Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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be-ginnan

  • verb
Dictionary links
Wright's OE grammar
§59;
Add:
to begin,
trans,
with acc.
Show examples

  • Gif hý hit beginnan (

    incipient

    ) and ne gefremman,
      Ll. Th. ii. 164, 29.

  • Se tídsang is swá tó beginnenne,

      R. Ben. 33, 2.

  • Hé fulworhte ꝥ mynster þe his mæg begunnon hæfde,

      Hml. S. 26, 110.

  • Geendadre bletsunge sý dægredsang begunnen,

      R. Ben. 35, 23.
  • Þá sýn mid alleluian begunnene, 15.
with infin.
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  • Ne beginnes cuoeða,

      Lk. L. R. 3, 8.
with dat. infin.
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  • Begann hé tó hrýmenne,

      Hml. Th. i. 152, 15: 258, II:ii. 502, 29.
intrans.
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  • Æfter ðám beginne se abbod,

      R. Ben. 35, 22.

  • Þæt Assiria ríce æt Ninuse begunne,

      Ors. 2, I; S. 60, 25.
to attempt, undertake,
with acc.
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  • Se apostel, swá swá þá biscopas bǽdon, began þá feórðan bóc,

      Ælfc. T. Grn. 12, 43.

  • Hí wurdon áblende þe ꝥ bebod begunnon

    (attempted to carry out the command),

      Hml. S. 4, 361.
with infin.
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  • God him þæs tíþode, and hé began git biddan

    (he attempted further intercession),

      Hml. S. 13, 203.
with dat. infin.
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  • Gif hwá útácymen man beginne tó þénienne. swelte hé deáðe

    externus, qui ad ministrandum accesserit, morietur, Num. 3, 10. II a. to attack :-- Ymbe þreó mónað þæs þe hié mon ǽr ongon (began, v.l. ),

      Ors. 5, II; S. 238, II.
Etymology
[O. Sax. bi-ginnan: O. Frs. bi-ginna: O. H. Ger. pi-ginnan.]
Similar entries
v. under-beginnan; un-begunnen.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “be-ginnan.” 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/39778.

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Full form

Word-wheel

  • be-ginnan, v.

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