B
bana, bona, w. m., murderer, 158, 588, 1103, etc.: acc. sg. bonan Ongenþēowes, of Hygelāc, although in reality his men slew Ongenþēow (2965 ff.), 1969. Figuratively of inanimate objects: ne wæs ecg bona, 2507; wearð wracu Wēohstānes bana, 2614.—Comp.: ecg-, feorh-, gāst-, hand-, mūð-bana.
bon-gār, st. m. murdering spear, 2032.
ge-bannan, st. v. w. acc. of the thing and dat. of the person, to command, to bid: inf., 74.
bād, st. f., pledge, only in comp.: nȳd-bād.
bān, st. n., bone: dat. sg. on bāne (on the bony skin of the drake), 2579; dat. pl. heals ealne ymbefēng biteran bānum (here of the teeth of the drake), 2693.
bān-cofa, w. m., “cubile ossium” (Grimm) of the body: dat. sg. -cofan, 1446.
bān-fāg, adj., variegated with bones, either with ornaments made of bone-work, or adorned with bone, perhaps deer-antlers; of Hrōðgār’s hall, 781. The last meaning seems the more probable.
bān-fæt, st. n., bone-vessel, i.e. the body: acc. pl. bān-fatu, 1117.
bān-hring, st. m., the bone-structure, joint, bone-joint: acc. pl. hire wið halse... bānhringas bræc (broke her neck-joint), 1568.
bān-hūs, st. n., bone-house, i.e. the body: acc. sg. bānhūs gebræc, 2509; similarly, 3148.
bān-loca, w. m., the enclosure of the bones, i.e. the body: acc. sg. bāt bānlocan, bit the body, 743; nom. pl. burston bānlocan, the body burst (of Grendel, because his arm was torn out), 819.
bāt, st. m., boat, craft, ship, 211.—Comp. sǣ-bāt.
bāt-weard, st. m., boat-watcher, he who keeps watch over the craft. dat. sg. -wearde, 1901.
bæð, st. n., bath: acc. sg. ofer ganotes bæð, over the diver’s bath (i.e. the sea), 1862.
bærnan, w. v., to cause to burn, to burn: inf. hēt... bānfatu bærnan, bade that the bodies be burned, 1117; ongan... beorht hofu bærnan, began to consume the splendid country-seats (the dragon), 2314.
for-bærnan, w. v., consume with fire: inf. hȳ hine ne mōston... brondefor-bærnan, they (the Danes) could not burn him (the dead Æschere) upon the funeral-pile, 2127.
bǣdan (Goth, baidjan, O.N. beðia), to incite, to encourage: pret. bǣdde byre geonge, encouraged the youths (at the banquet), 2019.
ge-bǣdan, w. v., to press hard: pret. part. bysigum gebǣded, distressed by trouble, difficulty, danger (of battle), 2581; to drive, to send forth: strǣla storm strengum gebǣded, the storm of arrows sent with strength, 3118; overcome: draca... bealwe gebǣded, the dragon... overcome by the ills of battle, 2827.
bǣl (O.N. bāl), st. n., fire, flames: (wyrm) mid bǣle fōr, passed (through the air) with fire, 2309; hæfde landwara līge befangan, bǣle and bronde, with fire and burning, 2323.—Especially, the fire of the funeral-pile, the funeral-pile, 1110, 1117, 2127; ǣr hē bǣl cure, ere he sought the burning (i.e. died), 2819; hātað... hlǣw gewyrcean... æfter bǣle, after I am burned, let a burial mound be thrown up (Bēowulf’s words), 2804.
bǣl-fȳr, st. n., bale-fire, fire of the funeral-pile: gen. pl. bǣlfȳra mǣst, 3144.
bǣl-stede, st. m., place for the funeral-pile: dat. sg. in bǣl=stede, 3098.
bǣl-wudu, st. m., wood for the funeral-pile, 3113.
bǣr, st. f., bier, 3106.
ge-bǣran, w. v., to conduct one’s self, behave: inf. w. adv., ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgðe... sēl gebǣran, I did not hear that a troop bore itself better, maintained a nobler deportment, 1013; hē on eorðan geseah þone lēofestan līfes æt ende blēate gebǣran, saw the best-beloved upon the earth, at the end of his life, struggling miserably (i.e. in a helpless situation), 2825.
ge-bǣtan (denominative from bǣte, the bit), w. v., to place the bit in the mouth of an animal, to bridle: pret. part. þā wæs Hrōðgāre hors gebǣted, 1400.
