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þearle

  • adverb
Dictionary links
Grammar
þearle, adv.
Wright's OE grammar
§553;
Severely, sorely, strictly, hard. This word, as does swíþe (q. v.), tends to become an adverb of degree rather than one of manner or quality; where it qualifies words denoting pain, effort, or the like, it may be considered as keeping much of its old force, but even there it is used to translate Latin words marking degree; while in the case of words which do not convey such an idea, it becomes equivalent to very, very much, exceedingly, and the like.
where there is the idea of pain, trouble, etc.
where the idea of manner is more prominent
Show examples

  • Þearle ys mé nú ðá, heorte ys onhǽted

    matters go hardly with me now, my heart burns within me,

      Judth. Thw. 22, 30; Jud. 86.

  • Se ðe his þeóden ǽr þearfe gerǽhte (

    severely wounded

    ),
      Byrht. Th. 136, 29; By. 158.

  • Hí fuhton ðearle

    they fought hard,

      Judth. Thw. 25, 16; Jud. 262: Chr. 937; Erl. 112, 23.

  • Hí hungre wǽron þearle geþreátod,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2231; An. 1117: Beo. Th. 1124; B. 560: Rood Kmbl. 103; Kr. 52.

  • Ðis is ðeóstræ hám ðearle gebunden fæstum fýrclommum,

      Cd. Th. 267, 15; Sat. 38.

  • Þearle hé démde

    tantopere taxaverat,

      Hpt. Gl. 454, 2.

  • Ús stalu and cwalu ... derede swýðe þearle

    injured us very severely,

      Wulfst. 159, 11.

  • Ðæt hé him ðonne ðearlur (

    districtius

    ) déman scyle,
      Past. 53; Swt. 419, 5.
where the idea of degree is more prominent,
very, very much, exceedingly, excessively
Show examples

  • Sáwl mín gedréfed is ðearle

    anima mea turbata est valde,

      Ps. Spl. 6, 3.

  • Geeádmét ic eom ðearle (

    nimis

    ),
      37, 8: Ps. Th. 78, 8.

  • Þearle ic deorfe

    nimium laboro,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 19, 13.

  • Forþóht þearle (cf. swíþe unrót,

      Bt. 1; Fox 4, 4), Met. 1, 82.

  • Ðæt folc wearð þearle geswenct mid ðam síðfate

    taedere coepit populum itineris ac laboris,

      Num. 21, 4: Ps. Th. 103, 8: Homl. i. 80, 14.
where there is no idea of pain, trouble, etc.,
very, to a great degree, very much, to a great extent, exceedingly
Show examples

  • Geðancas þearle deópe

    nimis profundae cogitationes,

      Ps. Th. 91, 4.

  • Þearle mildheort

    multum misericors,

      144, 8: Judth. Thw. 22, 23; Jud. 74.

  • Swíðe gelýfed mann and ðearle eáwfæst,

      Homl. Th. ii. 306, 4.

  • Ðú eall geworhtest þing þearle gód (cf. swíþe góde,

      Bt. 33, 4; Fox 128, 22), Met. 20, 45.

  • Behéfe þearle

    utilis valde,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 27, 27: 29, 31.

  • Þearle deóplíce

    valde profunde,

      32, 9.

  • Þearle swíþe tó herienne,

      Lchdm. iii. 436, 18: 438, 27.

  • Hé geíhte folc his ðearle (

    vehementer

    ),
      Ps. Spl. 104, 22.

  • Þearle fremaþ cræft mín eów

    multum prodest ars mea vobis,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 28, 7: Judth. Thw. 26, 3; Jud. 307.

  • Ic ðé gemenigfilde swíþe þearle (

    vehementer nimis

    ),
      Gen. 17, 2.

  • Dríg swýþe þearle

    dry very thoroughly,

      Lchdm. i. 70, 10.

  • Ðis godspel belimpþ swíðe þearle tó ðære mǽran freólstíde

    this gospel belongs very specially to the great festival,

      Homl. Th. ii. 360, 10.

  • Hig þearle etaþ

    nimium comedunt,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 26, 11.

  • Gehwylc mé drincan sealde þearle

    each gave me abundance to drink,

      Exon. Th. 485, 1; Rä. 71, 7.

  • Drinc swýþe þearle

    drink very largely,

      Lchdm. i. 78, 10.

  • Hit on wolcnum oft þearle þunraþ,

      Met. 28, 25.
Similar entries
v. for-þearle.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “þearle.” 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/31576.

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Full form

Word-wheel

  • þearle, adv.

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