Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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æ
þ

be

Dictionary links
Wright's OE grammar
§559; §570; §647;
Add: A. dat.
local,
nearness to a point,
rest
Show examples

  • Wé be þǽm treówum stódan,

      Nar. 29, 24.

  • Caiphan mid þám óþrum be (juxta eum), (bi,v. l.) him

    • Bd. 5, 14
      • ;
    • Sch. 645, 15.

  • Be healfe mínum hláforde

    beside my lord,

      By. 318.

  • Heó gesæt big Hǽlendes fótum,

      Bl. H. 67, 27.
motion
Show examples

  • Sum man rád be (juxta locum), þǽre stówe

    • Bd. 3, 9
      • ;
    • Sch. 229, 20.

  • Forþ bi þǽre eá siglan

    to sail past the mouth of the river,

    • Ors. 1, 1
      • ;
    • S. 17, 22.
nearness along a line or surface,
by, along,
rest
Show examples

  • Hí gelógodon ðá untruman be ðǽre strǽt,

      Hml. Th. i. 316, 14.
motion
Show examples

  • Fór hé be þǽm lande

    he sailed along the coast,

    • Ors. 1, 1
      • ;
    • S. 17, 9.

  • Hé eóde be þǽre strǽt,

      Hml. S. 29, 51.
where local conditions of an action are defined
Show examples

  • Se here wið feaht ge be wætere ge be lande,

    • Chr. 1016
      • ;
    • P. 150, 12.

  • Þæt folc eóde be dríum grunde,

      Hml. Th. ii. 194, 20.

  • Hwæt se wítega him be (by the way, on the road) wege sǽde,

      Hml. S. 18, 241.
marking part handled
Show examples

  • Se wæs togen ofdúne be þám þeón and upp be þám earmum,

      Gr. D. 320, 19.

  • Hé geféng be eaxle Grendles módor,

      B. 1537.

  • Heó genam hine be feaxe sínum,

      Jud. 99.

  • Hé gegráp sweord be gehiltum,

      Gen. 2905.
temporal,
of a point of time,
by, not later than
Show examples

  • Ciricsceattas sín ágifene be Sc̃e Martines mæssan,

      Ll. Th. i. 104, 9.

  • Be Pentecosten . . . be emnnihte,

      262, 20.
of a period,
by, during
Show examples

  • Ge be heora lífe ge æfter heora lífe,

      Cht. Th. 137, 30.

  • Be Cnutes dæge cinges,

      336, 33.
of a period within which an event falls,
marked by reference to a person then living, cf. III. 28
Show examples

  • Constantinus be (vivente Diocletiano) Diocletiane lyfgendum Gallia ríce heóld,

    • Bd. 1, 8
      • ;
    • Sch. 28, 25.

  • Þára landa ðe unc Aðulf forgeaf be Æðelbolde lifiendum,

      Cht. Th. 485, 33.

  • Gif ceorl ácwyle be libbendum wífe and bearne,

      Ll. Th. i. 30, 3.

  • Be lifiendre þǽre (þǽre cwenan,

      Wlfst. 269, 33
    ),

      316, 10.

  • Gif hý hit be þan libbendan habban wyllan

    if they will have it in their lifetime,

      Cht. Th. 491, 25.

  • Gif man mid esnes cwynan geligeð be cwicum ceorle,

      Ll. Th. i. 24, 9: 406, 6.
by reference to living memory
Show examples

  • Be manna gemynde

    within the memory of man,

    • Chr. 959
      • ;
    • P. 114, 22.
in other relations,
association or companionship,
by, with
Show examples

  • Ne hé ná má wífa þonne án hæbbe ac beó be þǽre ánre þá hwíle þe heó lybbe,

      Wlfst. 271, 15: Ll. Th. i. 318, 19.

  • Wíf ꝥ bið be (vivente viro), ánum were

      ii. 158, 5.

  • Seó godcundnes mæg beón ungemenged wið óþre gesceafta . . . ne mæg nán óþer gesceaft be him selfum bión,

    • Bt. 35, 5
      • ;
    • F. 166, 7.
conveyance, by (in to send by)
Show examples

  • Hé him onsænde be his cnihtum twá spyrtan,

      Gr. D. 203, 4.

  • Man ꝥ Rómgesceot be him sende,

    • Chr. 1095
      • ;
    • P. 232, 10.

