Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

Dictionary online

æ
þ

sulung

(n.)
Grammar
sulung, e; f. A Kentish word for a certain quantity of land, derived, like carrucata, from a name of the plough; from its origin it might mean, so much land as could be cultivated by one plough. From the first two passages given below it would seem that the sulung was equivalent to two hides (manentes), and later a solanda, which is probably the same word, is said 'per se habere duas hidas.' v. Seebohm, Vill. Comm., p. 54. But perhaps it may be inferred that both hide and sulung were considered as on the same footing as regards the plough. Thus to the gebúr with his gyrd landes, i. e. one quarter of a hide, are to be given two oxen, L. R. S. 4; Th. i. 434, 23, while a gift of half a sulung is accompanied by the further gift of four oxen, Chart. Th. 470, 9-14. v. Seebohm, pp. 138-9, and generally. In the Domesday Survey of Kent the assessment was given by solins, and the word remained in use. v. Pegge's Kenticisms, s.v.
Entry preview:

sulling Aliquam terrae partiunculam, hoc est duarum manentium ... ritu Cantiae án sulung dictum, Cod. Dip. Kmbl. i. 249, 19. Terrae particula duarum manentium, id est, án sulung, 250, 8. Yc gean intó Cristes cyrican on Cantwarabyrig ðæs landes æt Holungaburnan

Linked entry: swulung

arctos

(n.)
Grammar
arctos, acc. arcton; f. [ἄρκτος, m. f. a bear; ἄρκτος, f. the constellation Ursa Major, called also ἅμαξα, carles wǽn the churl's wain: the bright star in Boötes is denominated by ancient astronomers and poets Ἀρκτοῦρος, the bear-ward].

The constellation Ursa Major

Entry preview:

The constellation Ursa Major; arct-os, -us, i; f. = ἄρκτος, f Arcton hátte án tungol on norþ dǽle, se hæfþ seofon steorran, and is for ðí óðrum naman geháten, septemtrio, ðone hátaþ lǽwede menn carles wǽn. Se ne gǽþ nǽfre adúne under ðyssere eorþan,

Linked entries: Boéties carles wǽn

suþerige

(n.)
Grammar
suþerige, A plant name glossing satirion, Wrt. Voc. i. 32, 18. Cockayne takes the word to be the same as sæþerige (q. v.), and the gloss to be a mistake, Lchdm. ii. 403, col. 1; but cf. satirion sanycle, Wülck. Gl. 613, 33,
Entry preview:

saniculum sanicle i. wudemerch, 554, 8

swát

(n.)
Grammar
swát, es; n. [The passages in which the gender is marked are doubtful. Ðæt swót.
  • Lchdm. iii. 98, 17,
occurs in a late MS.; ísen swát,
  • ii. 296, 18,
be a compound; ða swát,
  • iii. 72, 28,
may be a mistake for spátl,
  • v. ii. 56, 15.
Dutch has a neuter, German and Scandinavian have masculines.]

sweat, perspiration ⬩ that which exudes like sweat ⬩ that which lies on anything as sweat lies on the skin(?) ⬩ used of other moisture that comes from the body, ⬩ foam ⬩ blood ⬩ sweat that comes from labour, hence labour, toil ⬩ sweat; blood

Entry preview:

sweat, perspiration Seofoðe (the seventh of the constituents from which Adam was made) wæs deáwes pund, ðanon him (Adam ) becom swát, Salm. Kmbl. 180. 15. Suát, Rtl. 192, 17. His swát ( sudor ) wæs swylce blódes dropan, Lk. Skt. 22, 44. Of ealdum cláðum

bí

(prep.)
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.]

