Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

Dictionary online

word

  • noun [ neuter ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
word, es; n.
Wright's OE grammar
§7; §106; §215; §253; §278; §299; §331; §342; §562;
a word, a single part of speech; in pl. words forming connected speech
Show examples
  • Bútan ðám stafum ne mæg nán word beón áwriten,

    • Ælfc. Gr. 2
    • ;
    • Zup. 5, 12.
  • Barbarismus, ðæt is ánes wordes gewemmednyss . . . Solocismus, ðæt is miscweden word on endebyrdnysse ðære rǽdinge . . . Barbarismus bið on ánum worde, and solocismus bið sum leás word on ðam ferse,

    • 50
    • ;
    • Zup. 294, 4-10.
  • Ðæs wordes andgit is swá mon cweþe þingere oþþe fréfrend,

      Blickl. Homl. 135, 33.
  • Seó ceaster ealde worde is nemned Wiltaburh,

    • Bd. 5, 11
    • ;
    • S. 626, 26.
  • Hí ígbúend óðre worde Baðan nemnaþ,

    • Chr. 973
    • ;
    • Erl. 124, 12.
  • Ðǽr wæs hæleþa hleahtor, word wǽron wynsume,

    • 1228
    • ;
    • B. 612.
  • Wera gehwylcum wíslícu word gerísaþ,

    • Exon. Th. 343, 34
    • ;
    • Gn. Ex. 166.
  • Ealle ða ídlan word ðe hé út forlét.

      Blickl. Homl. 59, 19.
  • Ealle 'ða word sint sóbe ðe Paulus sægþ,

      187, 2.
  • Ðæt sindon ða word, swá ús gewritu secgaþ,

    • Exon. Th. 241, 12
    • ;
    • Ph. 655.
  • Gif ðás word sind sóþ,

    • 247, 24
    • ;
    • Jul. 83
    • :
    • Beo. Th. 1282
    • ;
    • B. 639.
  • Nó ðæs fela Daniel gespræc sóðra worda,

    • Cd. Th. 253, 13
    • ;
    • Dan. 595.
  • Engel wrát in wáge werda gerýnu, baswe bócstafas,

    • 261, 9
    • ;
    • Dan. 723.
  • Gif hé his wordcwida wealdan meahte, ðæt hé him onwrige worda gongum, hú . . . ,

    • Exon. Th. 171, 29
    • ;
    • Gú. 1134.
  • Meaht ðú worda gewealdan,

    • 163, 5
    • ;
    • Gú. 989.
  • Worda tó hræd,

    • 330, 13
    • ;
    • Vy. 50.
  • Worda gleáw,

    • 415, 20
    • ;
    • Rä. 33, 14.
  • Hé wile tó his néhstan sprecan ða word ðe hé wénþ ðæt him leófoste sýn tó gehýrenne, and ðonne þencþ hú hé hine beswícan mæge þurh ða swétnesse ðara worda,

      Blickl. Homl. 55, 22.
  • Hí þeossa worda nán ongeotan ne mehton,

    • 15, 13
    • :
    • Exon. 246, 6
    • ;
    • Jul. 57.
  • Swá hé bæd, þenden hé wordum weóld,

    • Beo. Th. 59
    • ;
    • B. 30.
  • Wordum wísfæst,

    • Exon. Th. 418, 4
    • ;
    • Rä. 36, 14.
  • Ne wile Sarran gelýfan wordum mínum,

    • Cd. Th. 144, 13
    • ;
    • Gen. 2389.
  • Æfter ðissum wordum,

    • Blickl. Homl. 135, 34
    • :
    • Andr. Kmbl. 175
    • ;
    • An. 88.
Grammar
word, wordum is often used pleonastically with verbs of saying or writing.
Similar entries
Cf. worde under II. 1
Show examples
  • God cwæð him wordum

    Dominus ait,

    • Jud. 6, 14
    • :
    • Cd. Th. 148, 16
    • ;
    • Gen. 2457.
  • Ðæt wíf wordum sægde,

    • 44, 11
    • ;
    • Gen. 707.
  • Wordum sprǽcon monige,

    • 110, 33
    • ;
    • Gen. 1847.
  • Wordum herian,

    • l, 4
    • ;
    • Gen. 2.
  • Wordum wyrgean,

    • 96, 13
    • ;
    • Gen. 1594.
  • Ðone wé wifel wordum nemnaþ,

    • Exon. Th. 426, 14
    • ;
    • Rä. 41, 73.
  • Se ongan godspell wordum wrítan,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 25
    • ;
    • An. 13.
  • Ic ne mæg word sprecan.

