Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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bí

  • preposition
Dictionary links
Grammar
bí, prep. dat. [Bí is more frequently shortened into be. In compounds it is generally written be- or bi-; but bí- is long where it is used for big, or is a contraction, thus, - bí-spell for big-spell, and as bí-breád for beó-breád. v. be.]
Wright's OE grammar
§6; §559; §570; §647;
dat.
By, near to, at, in, upon; juxta, prope, apud, in
Show examples

  • Arás bí ronde oretta

    the champion arose by his shield,

      Beo. Th. 5069; B. 2538.

  • He bí sesse geóng

    he went by the seat,

      5506; B. 2756.

  • Bí staðe fæste

    fast by the shore,

      Exon. 96 b; Th. 361, 11; Wal. 18.

  • Hwearf bí bence

    turned by the bench,

      Beo. Th. 2380; B. 1188.
dat.
Of, about; de, quoad
Show examples

  • Ðæt bí ðé sóþfæst sægde Esaias

    what Isaiah said truly of thee,

      Exon. 12 a; Th. 19, 16; Cri, 301.

  • Hýrde ic secgan gén bí sumum fugle

    I have yet heard tell of a certain bird,

    97 b;
      Th. 365, 17; Reb. 1.

  • Bí ðon se wítga song

    of whom the prophet sang,

    17 a;
      Th. 41, 4; Cri. 650.
dat.
By, through, because of, after, according to, in comparison with; per, secundum, pro, ex
Show examples

  • Bí hwon scealt ðú lifgan

    by what art thou to live?

      Exon. 36 b; Th. 118, 23; Gú. 244.

  • Bí noman gehátne

    called by name,

    23 b;
      Th. 66, 16; Cri. 1072.

  • Bí heofonwóman

    through the crash of heaven,

    20 a;
      Th. 52, 18; Cri. 835.

  • Leán cumaþ werum bí gewyrhtum

    retribution shall come to men according to their works,

    27 b;
      Th. 84, 3; Cri. 1368 : 76 a; Th. 286, 8; Jul. 728.

  • Ðisses fugles gecynd fela gelíces bí ðám gecornum Cristes þegnum

    the nature of this bird is much like to the chosen servants of Christ,

    61 b;
      Th. 225, 12; Ph. 388.
sometimes bí
is separated from its case
Show examples

  • Bí wædes ófre

    by the shore of the sea,

      Exon. 96 b; Th. 360, 22; Wal. 9.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “bí.” 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/4202.

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  • bí, prep.

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