By, near to, at, in, upon ⬩ juxta, prope, apud, in ⬩ Of, about ⬩ de, quoad ⬩ By, through, because of, after, according to, in comparison with ⬩ per, secundum, pro, ex

Entry preview:

dat. By, near to, at, in, upon; juxta, prope, apud, in 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

ge-stíran

Entry preview:

Bt. 38, 2 ; F. 196, 33. to reprove, rebuke Gistiórende (-ande, L.) wæs ðǽm gáste comminatus est spiritui. Mk. R. 9, 25. Sý him ǽne gestýred and eft and þriddan síðe correptus semel et iterum atgue tertio, R. Ben. 46, 18.

þurh

(prep.)
Grammar
þurh, þurg, þuruh, þorh, þorch, þerh, þerih, þærh; prep.

Through ⬩ through ⬩ for ⬩ during ⬩ through ⬩ by ⬩ through ⬩ by ⬩ by means of ⬩ by use of ⬩ through ⬩ in consequence of ⬩ as the result of ⬩ by reason of ⬩ on account of ⬩ through ⬩ from ⬩ through ⬩ in virtue of ⬩ by right of ⬩ in ⬩ by ⬩ in the character of ⬩ by way of ⬩ in ⬩ with ⬩ with a view to ⬩ through ⬩ by ⬩ in

Entry preview:

Through. Grammar þurh, with acc. v. also C. local, marking motion into and out at the opposite side Þorh (dorh, ðorh) ludgaet per seudoterum, Txts. 84, 741. Ðurh ða duru wé gáð in per hostium intramus, Ælfc. Gr. 47; Zup. 269, 18: Cd. Th. 29, 8; Gen.

Linked entries: þuruh þerh þorch þorh

frignan

(v.)
Grammar
frignan, [The different treatment of the g in this word gives rise to a great variety of forms. 1.the g may be retained, see the forms in Dict., to which add p.pl. [ge-] frungan; pp. [ge-]frognen. 2. the g may be absorbed giving a. frínan; p. frǽn, pl. frúnon ; pp. frúnen ; or b. frínan may be regarded as of the ablaut series í, á, i and have p. frán, pl. frinon ; pp. [be-]frinen. 3. the g may be assimilated and forms as from frinnan result, see prs. frinne, ppr. frinnende; p. pl. frunnon. Here perhaps belongs the form frunian,
  • Wrt. Voc. ii. 14, 54.
]

to ask ⬩ inquire ⬩ to ask a question, ⬩ to ask about, after, ⬩ to ask ⬩ to ask a person a question ⬩ to ask a person about something, ⬩ to ask information of or from a person,

Entry preview:

Take here the examples given under and Add Frigno consulo, Txts. 51, 514. Ic fríne. Wrt. Voc. ii. 14, 63 : consulo, i. requiro vel inquiro, Wülck. Gl. 209, 30. Frunian (frunnan ?) consuluerunt, Wrt. Voc. ii. 14, 54. to ask, inquire Gif ic fregno (frægno

ríþ

(n.)
Grammar
ríþ, es; m. (v. eá-ríþ) : e; f. : ríþe, an; f .A rithe (v. Halliw. Dict. and Leo A. S. Names of Places, p. 86 : the word is still to be found in North Frisian in the form ride, rie, to denote the bed of running water),
Entry preview:

a small stream Ríþ rivus ... lytel ríþ rivulus, Wrt. Voc. i. 54, 20-27 : rivus, 80, 62. Burne ł ríþe latex, Hpt. Gl. 447, 4. Norþ tó blacan ríþe, andlang ríþe, Cod. Dip. B. i. 296, 33. On fúlan ríþe, andlang ríþe, Cod. Dip. Kmbl. i. 257, 32. On áne ríþe

Temes

(n.)
Grammar
Temes, Temese the Thames. In the declension both weak and strong forms are found. [In Latin, nom. Temis, Cod. Dip. Kmbl. i. 30, 12, Temes, ii. 23, 12: gen. Tamisae, i. 98, 1: dat. Taemise, 216, 25: acc. Tamesim Bd. 1, 2; S. 42, 34 may be cited]
Entry preview:

