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Anglo-Saxon

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swelgan

  • verb [ strong ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
swelgan, p.swealh, pl. swulgon; pp. swolgen (with acc. or inst. (dat.))
Wright's OE grammar
§320; §323; §476; §499;
To swallow.
in a physical sense,
of taking food, etc., by living creatures
Show examples

  • Se draca hig swealh, and hig eft áspáw,

    • L.E.I. prm.
      • ;
    • Th. ii. 398, 40.

  • Hé geféng slǽpendne rinc, bát bánlocan, synsnǽdum swealh,

    • Beo. Th. 1490
      • ;
    • B. 743.

  • Hé ( a book-moth ) ðám wordum swealg,

    • Exon. Th. 432, 15
      • ;
    • Rä. 48, 6.

  • Laures ceówe and ðæt seáw swelge.

    • Lchdm. ii. 230, 4.

  • Syle ðam cilde swelgan,

    • i. 350, 14.

  • Swylgende (-fende, Wrt.) drenc

    a potion to be gulped down; catapodia (καταπότιον ),

    • Wrt. Voc. i. 20, 22.
of absorption or reception by inanimate things, to swallow, take in, drink, absorb
Show examples

  • Swá sond rén swylgþ,

    • Bt. 12
      • ;
    • Fox 36, 13
      • .

  • Seó eorþe ðæt wæter swilgþ,

    • 33, 4
      • ;
    • Fox 130, 6.

  • Swelgeþ,

    • Exon. Th. 439, 27
      • ;
    • Rä. 59, 10
      • .

  • Eorðe wældreóre swealh hálge of handum ðínum,

    • Cd. Th. 62, 19
      • ;
    • Gen. 1016: 60, 22
      • ;
    • Gen. 985
      • .

  • Eorðe swealh Sethes líce

    the earth closed over Seth's body

    ,
    • 69, 32
      • ;
    • Gen. 1144.

  • Heofon réce swealg (sealg, MS.)

    the smoke mounted into the air.

    • Beo. Th. 6292
      • ;
    • B. 3156.

  • Fugles wyn ( the pen) beámtelge (ink) swealg,

    • Exon. Th. 408, 9
      • ;
    • Rä. 27, 9.

  • lc(a horn ) windesceal swelgan of sumes bósme,

    • 395, 29
      • ;
    • Rä. 15, 15.

  • Hwílumic( a fortress )swelgan onginne beadowǽpnum,

    • 399, 7
      • ;
    • Rä. 18, 7.
figuratively
Show examples

  • :-- Ðonne líf and deáð sáwlum swelgaþ (cf. ðonne heofon and hel fira feorum fylde weorþeþ,

    • 97, 17-20
      • ;
    • Cri. 1592
    ),

    • 98, 7
      • ;
    • Cri. 1604.
figuratively,to take in to the mind, accept, imbibe (wisdom)
Show examples

  • Swelhþ

    affluit

    (the passage to which the gloss belongs is Prov. 3, 13, where the Vulgate has: Beatus homo ... qui affluit prudentia),
    • Kent. Gl. 41.

  • Ðá ðam wordum swealg brego

    when the prince had heard those words,

    • Exon. Th. 196, 25
      • ;
    • Az. 179.

  • Háliges láre synnige ne swulgon, ðeáh hé sóðra swá feala tácna gecýðde.

    • Andr. Kmbl. 1419
      • ;
    • An. 710.

  • Wile se Waldend, ðæt wé wisdom á snyttrum swelgen,

    • Exon. Th. 147, 32
      • ;
    • Gú. 736.
with the idea of violence or destruction, to devour (lit. or fig.), to consume, engulf
Show examples

  • Ic swelge wuda and wætre.

    • Exon. Th. 499, 20
      • ;
    • Rä. 88, 18
      • .

  • Líg eal þigeþ eorþan ǽhtgestreón, grǽdig swelgeþ londes frætwe,

    • 232
      • ;
    • 16
      • ;
    • Ph. 507
      • .

  • Swá swylgþ seó gítsung ða dreósendan welan ðisses middangeardes,

    • Bt. 12
      • ;
    • Fox 36, 13.

  • Ða ðe swelgaþ folc mín

    qui devorant plebem meam,

    • Ps. Spl. 52, 5.

  • Wælstreámas werodum swelgaþ.

    • Cd. Th. 78, 31
      • ;
    • Gen. 1301
      • .

  • Grundas swelgaþ Godes andsacan.

    • Exon. Th. 97, 21
      • ;
    • Cri. 1594.

  • Nymþe líges fæðm swulge,

    • Beo. Th. 1568
      • ;
    • B. 782
      • .
Etymology
[
O.L. Ger. far-swelgan absorbere
:
O.H. Ger. swelgan glutire
:
Icel. svelgja to swallow.
]
Similar entries
v. for-, ge-, of-swelgan.
Linked entries
v.  swylfende.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “swelgan.” 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/29645.

Checked: 2
Full form

Word-wheel

  • swelgan, v.

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