    • Exon. Th. 399, 16
    • ;
    • Rä. 19, 1.
  • Hé lǽteþ word út faran,

    • 315, 35
    • ;
    • Mód. 41
    • :
    • Beo. Th. 5096
    • ;
    • B. 2551.
  • word æfter cwæþ; 'Mǽl is mé tó feran,'

    • 636
    • ;
    • B. 315
    • :
    • 688
    • ;
    • B. 341
    • :
    • Cd. Th. 204, 11
    • ;
    • Exod. 417.
  • word áhóf,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 832
    • ;
    • An. 416
    • :
    • 2993
    • ;
    • An. 1499
    • :
    • Elen. Kmbl. 1445
    • ;
    • El. 724.
  • Ic ðás word sprece.

    • Exon. Th. 457, 12
    • ;
    • Hy. 4, 82
    • :
    • Blickl. Homl. 191, 29
    • :
    • 205, 23.
  • Ða word ðæs heofonlícan gerýnes,

      17, 7.
  • Éces lífes word (wordo,

      Lind.
    )

    uerba uitae aeterne,

      Jn. Skt. 6, 68.
  • Wordu,

      Scint. 94, 8.
  • Hié þrý cwǽdon þurh gemǽne word,

    • Cd. Th. 238, 30
    • ;
    • Dan. 362
    • :
    • 149, 14
    • ;
    • Gen. 2474.
Grammar
word, a verb
Show examples
  • Verbum is word, and word getácnaþ weorc oððe þrowunge oððe geþafunge . . . Adverbum is wordes geféra,

    • Ælfc. Gr. 5
    • ;
    • Zup. 9, 2-8.
  • On ðisum eahta dǽlum synd ða mǽstan and ða mihtigostan nomen et verbum, ðæt is nama and word. Mid ðam naman wé nemnaþ ealle ðing and mid ðam worde wé sprecaþ be eallum ðingum,

      Zup. 11, 8-11.
a written word
Show examples
  • Moððe word fræt,

    • Exon. Th. 432, 4
    • ;
    • Rä. 48, 1.
a word, a group of words forming a phrase, clause, sentence or sentences,
a saying, sentence, anything said, words
Show examples
  • Hé ðæs geanwyrde wes, þeáh him ðæt word ofscute his unnþances

    (the words escaped him involuntarily,

    • Chr. 1055
    • ;
    • Erl. 189, 6.
  • Ðæt word belimpð synderlíce tó Gode ánum, ' lc eom,'

      Homl. Th. ii. 236, 11.
  • Him andswarode God swá ðæt ne wiste, se ðæs wordes (the answer) bád,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 522
    • ;
    • An. 261.
  • On ðam worde: 'Uton wyrcan,' . . . on ðam worde: 'Tó úre anlícnysse,'

      Boutr. Scrd. 19, 13.
  • For ðam worde hé wæs geunrét

    he was sad at that saying,

      Mk. Skt. 10, 22.
  • 'Ic hit eom.' Hí mid ðam worde wendon underbæc . . . Eft áxode se Hǽlend . . . Hí eft andwyrdon mid ðam ǽrran worde . . . Ðá andwyrde hé mid ðam ylcan worde.

