gelácna ðú hý forðan ðú éðest miht (gelácnian),

    • Hy. 1, 6
      • ;
    • Hy. Grn. ii. 280, 6.

  • Nelle ic aldre beneótan, ðeáh ic eáðe mǽge,

    • Beo. Th. 1365
      • ;
    • B. 680.

  • Ðæs ofereode, ðisses swá mæg,

    • Exon. 100 a
      • ;
    • Th. 377, 22
      • ;
    • Deór. 7.

  • Telle ðás steorran, gif ðú máge,

    • Gen. 15, 5: Bd. 5, 3
      • ;
    • S. 616, 31.

  • Forlǽte swá hé oftost mǽge,

    • Bt. Met. Fox 22, 18
      • ;
    • Met. 22, 9: 27, 58, 66
      • ;
    • Met. 27, 29, 33.

  • Árás swá hé hraðost meahte,

    • Exon. 49 a
      • ;
    • Th. 168, 24
      • ;
    • Gú. 1080.

  • Wolde ic freóndscipe ðínne, gif ic mihte, begitan,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 958
      • ;
    • An. 479.
of a verb whose place is taken by swá :
Show examples

  • -- Wolde freádrihtnes feorh ealgian, ðǽr hié meahton swá,

    • Beo. Th. 1599
      • ;
    • B. 797.

  • Cwǽdon ðæt heó ríce ágan woldon, and swá eáðe meahtan,

    • Cd, 3
      • ;
    • Th. 4, 4
      • ;
    • Gen. 48.

  • Wyllen forsweolgan, gif hí swá mágon,

    • Ps. Th. 123, 2.
of a verb to be inferred from the context (i) verbs of motion:--
Show examples

  • Nó dý ǽr fram meahte

    (might escape ),

    • Beo. Th. 1513
      • ;
    • B. 754.

  • Ic ne mæg of ðissum lioþobendum,

    • Cd. 19
      • ;
    • Th. 24, 22
      • ;
    • Gen. 381.

  • Ne mæg hé on ðæt

    non intrabit its illud,

    • Mk. Skt. 10, 15.

  • On ðone forecwedenan portic má ne mihte

    prædicta porticus plura capere nequivit,

    • Bd. 2, 3
      • ;
    • S. 504, 38.

  • Ðæt ic up heonon mǽge,

    • Cd. 222
      • ;
    • Th. 291, 3
      • ;
    • Sat. 425. (ii)
  • other verbs (see also I) :

    -- Wel ðæt swá mæg

    that may well be so,

    • Bd. 2, 1
      • ;
    • S. 501, 18.

  • þuhte heom ðæt hit mihte swá, ðæt hié wéron seolfe swegles brytan,

    • Cd. 213
      • ;
    • Th. 266, 15
      • ;
    • Sat. 22: Andr. Kmbl. 2786
      • ;
    • An. 1395.

  • Wolde hyre búr átimbrian, gif hit swá meahte,

    • Exon. 108 a
      • ;
    • Th. 411, 28
      • ;
    • Rä. 30, 6.

  • Wísdóm sǽde ðæt men mihton

    (could understand

    )

    be Gode swelce hí mǽte,

    • Bt. tit. 26
      • ;
    • Fox xiv. 16.

  • Ne mágon ðam breahtme býman ne hornas (

    cannot equal

    ),
    • Exon. 57 b
      • ;
    • Th. 206, 29
      • ;
    • Ph. 134.
may (because a thing is permissible or lawful, because there is sufficient cause)
Show examples

  • Ðú miht ðæs habban þanc, ðæt ðú mínra gifa wel bruce. Ne miht ðú nó gereccan ðæt ðú ðínes áuht forlure,

    • Bt. 7, 3
      • ;
    • Fox 20, 12.

  • Hú miht (mæht, Lind.) ðú secgan ðínum bréðer,

    • Lk. Skt. 6, 42.

  • Ðú meaht ðé forþ faran,

    • Cd. 26
      • ;
    • Th. 34, 25
      • ;
    • Gen. 543.

  • Hié leng ne mágon healdan heofonríce,

    • 35
      • ;
    • Th. 45, 24
      • ;
    • Gen. 731.

  • Nú wit mágon sorgian for his síðe

    we have good cause to rue his journey,

    • 38
      • ;
    • Th. 49, 29
      • ;
    • Gen. 799
      • ;
    • Exon. 9 b: Th. 8, 34
      • ;
    • Cri. 127.

  • Hwæðer sél mǽge wunde gedýgan,

    • Beo. Th. 5054
      • ;
    • B. 2530.

  • Hit me meahte swá

    that was not allowed,

    • Exon. 41 a
      • ;
    • Th. 136, 29
      • ;
    • Gú. 548.
in the Northumbrian Gospels the verb is used as an auxiliary in the translation of the Latin subjunctive, or fut. indic.
Show examples

  • Synngiga mæge

    peccabit,

    • Mt. Kmbl. Lind. 18, 21.

  • Wé habbas ł mágon habba

    habebimus,

    • 21, 38.
  • (Also the W. S. version in
    • Mt. Kmbl. 26, 54,
    has

    hú mágon beón gefyllede

    quomodo implebuntur.)

  • Hú hine mæhtes tó lose gedóa

    quomodo eum perderent,

    • 12, 14.

  • Ðatte hiá éton ł mæhton eata

    quod manducarent,

    • Mk. Skt. Lind. 8, 1.

  • Huu hine hiá ácuoella mæhton (mæhtun, Rush.)

    perderent,

    • 11, 18.

  • Mæghton (mæhtun,

    • Rush
      • .),
    • Lk. Skt. Lind. 22, 2.
Etymology
the later English forms seem to point to mugan,
Gen. and Ex. mugen
:
Orm. muȝhenn
:
Chauc. mowen
:
Wick. mowe
:
Prompt. Parv. mown
.
Icel. has mega
:
O. H. Ger. magan and mugan
:
M. H. Ger. mugen, mügen
:
Ger. mögen
);
Linked entries
v.  mæg.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “MAGAN.” 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/22272.

Checked: 1
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  • MAGAN, v.

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