be, prep. w. dat. (with the fundamental meaning near, “but not of one direction, as æt, but more general”): 1) local, near by, near, at, on (rest): be ȳdlāfe uppe lǣgon, lay above, upon the deposit of the waves (upon the strand, of the slain nixies), 566; hæfde be honda, held by the hand (Bēowulf held Grendel), 815; be sǣm tweonum, in the circuit of both the seas, 859, 1686; be mæste, on the mast, 1906; by fȳre, by the fire, 2220; be næsse, at the promontory, 2244; sæt be þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm, sat by the two brothers, 1192; wæs se gryre lǣssa efne swā micle swā bið mægða cræft be wǣpnedmen, the terror was just so much less, as is the strength of woman to the warrior (i.e. is valued by), 1285, etc.—2) also local, but of motion from the subject in the direction of the object, on, upon, by: gefēng be eaxle, seized by the shoulder, 1538; ālēdon lēofne þēoden be mæste, laid the dear lord near the mast, 36; be healse genam, took him by the neck, fell upon his neck, 1873; wǣpen hafenade be hiltum, grasped the weapon by the hilt, 1757, etc.—3) with this is connected the causal force, on account of, for, according to: ic þis gid be þē āwræc, I spake this solemn speech for thee, for thy sake, 1724; þū þē lǣr be þon, learn according to this, from this, 1723; be fæder lāre, according to her father’s direction, 1951.—4) temporal, while, during: be þē lifigendum, while thou livest, during thy life, 2666. See bī.
bed, st. n., bed, couch: acc. sg. bed, 140, 677; gen. sg. beddes, 1792; dat. pl. beddum, 1241.—Comp: deað-, hlin-, læger-, morðor-, wæl-bed.
ge-bedde, w. f., bed-fellow: dat. sg. wolde sēcan ewēn tō gebeddan, wished to seek the queen as bed-fellow, to go to bed with her, 666.—Comp. heals-gebedde.
bēgen, fem. bā, both: nom. m., 536, 770, 2708; acc. fem. on bā healfa, on two sides (i.e. Grendel and his mother), 1306; dat. m. bām, 2197; and in connection with the possessive instead of the personal pronoun, ūrum bām, 2661; gen. n. bēga, 1874, 2896; bēga gehwæðres, each one of the two, 1044; bēga folces, of both peoples, 1125.
ge-belgan, st. v. (properly, to cause to swell, to swell), to irritate: w. dat. (pret. subj.) þæt hē ēcean dryhtne bitre gebulge, that he had bitterly angered the eternal Lord, 2332; pret. part. gebolgen, 1540; (gebolge, MS.), 2222; pl. gebolgne, 1432; more according to the original meaning in torne gebolgen, 2402.
ā-belgan, to anger: pret. sg. w. acc. oð þæt hyne ān ābealh mon on mōde, till a man angered him in his heart, 2281; pret. part. ābolgen, 724.
ben, st. f., wound: acc. sg. benne, 2725.—Comp.: feorh-, seax-ben.
benc, st. f., bench: nom. sg. benc, 492; dat. sg. bence, 327, 1014, 1189, 1244.—Comp.: ealu-, medu-benc.
benc-swēg, st. m., (bench-rejoicing), rejoicing which resounds from the benches, 1162.
benc-þel, st. n., bench-board, the wainscotted space where the benches stand: nom. pl. benc-þelu, 486; acc. pl. bencþelu beredon, cleared the bench-boards (i.e. by taking away the benches, so as to prepare couches), 1240.
bend, st. m. f., bond, fetter: acc. sg. forstes bend, frost’s bond, 1610; dat. pl. bendum, 978.—Comp.: fȳr-, hell-, hyge-, īren-, oncer-, searo-, wæl-bend.
ben-geat, st. n., (wound-gate), wound-opening: nom. pl. ben-geato, 1122.
bera (O.N. beri), w. m., bearer: in comp. hleor-bera.
beran, st. v. w. acc., to carry; III. sg. pres. byreð, 296, 448; þone māððum byreð, carries the treasure (upon his person), 2056; pres. subj. bere, 437; pl. beren, 2654; inf. beran, 48, 231, 291, etc.; heht þā se hearda Hrunting beran, to bring Hrunting, 1808; up beran, 1921; in beran, 2153; pret. bær, 495, 712, 847, etc.; mandryhtne bær fǣted wǣge, brought the lord the costly vessel, 2282; pl. bǣron, 213, 1636, etc.; bǣran, 2851; pret. part. boren, 1193, 1648, 3136.—The following expressions are poetic paraphrases of the forms go, come: þæt wē rondas beren eft tō earde, 2654; gewītað forð beran wǣpen and gewǣdu, 291; ic gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes hringnet beran, 2755; wīgheafolan bær, 2662; helmas bǣron, 240 (conjecture); scyldas bǣran, 2851: they lay stress upon the connection of the man with his weapons.
æt-beran, to carry to: inf. tō beadulāce (battle) ætberan, 1562; pret. þā hine on morgentīd on Heaðorǣmas holm up ætbær, the sea bore him up to the Heaðorǣmas, 519; hīo Bēowulfe medoful ætbær brought Bēowulf the mead-cup, 625; mægenbyrðenne... hider ūt ætbær cyninge mīnum, bore the great burden hither to my king, 3093; pl. hī hyne ætbǣron tō brimes faroðe, 28.—2) bear away: æt līc ætbær, 2128.
for-beran, to hold, to suppress: inf. þæt hē þone brēostwylm forberan ne mehte, that he could not suppress the emotions of his breast, 1878.
ge-beran, to bring forth, to bear: pret. part. þæt lā mæg secgan sē þe sōð and riht fremeð on folce... þæt þes eorl wǣre geboren betera (that may every just man of the people say, that this nobleman is better born), 1704.