  • Hé hét cýðan þám arceƀ be Ðeódréde biscop

    he sent word to the archbishop by bishop Theodred,

      Ll. Th. i. 240, 24.
accompaniment
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  • Be hearpan singan,

    • Lk. 7, 32: Bd. 4, 24
      • ;
    • S. 597, 6.
marking accompanying circumstances :--
Show examples

  • Ꝥ hé be leáfe óðer wíf niman móte

    quod cum venia aliam uxorem ducere possit,

      Ll. Th. ii. 190, 2.
assistance
Show examples

  • Gif hé gangan mæge bi stafe

    if he can walk with a stick,

      Ll. Th. i. 48, 10.
marking presence
Show examples

  • Dǽle man be scriftes and be túnes geréfan gewitnesse,

      Wlfst. 181, 6.
subject to
Show examples

  • Síðþan ic mé hæfde þás þing be gewealdum

    quibus in potestatem redactis,

      Nar. 5, 17.

  • Beó se þeóf ealles scyldig þæs þe hé age, and þeófa gewita beó be (subject to the same penalty), þám ilcan

      Ll. Th. i. 200, 24.

  • Sé þe be lytlum þingum beón mæge (qui minus indiget) . . . se þe be máran þingan beón scyle,

    he that needs little to be done for him

      R. Ben. 57, 23-58, 2.

  • Hí leofodon be hungre seofon niht meteleáse,

      Hml. S. 16, 81.
comparison
Show examples

  • Hwelc gewinn þá wǽron be ðǽm þe nú sindon,

    • Ors. 2, 6
      • ;
    • S. 88, 32.

  • Hú seó burh burne and hú lange be þǽre óþerre,

    • Bt. 16, 4
      • ;
    • F. 58, 5.

  • Swylc is wyrd be þám godcundan foreþonce swilce ꝥ hweól biþ tó metanne wiþ ðá eaxe,

    • 39, 8
      • ;
    • F. 224, 3.
marking the object with which a circumstance is connected,
in the case of, in the matter of, in, with
Show examples

  • Bi (be, v. l.) monnum

    with men,

      Past. 63, 11.

  • Be (in testamento veteri) (bi, v. l.) þám aldan þeódscype þá ýttran weorc wǽron behealden,

    • Bd. 1, 27
      • ;
    • Sch. 84, 10.

  • Seó wíse wæs unéþe be mínre seolfre nédþearfe,

      Nar. 9, 24.

  • Swá hit biþ be ǽlcum þára þinga,

    • Bt. 27, 4
      • ;
    • F. 100, 17.

  • Ꝥ ilce þú miht geþencan be ðám líchoman and be his limum,

      190, 26.

  • Suá hé ǽr be him wénde

    quod de eis jam certum tenebat,

      Past. 241, 5.

  • Gá ǽlc cyricsceat intó þám ealdan mynstre be (in the case of) ǽlcum frígan heorðe,

      Ll. Th. i. 262, 16.

  • Se áð sceal bión healf be (in the case of, with) húslgengum,

      112, 4.

  • Bige ús rumlícor tó dæg be hláfe . . . and bring ús bet be hláf

    in your purchase for us to-day be more liberal with bread, and be a better provider for us in the matter of bread,

      Hml. S. 23, 467.

  • Ðá gebróðra næfdon búton fíf hláfas. Benedictus . . . cwæð: 'Tó-dæg wé habbað hwónlíce be hláf,'

      Hml. Th. ii. 172, 2.
marking the object affected by a deed or event,
(to do) by or about, to, with, (to become)of
Show examples

  • Ðæt hé onginne sume scande bi ðǽm óðrum, (be, v. l.)

      Past. 225, 25.

  • Hwæt dó ic be þám Hǽlende

    quid faciam de Iesu?,

      Mt. 27, 22.

  • Hwæt be ðé gedón beón sceolde

    quid de te fieri deberet,

    • Bd. 5, 12
      • ;
    • Sch. 629, 6.

  • Hwæt dó ic be Iudéa cininge

    quid faciam regi Iudaeorum?,

      Mk. 15, 12: Nic. 18, 24.

  • Dóð be ús ꝥ ꝥ Drihten wile,

      Hml. S. 11, 133.

  • Tó dónne be him eall swá Iudas dyde be úre Drihtene,

    • Chr. 1087
      • ;
    • P. 222, 34.

  • Hwæt be ðyssum þingum tó dónne wǽre

    quid de his agendum,

    • Bd. 2, 9
      • ;
    • Sch. 1504: Shrn. 139, 24.