    • Homl. Th. ii. 246, 15-20
    • :
    • Cd. Th. 31, 35
    • ;
    • Gen. 495: 165, 4
    • ;
    • Gen. 2726.
Grammar
word, worde is often used pleonastically with verbs of saying,
Similar entries
cf. wordum under I.
Show examples
  • Ðá hé worde cwæð, ðæt . . . ,

    • Cd. Th. 3, 6
    • ;
    • Gen. 31.
  • worde cwæð: 'Témaþ and wexaþ,' 12,

    • 34
    • ;
    • Gen. 195
    • :
    • Andr. Kmbl. 1432
    • ;
    • An. 716.
  • Swá ðú worde becwist,

    • 386
    • ;
    • An. 193
    • :
    • Exon. Th. 123, 32
    • ;
    • Gú. 331.
  • Ðá worde frægn wuldres Aldor Cain hwǽr Abel wǽre,

    • Cd. Th. 61, 24
    • ;
    • Gen. 1002.
  • Hé ðæt word gecwæð, ðæt hit aa hæfde ofer Godes ést ðe hit hæfde bútan ðære cyrcan hláforde,

      Chart. Th. 141, 1.
  • Hé ðæt word ácwæð, ðæt ðæt micle morð menn ne þorfton þolian,

    • Cd. Th. 40, 14
    • ;
    • Gen. 639.
  • Hé ðæt word ácwæð: 'Ic ðé mæg secgan . . . ,'

    • Exon. Th. 20, 12
    • ;
    • Cri. 316
    • :
    • Andr. Kmbl. 2722
    • ;
    • An. 1363 (and often).
  • Ðis is sceortlíce gesǽd ; uton secgan word gyt,

      Homl. Th. ii. 330, 23.
  • Wǽron ðás word gewídmǽrsode

    these sayings were noised abroad,

      Lk. Skt. 1, 65.
  • Ðá áhsode hé hine manegum wordum

    interrogabat illum multis sermonibus,

      23, 9.
  • On ðám twám formum wordum

    in the two first sentences(of the Lord's prayer),

      Homl. Th. i. 262, 22.
  • Hé rihte ǽ getácnode on týn wordum [or 6.],

    • Andr. Kmbl. 3023
    • ;
    • An. 1514.
a saying, maxim
Show examples
  • Hí cweþaþ ðæt tó worde, ðæt se bið on geþance wærast and wísast, se ðe óðerne can raðost ásmeágan; cweþaþ eác tó worde ða ðe syndan stunte, ðæt mycel forhæfednes lytel behealde, ac ðæt mete wǽre mannum gescapen, tó ðam ánum, ðæt men his scoldan brúcan,

      Wulfst. 55, 20-25.
a tale, story
Show examples
  • Ðá hæfdon monige unwíse menn him tó worde and tó leásungspelle, ðæt sió hǽte . . . wǽre for Fétontis forscapunge

    quidam . . . suas inanes ratiunculas conquirentes, ridiculam Phaetontis fabulam texuerunt,

    • Ors. 1, 7
    • ;
    • Swt. 40, 8.
a report, tidings
Show examples
  • Ðam cynge com word (word came to the king), ðæt unnfriðscipa lǽgen and hergodon.

    • Chr. 1046
    • ;
    • Erl. 173, 5.
  • Sóna swá ðæt word becom tó Neróne,

      Blickl. Homl. 173, 35.
  • Ða sprang ðæt word, ðæt hé on ðam holte dwelode, óð ðæt hine wulfas tótǽron,

      Homl. Th. i. 384, 9.
fame, name, (good) word, (good) report
Show examples
  • Gód word and gód hlísa ǽlces monnes biþ betera ðonne ǽnig wela,

    • Bt. 13
    • ;
    • Fox 38, 23.
  • Ðá ásprang his word wíde geond land, hú se mǽra man manna fét áðwóh,

      Homl. Skt. i. 7, 388.
  • Úre word sprang wíde geond ðás eorðan,

    • 13, 151
    • :
    • Shrn. 17, 9.
  • Æðelinge (Christ) weóx word and wísdóm (

      cf. Lk. 2, 52
    ),

    • Andr. Kmbl. 1137
    • ;
    • An. 569 : 3352
    • ;
    • An. 1680.
  • Hé þóhte ðæt hé him myceles wordes wircean sceolde (wolde geearnian him hereword, v. l.),

    • Chr. 1009
    • ;
    • Erl. 142, 2.
  • Uton ús selfum betst word and longsumast æt úrum ende gewyrcan