Neáh ðære ié ðe mon hǽt Temes (Temese, MS. C.) ad flumen Tamesim, Ors. 5, 12; Swt. 238, 22. Sý eá hátte Temese, Chr. Erl. 5, 11. Ymbe heora landgemǽra: andlang Temese (on Temese, 8), L. A. G. 1; Th. i. 152, 18. Út on Temese; ðonne ondlong Temese, Cod.

ge-myþe

(n.)
Grammar
ge-myþe, es; n. [Theform and gender of the word are not quite certain. A dat. sing. fem, occurs once, but it is in a rather late charter with corrupt forms; all other instances are in dat. pl. Corresponding forms in other languages are neuter, so probably the English.]
Entry preview:

A mouth of a river, valley, opening of one road into another, of an enclosure. where one stream joins another Of Temede gemýðan; andlang Temede in wynnabæces gemýðan . . . in Temede múðan (cf. of Temede streáme in wynnabæce . . . in Temede streám, 386

peorð

(n.)
Grammar
peorð, the name of the Runic p. Its meaning is doubtful. Grimm notices the name for f in the old Sclavonic alphabet, fert, and the Persian name for one of the figures on the chess-board, ferz. Kemble seems to take the latter, translating the word by
Entry preview:

chess-man; but it is doubtful whether the knowledge of chess was early enough among the Teutons to allow of this interpretation. v. Zacher Das Runenalphabet, pp. 7-9. The verse which accompanies the Rune in the Runic poem is the following Peorð byþ symble

lactuca

(n.)
Grammar
lactuca, an; f. This word seems to retain its Latin form in the nominative, but otherwise conforms to English usage, and is generally treated as a weak noun. The form lactucas, however, occurs in the Leechdoms, which, though it looks like a strong plural masc., seems to be singular
Entry preview:

Lactuca hátte seó wyrt ðe hí etan sceoldon mid ðám þeorfum hláfum heó is biter on þigene lettuce was the name of the herb that they were to eat with the unleavened loaves; it is bitter in the eating, Homl. Th. ii. 278, 26. Nim lactucan ánc hand fulle

LǼTAN

(v.)
Grammar
LǼTAN, p. lét, leórt; pp. lǽten. The ellipsis of a verb in the infinitive, the meaning of which may be inferred from the context, not unfrequently takes place after lǽtan; and the connection of many of the meanings which follow with the simple one seems explainable in this way.

to LET ⬩ allow ⬩ permit ⬩ suffer ⬩ to let ⬩ let go ⬩ give up ⬩ dismiss ⬩ leave ⬩ forsake ⬩ let ⬩ to let ⬩ cause ⬩ make ⬩ get ⬩ have ⬩ cause to be ⬩ place ⬩ make as if ⬩ make out ⬩ profess ⬩ pretend ⬩ estimate ⬩ consider ⬩ suppose ⬩ think ⬩ to behave towards ⬩ treat ⬩ to let

Entry preview:

to LET, allow, permit, suffer God lǽt him fyrst ðæt hé his mándǽda geswíce God allows him time that he may cease from his crimes, Homl. Th. i. 268, 32. Ðonne ne lǽteþ hé ús nó costian ofer gemet then he will not let us be tempted beyond measure, Blickl

Linked entries: aweg-lǽtan leórt

speld

(n.)
Grammar
speld, es; n.; pl. speld and speldru (? or speldra (see below) from speldr. Cf. 'Spelder of woode esclat, Palsgrave. The schafte to spildurs spronge,
  • Avow. of Arthur,'
  • Halliwell's Dict.
): speld, e; f.