oð-beran, to bring hither: pret. þā mec sǣ oðbær on Finna land, 579.
on-beran (O.H.G. in bëran, intpëran, but in the sense of carere), auferre, to carry off, to take away: inf. īren ǣrgōd þæt þæs āhlǣcan blōdge beadufolme onberan wolde, excellent sword which would sweep off the bloody hand of the demon, 991; pret. part. (wæs) onboren bēaga hord, the treasure of the rings had been carried off, 2285.—Compounds with the pres. part.: helm-, sāwl-berend.
berian (denominative from bær, naked), w. v., to make bare, to clear: pret. pl. bencþelu beredon, cleared the bench-place (by removing the benches), 1240.
berstan, st. v., to break, to burst: pret. pl. burston bānlocan, 819; bengeato burston, 1122.—to crack, to make the noise of breaking: fingras burston, the fingers cracked (from Bēowulf’s gripe), 761.
for-berstan, break, to fly asunder: pret. Nægling forbærst, Nægling (Bēowulf’s sword) broke in two, 2681.
betera, adj. (comp.), better: nom. sg. m. betera, 469, 1704.
bet-līc, adj., excellent, splendid: nom. sg. n., of Hrōðgār’s hall, 781; of Hygelāc’s residence, 1926.
betst, betost (superl.), best, the best: nom. sg. m. betst beadurinca, 1110; neut. nū is ofost betost, þæt wē..., now is haste the best, that we..., 3008; voc. m. secg betsta, 948; neut. acc. beaduscrūda betst, 453; acc. sg. m. þegn betstan, 1872.
bēcn, st. n., (beacon), token, mark, sign: acc. sg. betimbredon beadu-rōfes bēcn (of Bēowulf’s grave-mound), 3162. See beacen.
bēg. See bēag.
bēn, st. f., entreaty: gen. sg. bēne, 428, 2285.
bēna, w. m., suppliant, supplex: nom. sg. swā þū bēna eart (as thou entreatest), 352; swā hē bēna wæs (as he had asked), 3141; nom. pl. hȳ bēnan synt, 364.
ge-betan: 1) to make good, to remove: pret. ac þū Hrōðgāre wīdcūðne wēan wihte gebēttest, hast thou in any way relieved Hrōðgār of the evil known afar, 1992; pret. part. acc. sg. swylce oncȳððe ealle gebētte, removed all trouble, 831. —2) to avenge: inf. wihte ne meahte on þām feorhbonan fǣhðe gebētan, could in no way avenge the death upon the slayer, 2466.
beadu, st. f., battle, strife, combat: dat. sg. (as instr.) beadwe, in combat, 1540; gen. pl. bād beadwa ge-þinges, waited for the combats (with Grendel) that were in store for him, 710.
beadu-folm, st. f., battle-hand: acc. sg. -folme, of Grendel’s hand, 991.
beado-grīma, w. m., (battle-mask), helmet: acc. pl. -grīman, 2258.
beado-hrægl, st. n., (battle-garment), corselet, shirt of mail, 552.
beadu-lāc, st. n., (exercise in arms, tilting), combat, battle: dat. sg. tō beadu-lāce, 1562.
beado-lēoma, w. m., (battle-light), sword: nom. sg., 1524.
beado-mēce, st. m., battle-sword: nom. pl. beado-mēcas, 1455.
beado-rinc, st. m., battle-hero, warrior: gen. pl. betst beadorinca, 1110.
beadu-rōf, adj., strong in battle: gen. sg. -rōfes, of Bēowulf, 3162.
beadu-rūn, st. f., mystery of battle: acc. sg. onband beadu-rūne, solved the mystery of the combat, i.e. gave battle, commenced the fight, 501.
beadu-scearp, adj., battle-sharp, sharp for the battle, 2705.
beadu-scrūd, st. n., (battle-dress), corselet, shirt of mail: gen. pl. beaduscrūda betst, 453.
beadu-serce, w. f., (battle-garment), corselet, shirt of mail: acc. sg. brogdne beadu-sercean (because it consists of interlaced metal rings), 2756.
beado-weorc, st. n., (battle-work), battle: gen. sg. gefeh beado-weorces, rejoiced at the battle, 2300.
beald, adj., bold, brave: in comp. cyning-beald.
bealdian, w. v., to show one’s self brave: pret. bealdode gōdum dǣdum (through brave deeds), 2178.
bealdor, st. m., lord, prince: nom. sg. sinca baldor, 2429; winia bealdor, 2568.
bealu, st. n., evil, ruin, destruction: instr. sg. bealwe, 2827; gen. pl. bealuwa, 281; bealewa, 2083; bealwa, 910.—Comp.: cwealm-, ealdor-, hreðer-, lēod-, morðor-, niht-, sweord-, wīg-bealu.
bealu, adj., deadly, dangerous, bad: instr. sg. hyne sār hafað befongen balwon bendum, pain has entwined him in deadly bands, 978.
bealo-cwealm, st. m., violent death, death by the sword(?), 2266.
bealo-hycgende, pres. part., thinking of death, meditating destruction: gen. pl. ǣghwæðrum bealo-hycgendra, 2566.
