Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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BIFIAN

  • verb [ weak ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
BIFIAN, bifigan, byfian, beofian; p. ode; pp. od
Wright's OE grammar
§536;
To tremble, shake, be moved; tremere, contremere, commoveri
Show examples

  • Drihten besihþ eorþan and déþ hýg bifian

    Dominus respicit terram et facit eam tremere,

    • Ps. Lamb. 103, 32
      • :
    • Rood Kmbl. 72
      • ;
    • Kr. 36.

  • He, bifiende, feóll to Iohannes fótum

    he, trembling, fell at John's feet,

    • Ælfc. T. 37, 10
      • :
    • Cd. 92
      • ;
    • Th. 118, 25
      • ;
    • Gen. 1970.

  • Ic bifige

    tremo,

    • Ælfc. Gr. 35
      • ;
    • Som. 38, 8.

  • Eorþe [eorþan MS.] bifode

    terra tremuit,

    • Ps. Spl. 75, 8
      • :
    • Rood Kmbl. 83
      • ;
    • Kr. 42.

  • Ða wudas bifodon

    the woods shook,

    • Bt. 35, 6
      • ;
    • Fox 168, 8.
Etymology
[
O. Sax. biƀón:
Frs. bibbe, bibje:
O. Frs. beva:
Dut. beven:
Ger. beben:
M. H. Ger. biben:
O. H. Ger. bibén:
Dan. bäve:
Swed. bäfwa:
O. Nrs. bifast:
Lat. pavere:
Grk. φέβομαι:
Sansk. bhī to fear.
]
Derived forms
a-bifian
Linked entries
v.  a-bifian beofian bifgende bifigan.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “BIFIAN.” 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/4261.

Checked: 1
Full form

Word-wheel

  • BIFIAN, v.

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