    Spartanos admonet, de gloria plurimum, de vita nihil sperandum,

    • Ors. 2, 5
    • ;
    • Swt. 82, 2.
  • Wídgongel wíf word gespringeþ (gets a (bad) name), hæleð hý hospe mǽnaþ,

    • Exon. Th. 337, 15
    • ;
    • Gn. Ex. 65.
a command, an order, ordinance
Show examples
  • Word hleóðrode: 'Ne wép ðone wræcsíð,'

    • Andr. Kmbl. 2860
    • ;
    • An. 1432
    • :
    • Cd. Th. 173, 14
    • ;
    • Gen. 2861.
  • Eoppa be Wilferþes worde bróhte Wihtwarum fulwiht,

    • Chr. 661
    • ;
    • Erl. 34, 17.
  • Ðú lífes word lǽstan noldes, ac mín bibod brǽce be ðínes bonan worde,

    • Exon. Th. 85, 21
    • ;
    • Cri. 1394.
  • Ðæt hié ðæt onwendon, ðæt hé mid his worde bebeád,

    • Cd. Th. 26, 11
    • ;
    • Gen. 405.
  • Ðá sende se cyng Leófsig, and hé ðæs cynges worde grið gesætte.

    • Chr. 1002
    • ;
    • Erl. 137, 25
    • :
    • L. Ath. v. 10
    • ;
    • Th. i. 238, 36
    • :
    • Exon. Th. 99, 19
    • ;
    • Cri. 1627.
  • Ic ne mæg áwendan Godes word . . . God cwæð : 'Dó ðæt ic ðé bebeóde,'

      Num. 22, 18-20.
  • Hý brǽcon cyninges word, beorht bóca bibod,

    • Exon. Th. 99, 26
    • ;
    • Cri. 1630
    • :
    • Cd. Th. 38, 1
    • ;
    • Gen. 600: 49, 27
    • ;
    • Gen. 798.
  • Word gehyrwan,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 442
    • ;
    • El. 221.
  • Ofer Drihtnes word,

    • Cd. Th. 37, 21
    • ;
    • Gen. 593
    • :
    • Rood Kmbl. 70
    • ;
    • Kr. 35.
  • Ðæt ðú Dryhtnes word healde, and ðæs cininges bebod begange,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 2334
    • ;
    • El. 1168.
  • Þurh his word

    at his command,

    • Cd. Th. 10, 17
    • ;
    • Gen. 158: 7, 24
    • ;
    • Gen. 111 : 82, 15
    • ;
    • Gen. 1362.
  • Ǽr áwǽged sié worda ǽnig,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 2877
    • ;
    • An. 1441.
  • Hé com be Honorius wordum ðes pápan,

    • Chr. 634
    • ;
    • Erl. 25, 28.
  • Hé wrát ða týn word, ðe Drihten him bebeád,

    • Ex. 34, 28
    • :
    • Deut. 10, 4.
a message, an announcement
Show examples
  • word ábeád: 'Eów hét secgan sigedrihten mín, ðæt hé eówer æþelu can,

    • Beo. Th. 786
    • ;
    • B. 390.
word, solemn statement
Show examples
  • Biscopes word and cyninges sié unlǽgne búton áðe,

    • L. Win. 16
    • ;
    • Th. i. 40, 12.
  • Ðú ðæt gehéte þurh ðín hálig word,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 2836
    • ,
    • An. 1420.
promise, oath.
Similar entries
v. word-fæst, -loga
Show examples
  • Man freóndscipe gefæstnode mid worde and mid wædde,

    • Chr. 1014
    • ;
    • Erl. 150, 14.
  • Geþence hé word and wedd ðe hé Gode betǽhte,

    • L. Eth. v. 5
    • ;
    • Th. i. 306, 5
    • :
    • vi. 3
    • ;
    • Th. i. 314, 24.
  • Hwǽr syndon ðíne word, on ðam ðú ús gestrangodest, and ðú cwǽde: 'Gif gé mé gehýraþ. ne án loc of eówrum heáfde forwyrð,'