bealo-hȳdig, adj., thinking of death, meditating destruction: of Grendel, 724.
bealo-nīð, st. m., (zeal for destruction), deadly enmity: nom. sg., 2405; destructive struggle: acc. sg. bebeorh þē þone bealonīð, beware of destructive striving, 1759; death-bringing rage: nom. sg. him on brēostum bealo-nīð wēoll, in his breast raged deadly fury (of the dragon’s poison), 2715.
bearhtm (see beorht): 1) st. m., splendor, brightness, clearness: nom. sg. ēagena bearhtm, 1767.—2) sound, tone: acc. sg. bearhtm ongeāton, gūðhorn galan, they heard the sound, (heard) the battle-horn sound, 1432.
bearm, m., gremium, sinus, lap, bosom: nom. sg. foldan bearm, 1138; acc. sg. on bearm scipes, 35, 897; on bearm nacan, 214; him on bearm hladan bunan and discas, 2776.—2) figuratively, possession, property, because things bestowed were placed in the lap of the receiver (1145 and 2195, on bearm licgan, ālecgan); dat. sg. him tō bearme cwōm māððumfæt mǣre, came into his possession, 2405.
bearn, st. n., 1) child, son: nom. sg. bearn Healfdenes, 469, etc.; Ecglāfes bearn, 499, etc.; dat. sg. bearne, 2371; nom. pl. bearn, 59; dat. pl. bearnum, 1075.—2) in a broader sense, scion, offspring, descendant: nom. sg. Ongenþēow’s bearn, of his grandson, 2388; nom. pl. yldo. bearn, 70; gumena bearn, children of men, 879; hæleða bearn, 1190; æðelinga bearn, 3172; acc. pl. ofer ylda bearn, 606; dat. pl. ylda bearnum, 150; gen. pl. niðða bearna, 1006.—Comp.: brōðor-, dryht-bearn.
bearn-gebyrdu, f., birth, birth of a son: gen. sg. þæt hyre ealdmetod ēste wǣre bearn-gebyrdo, has been gracious through the birth of such a son (i.e. as Bēowulf), 947.
bearu, st. m., (the bearer, hence properly only the fruit-tree, especially the oak and the beech), tree, collectively forest: nom. pl. hrīmge bearwas, rime-covered or ice-clad, 1364.
bēacen, st. n., sign, banner, vexillum: nom. sg. beorht bēacen godes, of the sun, 570; gen. pl. bēacna beorhtost, 2778. See bēcn.
ge-bēacnian, w. v., to mark, to indicate: pret. part. ge-bēacnod, 140.
bēag, st. m., ring, ornament: nom. sg. bēah (neck-ring), 1212; acc. sg. bēah (the collar of the murdered king of the Heaðobeardnas), 2042; bēg (collective for the acc. pl.), 3165; dat. sg. cwōm Wealhþēo forð gān under gyldnum bēage, she walked along under a golden head-ring, wore a golden diadem, 1164; gen. sg. bēages (of a collar), 1217; acc. pl. bēagas (rings in general), 80, 523, etc.; gen. pl. bēaga, 35, 352, 1488, 2285, etc.— Comp.: earm-, heals-bēag.
bēag-gyfa, w. m., ring-giver, designation of the prince: gen. sg. -gyfan, 1103.
bēag-hroden, adj., adorned with rings, ornamented with clasps: nom. sg. bēaghroden, cwēn, of Hrōðgār’s consort, perhaps with reference to her diadem (cf. 1164, 624.
bēah-hord, st. m. n., ring-hoard, treasure consisting of rings: gen. sg. bēah-hordes, 895; dat. pl. bēah-hordum, 2827; gen. pl. bēah-horda weard, of King Hrōðgār, 922.
bēah-sele, st. m., ring-hall, hall in which the rings were distributed: nom. sg., of Heorot, 1178.
bēah-þegu, st. f., the receiving of the ring: dat. sg. æfter bēah-þege, 2177.
bēah-wriða, w. m. ring-band, ring with prominence given to its having the form of a band: acc. sg. bēah-wriðan, 2019.
bēam, st. m., tree, only in the compounds fyrgen-, glēo-bēam.
bēatan, st. v., thrust, strike: pres. sg. mearh burhstede bēateð, the steed beats the castle-ground (place where the castle is built), i.e. with his hoofs, 2266; pret. part. swealt bille ge-bēaten, died, struck by the battle-axe, 2360.
beorh, st. m.: 1) mountain, rock: dat. sg. beorge, 211; gen. sg. beorges, 2525, 2756; acc. pl. beorgas, 222.—2) grave-mound, tomb-hill: acc. sg. biorh, 2808; beorh, 3098, 3165. A grave-mound serves the drake as a retreat (cf. 2277, 2412): nom. sg. beorh, 2242; gen. sg. beorges, 2323.—Comp. stān-beorh.
beorh, st. f., veil, covering, cap; only in the comp. hēafod-beorh.