  • Hwæt be mé geweorðe

    quid de me fieri velit Deus,

    • Bd. 5, 19
      • ;
    • Sch. 670, 14.

  • Hú hyt be þé geworden ys,

      Nic. 10, 34.

  • Hwæt geworden wǽre be þám biscope,

      Gr. D. 172, 10.

  • Hwæt bið be ús synfullum,

      Hml. S. 31, 1406.
marking the object of thought, feeling, care:--
Show examples

  • Þá þe syrwdon be him,

      H. R. 107, 2.

  • Bysige ðé be sumum men,

      Prov. K. 43.

  • Geseoh þú be þǽre flascan . . . ne drinc ðú of þǽre,

      Gr. D. 142, 3.

  • Wyrd swá be þínum heáfde hafað árǽded,

      Nar. 29, 13.

  • Geortrúwian be þís andweardan lífe,

    • Bt. 10
      • ;
    • F. 30, 7.
marking object of speech, hearing, knowledge,about, of:--
Show examples

  • Hé liéhð bie (bi, v. l.) ðǽm gódum weorcum,

      Past. 55, 24.

  • Sprec tó þínum discipulum be þám mægenum þe þín láreów dyde,

      St. A. 8, 14.

  • Be (de cujus interitu) þæs forwyrde se ealda feónd gelýfde ꝥ hé mihte gebysmrian Benedictum,

      Gr. D. 126, 3.

  • Gif hé hwæt be óðrum gehýre,

      Ll. Th. ii. 316, 18.

  • Þá word þe wé be þám Hǽlende gesáwon and gehýrdon,

      Nic. 8, 40: 2, 17.

  • Ic wát eall be þám,

      Hml. S. 24, 152.
marking quarter in which something is sought:--
Show examples

  • Hwílum man ceás wíslíce men folce tó hyrdum . . . syððan hit man sóhte be þám þe nearwlícast cúðan swician,

      Ll. Th. ii. 320, 24.
marking source:--
Show examples

  • Hwæt sý be Gode (de Deo) . . . hwæt sý be heom sylfum (de semet-ipsis),

      Gr. D. 146, 36-147, 3.
by (in to have a child by a woman)
:--
Show examples

  • Be ðǽre hé hæfde áne doher,

    • Ap. Th. 1, 8: Chr. 1057
      • ;
    • P. 188, 14.
marking cause:--
Show examples

  • Hwanan sió ádl cume be misgewiderum and of metta þiginge,

      Ld. ii. 244, 11.
marking ground of action,
because of, on account of:--
Show examples

  • Ne gedyrstlǽce nán man be mægðháde bútan sóðre lufe; ne trúwige nán man be ælmesdǽdum oððe on gebedum bútan lufe;

      Hml. Th. i. 54, 10-13.

  • Sé be wítum geswícan nylle,

    propter, Lat. vers.

    )
      Ll. Th. i. 210, 4.
marking reason:--
Show examples

  • 'Be (wherefore) hwám cwest ðú ꝥ?' Ðá cwæþ ic: 'For þám þe þú ǽr cwǽde . . .,'

    • Bt. 38, 3
      • ;
    • F. 202, 11.

  • Wé sǽdan hú wé hit reahtan and be hwý wé hit reahtan,

      Cht. Th. 171, 6.
for the sake of:--
Show examples

  • Nis ðis gewrít be ánum men áwriten ac ys be eallum,

      Hept. Thw. 163, 20.
    • be þam ꝥ
    in order that
    :--

  • Be þám ꝥ ðú mihtest þý éð ongitan,

    • Bt. 36, 5
      • ;
    • F. 180, 1: 39, 9
      • ;
    • F. 226, 8.
marking material from which an inference or knowledge may be drawn, by which judgement may be made :--
Show examples

  • Ǽlc treów is be (de fructu suo) his wǽstme oncnáwen,

      Lk. 6, 44.

  • Þá geseah þæt wíf þæt þæt treów wæs gód tó etanne, be þan þe hire þúhte,

      Gen. 3, 6.

  • Ne ceós ðú nánne man be his ǽhtum,

      Prov. K. 42.

  • Be þisum litlum man mæg understandan,

      Ælfc. Gen. Thw. 3, 20.

  • Be eallum þisum racum þú miht ongitan

    ex quo fit,

    • Bt. 36, 6
      • ;
    • F. 180, 26.

  • Ðæt is sweotol tó ongitanne be sumum æðelinge,

    • 16, 2
      • ;
    • F. 52, 18: 37, 3
      • ;
    • F. 190, 19.