A splinter ⬩ a thin piece of wood used as a torch ⬩ a torch ⬩ (splinters) ⬩ splinter of a lance ⬩ a tablet ⬩ a flake ⬩ a tablet

Entry preview:

A splinter, a thin piece of wood used as a torch, a torch On spelde in favillam, Anglia xiii. 35, 213. Speldum favillis, 36, 234, Ðara spaca speldra malleoli Similar entries (v. spæc), Wrt. Voc. ii. 54, 56. Biernende speld tedas, 95, 26. Spelde tedas

háw

(n.; suffix)
Grammar
háw, Kemble says, ' In all probability, a look out, or prospect'; Middendorff compares the word with -hau in German place-names, and takes it to mean a clearing, a place where trees are cut down (cf. heáwan). But perhaps in the one passage where the word occurs
Entry preview:

hlawe should be read Haec sunt supradictarum uocabula terrarum, aet Uuineshauue (cf. scuccanhlau, 196, 1), C. D. i. 195, 30

ge-wríþan

Entry preview:

., and ic dó þæt hé andet þæt hé is gewriðen, Hml. Th. i. 462, 1. the subject a bond Tóslít bendas þá gewríðaþ mé rumpe uincula quae stringunt me, Ps. L. fol. 142, 9. Hé bið gewriðen constringitur (funibus peccatorum suorum ), Kent.

Linked entry: ge-wriþen

wíg-bed

(n.)
Grammar
wíg-bed, wí-bed, wió-bed, -bud, wié-bed, weó-bed, -bud, weófod (-ed, -ud), wéfod, es, also -beddes; n. (generally, but se weóbud, Past. 33; Swt. 217, 21, and pl. wíbedas, Bd. 5, 20; S. 641, 42)

An altar

Entry preview:

An altar [from wíg (wíh) and beód; some forms, e.g. wígbeddes, weóbedd, suggest that the word was thought to be derived from bed] Weófod altar vel ara, Wrt. Voc. i. 26, 51. Hé scolde ðone Godes alter habban uppan áholodne, ðæt hé meahte on healdan ða

Linked entries: beód wí-bed wíg-gebed wíh weó-bed

geond-felan

(v.)
Grammar
geond-felan, -feolan: p. -fæl, pl. -fǽlon; pp. -folen [cf. (?) Goth. filhan: Icel. fela to hide; hence to give into one's keeping; so geondfolen fýre = utterly given up to fire. Or may folen be taken from the literal meaning and so geondfolen compare with the preceding participle geinnod? The meaning of the verb in any case seems to be]

To fill throughout ⬩ mplere

Entry preview:

To fill throughout; mplere, Cd. 2; Th. 3, 29; Gen. 43

Linked entry: geond-folen

tunge

(n.)
Grammar
tunge, an; tung [? in the passage: Álés sáwle míne fram tunge fácen-fulre a lingua dolosa (but in the next verse linguam is glossed by tungan, so that perhaps tunge is meant for nominative : O. L. Ger. and O. H. Ger. , however, have strong as well as weak forms), Ps. Lamb. 119, 2], e; f.

a tongue ⬩ tongue ⬩ the person who speaks with the tongue ⬩ words ⬩ speech ⬩ language ⬩ a language ⬩ speech ⬩ power of speaking ⬩ a tongue-shaped thing

Entry preview:

a tongue Tunge lingua, Wrt. Voc. i. 64, 56. Gif monnes tunge biþ of heáfde óðres monnes dǽdum dón, ðæt biþ gelíc and eágan bót, L. Alf. pol. 52 ; Th. i. 94, 20: Exon. Th. 373, 25 ; Seel. Ex. 115. His tungan (tungæs, Lind. : tunga, Rush. ) bend uinculum

Copyright

All the data provided here are free for any purpose. If you use the data for academic purposes, we ask that you kindly cite us as your source. In case you need a large portion of the dictionary data or you need it in a specific format, let us know through the contact form, we are happy to do custom database dumps for researchers.

How to cite

You can cite the entries of the online version of the dictionary, or you can cite the scanned pages of the original paper editions.

  • To cite the online version of the dictionary, click the icon right under the entry.
  • To cite the scanned paper version of the dictionary, click the "show/hide this scanned page" link under the entry, check the scan and use the citation information right above it.