Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

Dictionary online

be-tellan

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Substitute:
to clear a person of a charge, exculpate, excuse
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  • Nis nán man swá dyrstig on þám micclum dóme, þ æt hé durre óðerne betellan,

    • Hml. Th. ii. 570, 35
    • .
generally reflexive,
absolute
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  • Búton hé þider férde and hine betealde,

    • Chr. 1094
    • ;
    • P. 228, 36
    • .
  • Gewende hé tó Róme, þæt hé hine betealde, gif hé mihte. Þa betealde hé hine sweðe geáplíce,

    • Hml. Th. i. 80, 9
    • .
  • Hí hí sylfe earhlíce betealdon,

    • Hml. S. 23, 308
    • .
  • Se Hǽlend nolde hine betellan, ðeáh ðe hé unscyldig wǽre,

    • Hml. Th. ii. 250, 11
    • :
    • 420, 1
    • .
to clear one's self from (æt), in the matter of (be) a charge, excuse one's self to (wið) a person
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  • Godwine betealde hine wið Eádward be eallum ðám ðingan ðe him wæs on geléd,

    • Chr. 1053
    • ;
    • P. 183, 28
    • .
  • ꝥ hé móste hine betellan æt ǽlc þǽra þinga þe him man on léde,

    • 1048
    • ;
    • P. 175, 2
    • .
  • ꝥ hé mage wið Crist hine betellan,

    • Hml. S. 27, 160.
to prove one's self innocent,
with adj.
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  • Hé hine betealde unsynnine,

    • Hml. Th. ii. 226, 12
    • .
with clause
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  • betealde hine wið Eádward, þet hé wæs unscyldig,

    • Chr. 1052
    • ;
    • P. 183, 7.
to excuse a fault, plead excuse for
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  • Hé ne mihte his mándǽda betellan,

    • Hml. S. 9, 145.
Etymology
[
N.E.D. be-tell.
]
Full form

Word-wheel

  • be-tellan,