Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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gífer-nes

  • noun [ feminine ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
gífer-nes, -ness, e; f.
Greediness, avarice, voracity, gluttony; aviditas, gula
Show examples
  • Gífernys biþ ðæt se man ǽr tíman hine gereordige oððe æt his mǽle to micel þicge mid oferflówendnysse ǽtes oððe wǽtes

    greediness is a man's eating before the time, or taking too much at his meal with superfluity of meat or drink,

    • Homl. Th. ii. 218, 29
    • .
  • Him wæs metes micel lust ac ðeáh mid nánum ǽtum his gýfernysse gefyllan ne mihte

    he had great craving for food but yet could he not with any viands satisfy his voracity,

    • i. 86, 6
    • :
    • 168, 12.
  • Ða niétenu for ðære gewilnunge hiera gífernesse simle lócigeaþ to ðære eorþan

    beasts because of their greedy desires ever look to the earth

    ,
    • Past. 21
    • ;
    • Swt. 154, 20
    • ;
    • Cot. MS
    • .
  • Ðæt ríce ðæt ða ǽrestan men forworhtan þurh heora gífernesse

    the kingdom that the first persons forfeited through their greediness,

    • Blickl. Homl. 25, 1
    • :
    • Num. 11, 4
    • :
    • Bt. 35, 6
    • ;
    • Fox 170, 2
    • .
Etymology
[
Orm. gifernesse:
Laym. ȝivernesse.
]
Linked entries
v.  giefernes.
Full form

Word-wheel

  • gífer-nes, n.