Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

Dictionary online

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wæfre

  • adjective
Dictionary links
Grammar
wæfre, adj.
flickering, wavering, quivering
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  • Wylm ðæs wæfran líges

    (cf.
    Icel. vafr-logi
    )
    ,

    • Cd. Th. 231, 2
      • ;
    • Dan. 241.
fig. wavering, languishing
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  • Him wæs geómor sefa, wæfre and wælfús,

    • Beo. Th. 4831
      • ;
    • B. 2420.

  • Hé ne meahte wæfre mód forhabban in hreþre,

    • 2305
      • ;
    • B. 1150.
active, nimble (? cf, the force of the old adjective quiver)
Show examples

  • Wearð him tó handbanan wælgæst wæfre,

    • Beo. Th. 2666
      • ;
    • B. 1331.
Etymology
[ Cf. Uten uorsien þisne midelard and his wouernesse (instability?),
  • Anglia i. 31, 18.
M. H. Ger. waberén vacillare
:
Icel. vafra to hover about
.]
Similar entries
v. wafian.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “wæfre.” 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/34247.

Checked: 2
Full form

Word-wheel

  • wæfre, adj.

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