  • Be þám wæs cweden

    unde dicitur,

    • Bd. 1, 27
      • ;
    • Sch. 79, 3: 85, 10: Past. 153, 8.

  • Be þǽm man mehte ongietan

    ubi conjici datur,

    • Ors. 3, 4
      • ;
    • S. 104, 10.

  • Be þan man wát þæt hé bið his hláford,

      Wlfst. 298, 4: 152, 21.

  • Ongitan be þám de nánne mon ne lyst þæs þinges

    to understand from the thing pleasing nobody,

    • Bt. 34, 7
      • ;
    • F. 144, 1.

  • Ic wille secgon be hwǽm ic hit ǽrest ongeat,

    • 35, 2
      • ;
    • F. 156, 33.
marking means or material used,
by, by means of, by the use of:--
Show examples

  • Hangað sweord be smalan þrǽde,

    • Bt. 29, 1
      • ;
    • F. 102, 27.

  • Ic hæfde sweotole gereht be manegum tácnum,

    • 11, 2
      • ;
    • F. 34, 32.

  • Ðá óðre be him libben,

      Past. 319, 19.

  • Hé leofode be hláfe and be wætere,

      Hml. S. 3, 478.

  • Behwilcum þingum féddest þú ðé?,

      Hml. S. 23 b, 517.

  • Þæt eal folc fæste be hláfe and wirtum and wætere,

      Wlfst. 180, 24.
marking object used to typify or signify something :--
Show examples

  • Bi Judéum wæs gecueden ðurh ðone wítgan

    sub Judeae specie per prophetam dicitur,

      Past. 241, 5.

  • Be ðám sceabbe sió hreófe getácnað ðæt wóhhǽmed,

      71, 4.
by way of, in the form of:--
Show examples

  • Gif hé secge ꝥ hé hæbbe hire freóndscipe, ꝥ ys be (amatorie,) lufe

      Ll. Th. ii. 230, 17.
marking agent :--
Show examples

  • Þá ðing þe be him wǽrun gewordene quae fiebant ab eo,

      Lk. 9, 7.
marking the object that serves as model,
after
:--
Show examples

  • Swelcra má bi ðǽre bisene,

      Past. 9, 14.

  • On þára apostola drohtnunge, be þám muneca líf is gebysenod,

      R. Ben. 57, 6.

  • Þǽre þeóde hé óþerne naman áscóp be him syluum,

    • Ors. 1, 8
      • ;
    • S. 40, 33: Hml. Th. i. 478, 10: Angl. vii. 44, 429.

  • Óþer burh wæs hátenu be his horse Bucefal,

    • Ors. 3, 9
      • ;
    • S. 132, 26.
marking that which guides action or conduct, or which determines a statement,
according to, after:--
Show examples

  • Ðǽm mannum þe be his lárum lifiaþ,

      Bl. H. 61, 13.

  • Be ðám ðe hí tǽhton sylfe lybbende,

      Hml. Th. ii. 130, 3.

  • Þǽra manna þe lybbað be ágenum lustum,

      i. 536, 22.

  • Unrihtdéman þe démað áfre be þám sceatte

    unjust judges that are ever guided in their judgements by bribery,

      Wlfst. 298, 19.

  • Hit oferstíhð, be ðæs wítegan cwyde, sandceosles gerím,

      34.
marking measure, rate, degree:--
Show examples

  • Beó gemeten nygon fét be (ad mensuram pedum ejus), þæs mannes fótan

      Ll. Th. i. 226, 13.

  • Fultum be swá manegum mannum swá ús cinelic þince,

      236, 15.

  • Þæt ylce gemet, þæt is be twelf sealmum,

      R. Ben. 35, 6.

  • Hæbbe wé þæt feoh bróht be þám ylcan gewihte,

      Gen. 43, 21.

  • Þá eá mehte wífmon be hiere cneówe oferwadan,

    • Ors. 2, 4
      • ;
    • S. 72, 33.

  • Máre be ánum stæfe,

      Nic. 19, 21.

  • Bið se ofsprinc gesíðcundes cynnes be twám þúsendum,

      Ll. Th. i. 188, 12.

  • Ðú be dinere dægullicum geþingdest wið mé,

      Mt. R. 20, 13, 2.

  • Steorran feóllan náht be ánan oððe twám, ac þiclíce,

    • Chr. 1095
      • ;
    • P. 230, 29.