beorgan, st. v. (w. dat. of the interested person or thing), to save, to shield: inf. wolde fēore beorgan, place her life in safety, 1294; here-byrne... sēo þe bāncofan beorgan cūðe, which could protect his body, 1446; pret. pl. ealdre burgan, 2600.
be-beorgan (w. dat. refl. of pers. and acc. of the thing), to take care, to defend one’s self from: inf. him be-beorgan ne con wom, cannot keep himself from stain (fault), 1747; imp. bebeorh þē þone bealontð, 1759.
ge-beorgan (w, dat. of person or thing to be saved), to save, to protect: pret. sg. þæt gebearh fēore, protected the life, 1549; scyld wēl gebearg līfe and līce, 2571.
ymb-beorgan, to surround protectingly: pret. sg. bring ūtan ymb-bearh, 1504.
beorht, byrht, adj.: 1) gleaming, shining, radiant, shimmering: nom. sg. beorht, of the sun, 570, 1803; beorhta, of Heorot, 1178; þæt beorhte bold, 998; acc. sg. beorhtne, of Bēowulf’s grave-mound, 2804; dat. sg. tō þǣre byrhtan (here-byrhtan, MS.) byrig, 1200; acc. pl. beorhte frætwe, 214, 897; beorhte randas, 231; bordwudu beorhtan, 1244; n. beorht hofu, 2314. Superl.: bēacna beorhtost, 2778. —2) excellent, remarkable: gen. sg. beorhtre bōte, 158. —Comp.: sadol-, wlite-beorht.
beorhte, adv., brilliantly, brightly, radiantly, 1518.
beorhtian, w. v., to sound clearly: pret. sg. beorhtode benc-swēg, 1162.
beorn, st. m., hero, warrior, noble man: nom. sg. (Hrōðgār), 1881, (Bēowulf), 2434, etc.; acc. sg. (Bēow.), 1025, (Æschere), 1300; dat. sg. beorne, 2261; nom. pl. beornas (Bēowulf and his companions), 211, (Hrōðgār’s guests), 857; gen. pl. biorna (Bēowulf’s liege-men), 2405.—Comp.: folc-, gūð-beorn.
beornan, st. v., to burn: pres. part. byrnende (of the drake), 2273.—Comp. un-byrnende.
for-beornan, to be consumed, to burn: pret. sg. for-barn, 1617, 1668; for-born, 2673.
ge-beornan, to be burned: pret. gebarn, 2698.
beorn-cyning, st. m., king of warriors, king of heroes: nom. sg. (as voc.), 2149.
bēodan, st. v.: 1) to announce, to inform, to make known: inf. bīodan, 2893.—2) to offer, to proffer (as the notifying of a transaction in direct reference to the person concerned in it): pret. pl. him geþingo budon, offered them an agreement, 1086; pret. part. þā wæs ǣht boden Swēona lēodum, then was pursuit offered the Swedish people, 2958; inf. ic þǣm gōdan sceal māðmas bēodan, I shall offer the excellent man treasures, 385.
ā-bēodan, to present, to announce: pret. word inne ābēad, made known the words within, 390; to offer, to tender, to wish: pret. him hǣl ābēad, wished him health (greeted him), 654. Similarly, hǣlo ābēad, 2419; eoton weard ābēad, offered the giant a watcher, 669.
be-bēodan, to command, to order: pret. swā him se hearda bebēad, as the strong man commanded them, 401. Similarly, swā se rīca bebēad, 1976.
ge-bēodan: 1) to command, to order: inf. hēt þā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes hæleða monegum, þæt hīe..., the son of Wihstan caused orders to be given to many of the men..., 3111.—2) to offer: him Hygd gebēad hord and rīce, offered him the treasure and the chief power, 2370; inf. gūðe gebēodan, to offer battle, 604.
bēod-genēat, st. m., table-companion: nom. and acc. pl. genēatas, 343, 1714.
bēon, verb, to be, generally in the future sense, will be: pres. sg. I. gūðgeweorca ic bēo gearo sōna, I shall immediately be ready for warlike deeds, 1826; sg. III. wā bið þǣm þe sceal..., woe to him who...! 183; so, 186; gifeðe bið is given, 299; ne bið þē wilna gād (no wish will be denied thee), 661; þǣr þē bið manna þearf, if thou shalt need the warriors, 1836; ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw, is not becoming, honorable to a woman, 1941; eft sōna bið will happen directly, 1763; similarly, 1768, etc.; pl. þonne bīoð brocene, then are broken, 2064; feor cȳððe bēoð sēlran gesōhte þām þe..., “terrae longinquae meliores sunt visitatu ei qui...” (Grein), 1839; imp. bēo (bīo) þū on ofeste, hasten! 386, 2748; bēo wið Gēatas glæd, be gracious to the Gēatas, 1174.
bēor, st. n., beer: dat. sg. æt bēore, at beer-drinking, 2042; instr. sg. bēore druncen, 531; bēore druncne, 480.
bēor-scealc, st. m., keeper of the beer, cup-bearer: gen. pl. bēor-scealca sum (one of Hrōðgār’s followers, because they served the Gēatas at meals), 1241.
bēor-sele, st. m., beer-hall, hall in which beer is drunk: dat. sg. in (on) bēorsele, 482, 492, 1095; bīorsele, 2636.