      Blickl. Homl. 243, 31.
an (expressed) intention or opinion
Show examples
  • Ðara ǽlces ðe ðæs wordes wǽre ðæt from Rómebyrg þóhte

    of every one that talked of leaving Rome,

    • Ors. 4, 9
    • ;
    • Swt. 190, 25.
  • Hié wǽron ðæs wordes, ðæt him leófre wæs se cristendóm tó begánne ðonne his scíra tó habbanne

    omnes officium quam fidem deserere maluerunt,

    • 6, 31
    • ;
    • Swt. 286, 6.
  • Ðá wæs ǽlc ðæs wordes, ðæt him leófre wǽre ðæt hé land foreode, ðonne hé ðæne hád underfénge,

      Chart. Th. 167, 32.
  • Wæs Eþelwald ðæs wordes, ðæt hé nó ðes rihtes wiðsacan nolde

    Ethelwald declared his intention of not opposing the right,

      140, 11.
speech, language, words
Show examples
  • Word spearcum fleáh.

    • Cd. Th. 274, 31
    • ;
    • Sat. 162.
  • Scóp him Heort naman se ðe his wordes geweald hæfde

    (who had power to name things as he pleased),

    • Beo. Th. 158
    • ;
    • B. 79.
  • Wordes ord

    the first word,

    • 5576
    • ;
    • B. 2791.
  • Rǽdsnotteran, wordes wísran.

    • Andr. Kmbl. 947
    • ;
    • An. 474.
  • Wordes gleáwne,

    • 3295
    • ;
    • An. 1650.
  • Weras wordes cræftige,

    • Elen. Kmbl. 628
    • ;
    • El. 314
    • :
    • 837
    • ;
    • El. 419.
  • Of eallum ðæm worde ðe gáþ of Godes múþe,

      Blickl. Homl. 27, 9.
  • Mid ðon worde ðæs godcundan gewrites hé hine oferswíþde,

      33, 20.
  • On worde mid nǽnigre mihte gewelgode,

      Blickl. Homl. 179, 15.
  • Wís on ðínum gewitte and on ðínum worde snottor,

    • Exon. Th. 463, 31
    • ;
    • Hö. 78.
  • Men ðú sealdest word and gewitt,

      Hy. 9, 56.
language, style
Show examples
  • Ǽrest Eroico metro, and æfter fæce gerǽde worde (plano sermone ) ic áwrát,

    • Bd. 5, 24
    • ;
    • S. 648, 27.
Grammar
word, where speech is contrasted with act or thought
Show examples
  • Lufige man Godes riht wordes and dǽde,

    • L. Eth. v. 26
    • ;
    • Th. i. 310, 20
    • :
    • L.C.E. 19
    • ;
    • Th. i. 372, 4.
  • Wordes oððe weorces,

    • L. E. G. 2
    • ;
    • Th. i. 168, 2
    • :
    • L. Eth. vi. 30
    • ;
    • Th. i. 322, 23.
  • Móde and dǽdum, worde and gewitte,

    • Cd. Th. 117, 23
    •  ;
    • Gen. 1958.
  • Hé men of deáðe worde áwehte,

    • Andr. Kmbl. 1167
    • ;
    • An. 584
    • :
    • Elen. Kmbl. 1888
    • ;
    • El. 946
    • .
  • Mihtig mid worde eal tó dónne,

      Blickl. Homl. 235, 36.
  • Scyndan mid worde oþþe weorce,

    • L. Eth. vii. 27
    • ;
    • Th. i. 334, 36.
  • Þurh geþóht and þurh word and þurh weorc,

      Blickl. Homl. 35, 14.
word (in word of God)
Show examples
  • Se ðe sǽwð, word hé sǽwð . . . Hí ðæt word gehýraþ,

      Mk. Skt. 4, 14-20.
  • Wé wǽron gesamnode ðǽr wé gehérdan Godes word,

      Blickl. Homl. 141, 27.
  • Gif heó ne bið mid Godes worde féded,

      57, 11.
translating verbum in Jn. 1, 1.
Etymology
[
Goth. waurd
:
O. Sax. O. Frs. word
:
O. H. Ger. wort
:
Icel. orð.
]
Similar entries
v. word-cennend.
Linked entries
v.  word word-loga word-riht.
Full form

Word-wheel

  • word, n.