  • Drinc be dropan,

      Lib. ii. 130, 4.

  • Rúde be healfan þǽre saluion,

      292, 16.

  • Be twyfealdum forgielde hé hit,

      Ll. Th. i. 50, 22: 224, 13.

  • Léton heora fultum binnan beón be þǽm dǽle þæt hié ǽgðer mehton . . .,

    • Ors. 4, 5
      • ;
    • S. 168, 24: Bt. 34, 12
      • ;
    • F. 152, 19.

  • Be nánum dǽle,

    • 39, 7
      • ;
    • F. 222, 18.

  • Be mǽstan

    at most,

      Hml. Th. i. 594, 25.

  • Be fullan,

      Hml. S. 35, 29.
marking proportion:--
Show examples

  • Gif hé onsacan wille, dó hé ꝥ be ðám feó and be ðám wíte,

      Lt. Th. i. 120, 8; 118, 15.

  • Ǽlcan ǽnlýpium wæs geseald be ðám þe hé behófade,

      R. Ben. 57, 19.

  • Bétan be his gyltes andefne,

      Bl. H. 45, 28.

  • Wé syndon geómrigende be myclum gewyrhtum,

      St. A. 36, 2.
marking that from which action results,
by the command, at the request:--
Show examples

  • Hé férde be his hláfordes hǽse,

      Gen. 24, 10.

  • Gif þeów mon wyrce on Sunnandæg be his hláfordes hǽse,

      Ll. Th. i. 104, 2.

  • Sé gefreóde Ongelcynnes scóle be Ælfrédes béne,

    • Chr. 885
      • ;
    • P. 80, 6.
marking penalty,
by deprivation, under pain of losing
Show examples

  • Forgá hé þýfðe be his feóre and be eallum þám þe hé áge,

      Ll. Th. i. 210, 3.

  • Hé bebeád eallum his folce be heora lífe þæt hí sceoldon hí gebiddan tó ðǽre anlícnysse,

      Hml. Th. ii. 18, 24: Hml. S. 11, 6.

  • Hé beád ꝥ ǽlc man be his heáfde deófle sceolde offrian,

      23, 29.

  • Ꝥ gehwilc man his teóðunge gelǽste be Godes miltse and be þæs cynges and be ealles crístenes folces,

      Wlfst. 272, 7: Ll. Th. i. 342, 12.

  • Beóde ic mínum geréfan be mínum freóndscipe and be eallum þám þe hí ágon,

      272, 5.
by infliction,
under pain of suffering
Show examples

  • Healde man freólsunga be (under pain of suffering the penalty) þám wíte þe seó dómbóc tǽcð,

      Ll. Th. i. 264, 20: 342, 12. 'Hí

  • 'Hí man ðreátige ꝥ hí be wíte hí ámeldian,'...'Búton gé hí ámeldian, gé sceolon heora wíte ástundian,"

      Hml. S. 23, 293.

  • Be þǽre steóre þe Eádgár gelagede,

      Wlfst. 272, 8.

  • Be mýnre oferhýrnysse,

      Ll. Th. i. 196, 15.
adjuration, by :--
Show examples

  • Yc eów bidde on Godes naman and on ealra his háligra, and eác be mínum freóndscipe,

      Ll. Th. i. 194, 5.
with dative absolute, cf. II. :--
Show examples

  • Gif elles be (nobody being killed) cwicum mannum ciricgrið ábrocen beó,

      Ll. Th. i. 340, 20: 360, 11.
instr. :--
Show examples

  • Bi ðýs (be ðǽm, v. l.) ilcan,

      Past. 169, 19.

  • Be þý,

    • Bt. 34, 1
      • ;
    • F. 134, 13: 34, 7
      • ;
    • 142, 29.

  • Þá men bi ðý lifdon,

      Nar. 26, 22.
adverb:--
Show examples

  • Stódon him twégen weras big,

      Bl. H. 121, 23.

  • Þæt yrfe þe wé big leofiaþ,

      51, 18.

  • Meolc þe hý bí libbað,

      Ors. 1, 2; S. 30, 10.

  • Þæs þe eall þeódscype big sceall libban,

      Ll. Th. ii. 306, 36.

  • Zó þǽm mere þe wé bí gewícod hæfdon,

      Nar. 12, 21.

  • Búton hió hwǽr tó lǽne sié, oððe hwá óðre bí wríte,

      Past. 9, 7.
Similar entries
v. bí, in Dict., bí-libban, big-standan.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “be.” 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/39520.

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