bēor-þegu, st. f., beer-drinking, beer-banquet: dat. sg. æfter bēorþege, 117; æt þǣre bēorþege, 618.
bēot, st. n., promise, binding agreement to something that is to be undertaken: acc. sg. hē bēot ne ālēh, did not break his pledge, 80; bēot eal... gelǣste, performed all that he had pledged himself to, 523.
ge-bēotian, w. v., to pledge one’s self to an undertaking, to bind one’s self: pret. gebēotedon, 480, 536.
bēot-word, st. n., same as bēot: dat. pl. bēot-wordum spræc, 2511.
biddan, st. v., to beg, to ask, to pray: pres. sg. I. dōð swā ic bidde! 1232; inf. (w. acc. of the pers. and gen. of the thing asked for) ic þē biddan wille ānre bēne, beg thee for one, 427; pret. swā hē selfa bæd, as he himself had requested, 29; bæd hine blīðne (supply wesan) æt þǣre bēorþege, begged him to be cheerful at the beer-banquet, 618; ic þē lange bæd þæt þū..., begged you a long time that you, 1995; frioðowǣre bæd hlāford sīnne, begged his lord for protection (acc. of pers. and gen. of thing), 2283; bæd þæt gē geworhton, asked that you..., 3097; pl. wordum bǣdon þæt..., 176.
on-bidian, w. v., to await: inf. lǣtað hilde-bord hēr onbidian... worda geþinges, let the shields await here the result of the conference (lay the shields aside here), 397.
bil, st. n. sword: nom. sg. bil, 1568; bill, 2778; acc. sg. bil, 1558; instr. sg. bille, 2360; gen. sg. billes, 2061, etc.; instr. pl. billum, 40; gen. pl. billa, 583, 1145.—Comp.: gūð-, hilde-, wīg-bil.
bindan, st. v., to bind, to tie: pret. part. acc. sg. wudu bundenne, the bound wood, i.e. the built ship, 216; bunden golde swurd, a sword bound with gold, i.e. either having its hilt inlaid with gold, or having gold chains upon the hilt (swords of both kinds have been found), 1901; nom. sg. heoru bunden, 1286, has probably a similar meaning.
ge-bindan, to bind: pret. sg. þǣr ic fīfe geband, where I had bound five(?), 420; pret. part. cyninges þegn word ōðer fand sōðe gebunden, the king’s man found (after many had already praised Bēowulf’s deed) other words (also referring to Bēowulf, but in connection with Sigemund) rightly bound together, i.e. in good alliterative verses, as are becoming to a gid, 872; wundenmǣl wrǣttum gebunden, sword bound with ornaments, i.e. inlaid, 1532; bisgum gebunden, bound together by sorrow, 1744; gomel gūðwīga eldo gebunden, hoary hero bound by old age (fettered, oppressed), 2112.
on-bindan, to unbind, to untie, to loose: pret. onband, 501.
ge-bind, st. n. coll., that which binds, fetters: in comp. īs-gebind.
bite, st. m., bite, figuratively of the cut of the sword: acc. sg. bite īrena, the swords’ bite, 2260; dat. sg. æfter billes bite, 2061.—Comp. lāð-bite.
biter (primary meaning that of biting), adj.: 1) sharp, cutting, cutting in: acc. sg. biter (of a short sword), 2705; instr. sg. biteran strǣle, 1747; instr. pl. biteran bānum, with sharp teeth, 2693.—2) irritated, furious: nom. pl. bitere, 1432.
bitre, adv., bitterly (in a moral sense), 2332.
bī, big (fuller form of the prep. be, which see), prep. w. dat.: 1) near, at, on, about, by (as under be, No. 1): bī sǣm twēonum, in the circuit of both seas, 1957; ārās bī ronde, raised himself up by the shield, 2539; bī wealle gesæt, sat by the wall, 2718. With a freer position: him big stōdan bunan and orcas, round about him, 3048.—2) to, towards (motion): hwearf þā bī bence, turned then towards the bench, 1189; gēong bī sesse, went to the seat, 2757.
bīd (see bīdan), st. n., tarrying hesitation: þǣr wearð Ongenþīo on bīd wrecen, forced to tarry, 2963.
bīdan, st. v.: 1) to delay, to stay, to remain, to wait: inf. nō on wealle leng bīdan wolde, would not stay longer within the wall (the drake), 2309; pret. in þȳstrum bād, remained in darkness, 87; flota stille bād, the craft lay still, 301; receda... on þǣm se rīca bād, where the mighty one dwelt, 310; þǣr se snottra bād, where the wise man (Hrōðgār) waited, 1314; hē on searwum bād, he (Bēowulf) stood there armed, 2569; ic on earde bād mǣlgesceafta, lived upon the paternal ground the time appointed me by fate, 2737; pret. pl. sume þǣr bidon, some remained, waited there, 400.—2) to await, to wait for, with the gen. of that which is awaited: inf. bīdan woldon Grendles gūðe, wished to await the combat with Grendel, to undertake it, 482; similarly, 528; wīges bīdan, await the combat, 1269; nalas andsware bīdan wolde, would await no answer, 1495; pret. bād beadwa geþinges, awaited the event of the battle, 710; sǣgenga bād āgend-frēan, the sea-goer (boat) awaited its owner, 1883; sele... heaðowylma bād, lāðan līges (the poet probably means to indicate by these words that the hall Heorot was destroyed later in a fight by fire; an occurrence, indeed, about which we know nothing, but which 1165 and 1166, and again 2068 ff. seem to indicate), 82.
ā-bīdan, to await, with the gen.: inf., 978.
ge-bīdan: 1) to tarry, to wait: imp. gebīde gē on beorge, wait ye on the mountain, 2530; pret. part. þēah þe wintra lȳt under burhlocan gebiden hæbbe Hæreðes dōhtor although H’s daughter had dwelt only a few years in the castle, 1929.—2) to live through, to experience, to expect (w. acc.): inf. sceal endedæg mīnne gebīdan, shall live my last day, 639; ne wēnde... bōte gebīdan, did not hope... to live to see reparation, 935; fela sceal gebīdan lēofes and lāðes, experience much good and much affliction, 1061; ende gebīdan, 1387, 2343; pret. hē þæs frōfre gebād, received consolation (compensation) therefore, 7; gebād wintra worn, lived a great number of years, 264; in a similar construction, 816, 930, 1619, 2259, 3117. With gen.: inf. tō gebīdanne ōðres yrfeweardes, to await another heir, 2453. With depend, clause: inf. tō gebīdanne þæt his byre rīde on galgan, to live to see it, that his son hang upon the gallows, 2446; pret. drēam-lēas gebād þæt hē..., joyless he experienced it, that he..., 1721; þæs þe ic on aldre gebād þæt ic..., for this, that I, in my old age, lived to see that..., 1780.
on-bīdan, to wait, to await: pret. hordweard onbād earfoðlīce oð þæt ǣfen cwōm, scarcely waited, could scarcely delay till it was evening, 2303.
bītan, st. v., to bite, of the cutting of swords: inf. bītan, 1455, 1524; pret. bāt bānlocan, bit into his body (Grendel), 743; bāt unswīðor, cut with less force (Bēowulf’s sword), 2579.
blanca, w. m., properly that which shines here of the horse, not so much of the white horse as the dappled: dat. pl. on blancum, 857.
ge-bland, ge-blond, st. n., mixture, heaving mass, a turning.—Comp.: sund-, ȳð-geblond, windblond.
blanden-feax, blonden-feax, adj., mixed, i.e. having gray hair, gray-headed, as epithet of an old man: nom. sg. blondenfeax, 1792; blondenfexa, 2963; dat. sg. blondenfeaxum, 1874; nom. pl. blondenfeaxe, 1595.
blæc, adj., dark, black: nom. sg, hrefn blaca, 1802.
blāc, adj.: 1) gleaming, shining: acc. sg. blācne lēoman, a brilliant gleam, 1518.—2) of the white death-color, pale; in comp. heoroblāc.
blǣd, st. m.: 1) strength, force, vigor: nom. sg. wæs hira blǣd scacen (of both tribes), strength was gone, i.e. the bravest of both tribes lay slain, 1125; nū is þīnes mægnes blǣd āne hwīle, now the fulness of thy strength lasts for a time, 1762.—2) reputation, renown, knowledge (with stress upon the idea of filling up, spreading out): nom. sg. blǣd, 18; (þīn) blǣd is ārǣred, thy renown is spread abroad, 1704.
blǣd-āgend, pt., having renown, renowned: nom. pl. blǣd-āgende, 1014.
blǣd-fæst, adj., firm in renown, renowned, known afar: acc. sg. blǣdfæstne beorn (of Æschere, with reference to 1329, 1300.
blēat, adj., miserable, helpless; only in comp. wæl-blēat.
blēate, adv., miserably, helplessly, 2825.
blīcan, st. v., shine, gleam: inf., 222
blīðe, adj.: 1) blithe, joyous, happy acc. sg. blīðne, 618.—2) gracious, pleasing: nom. sg. blīðe, 436.—Comp. un-blīðe.
blīð-heort, adj., joyous in heart, happy: nom. sg., 1803.
blōd, st. n., blood: nom. sg., 1122; acc. sg., 743; dat. sg. blōde, 848; æfter dēorum men him langað beorn wið blōde, the hero (Hrōðgār) longs for the beloved man contrary to blood, i.e. he loves him although he is not related to him by blood, 1881; dat. as instr. blōde, 486, 935, 1595, etc.
blōd-fāg, adj., spotted with blood, bloody, 2061.
blōdig, adj., bloody: acc. sg. f. blōdge, 991; acc. sg. n. blōdig, 448; instr. sg. blōdigan gāre, 2441.
ge-blōdian, w. v., to make bloody, to sprinkle with blood: pret. part. ge-blōdegod, 2693.
blōdig-tōð, adj., with bloody teeth: nom. sg. bona blōdig-tōð (of Grendel, because he bites his victims to death), 2083.
blōd-rēow, adj., bloodthirsty, bloody-minded: nom. sg. him on ferhðe grēow brēost-hord blōd-rēow, in his bosom there grew a bloodthirsty feeling, 1720.
be-bod, st. n., command, order; in comp. wundor-bebod.
bodian, w. v., (to be a messenger), to announce, to make known: pret. hrefn blaca heofones wynne blīð-heort bodode, the black raven announced joyfully heaven’s delight (the rising sun), 1803.
boga, w. m., bow, of the bended form; here of the dragon, in comp. hring-boga; as an instrument for shooting, in the comp. flān-, horn-boga; bow of the arch, in comp. stān-boga.
bolca, w. m., “forus navis” (Grein), gangway; here probably the planks which at landing are laid from the ship to the shore: acc. sg. ofer bolcan, 231.
bold, st. n., building, house, edifice: nom. sg. (Heorot), 998; (Hygelāc’s residence), 1926; (Bēowulfs residence), 2197, 2327.—Comp. fold-bold.
bold-āgend, pt., house-owner, property-holder: gen. pl. monegum boldāgendra, 3113.
bolgen-mōd, adj., angry at heart, angry, 710, 1714.
bolster, st. m., bolster, cushion, pillow: dat. pl. (reced) geond-brǣded wearð beddum and bolstrum, was covered with beds and bolsters, 1241.—Comp. hlēor-bolster.
bon-. See ban-.
bora, w. m., carrier, bringer, leader: in the comp. mund-, rǣd-, wǣg-bora.
bord, st. n., shield: nom. sg., 2674; acc. sg., 2525; gen. pl. ofer borda gebræc, over the crashing of the shields, 2260.—Comp.: hilde-, wīg-bord.
bord-hæbbend, pt., one having a shield, shield-bearer: nom. pl. hæbbende, 2896.
bord-hrēoða, w. m., shield-cover, shield with particular reference to its cover (of hides or linden bark): dat. sg. -hrēoðan, 2204.
bord-rand, st. m., shield: acc. sg., 2560.
bord-weall, st. m., shield-wall, wall of shields: acc. sg., 2981.
bord-wudu, st. m., shield-wood, shield: acc. pl. beorhtan beord-wudu, 1244.
botm, st. m., bottom: dat. sg. tō botme (here of the bottom of the fen-lake), 1507.
bōt (emendation, cf. bētan), st. f.: 1) relief, remedy: nom. sg., 281; acc. sg. bōte, 935; acc. sg. bōte, 910.—2) a performance in expiation, a giving satisfaction, tribute: gen. sg. bōte, 158.
brand, brond, st. m.: 1) burning, fire: nom. sg. þā sceal brond fretan (the burning of the body), 3015; instr. sg. by hine ne mōston... bronde forbærnan (could not bestow upon him the solemn burning), 2127; hæfde landwara līge befangen, bǣle and bronde, with glow, fire, and flame, 2323.—2) in the passage, þæt hine nō brond nē beadomēcas bītan ne meahton, 1455, brond has been translated sword, brand (after the O.N. brand-r). The meaning fire may be justified as well, if we consider that the old helmets were generally made of leather, and only the principal parts were mounted with bronze. The poet wishes here to emphasize the fact that the helmet was made entirely of metal, a thing which was very unusual.—3) in the passage, forgeaf þā Bēowulfe brand Healfdenes segen gyldenne, 1021, our text, with other editions, has emendated, bearn, since brand, if it be intended as a designation of Hrōðgār (perhaps son), has not up to this time been found in this sense in A.-S.
brant, bront, adj., raging, foaming, going-high, of ships and of waves: acc. sg. brontne, 238, 568.
brād, adj.: 1) extended, wide: nom. pl. brāde rīce, 2208.—2) broad: nom. sg. hēah and brād (of Bēowulf’s grave-mound), 3159; acc. sg. brādne mēce, 2979; (seax) brād [and] brūnecg, the broad, short sword with bright edge, 1547.—3) massive, in abundance. acc, sg. brād gold, 3106.
ge-bræc, st. n., noise, crash: acc. sg. borda gebræc, 2260.
geond-brǣdan, w. v., to spread over, to cover entirely: pret. part. geond-brǣded, 1240.
brecan, st. v.: 1) to break, to break to pieces: pret. bānhringas bræc, (the sword) broke the joints, 1568. In a moral sense: pret. subj. þæt þǣr ǣnig mon wǣre ne brǣce, that no one should break the agreement, 1101; pret. part. þonne bīoð brocene... āð-sweord eorla, then are the oaths of the men broken, 2064.—2) probably also simply to break in upon something, to press upon, w. acc.: pret. sg. sǣdēor monig hildetūxum heresyrcan bræc, many a sea-animal pressed with his battle-teeth upon the shirt of mail (did not break it, for, according to 1549 f., 1553 f., it was still unharmed). 1512.—3) to break out, to spring out: inf. geseah... strēam ūt brecan of beorge, saw a stream break out from the rocks, 2547; lēt se hearda Higelāces þegn brādne mēce... brecan ofer bordweal, caused the broadsword to spring out over the wall of shields, 2981.—4) figuratively, to vex, not to let rest: pret. hine fyrwyt bræc, curiosity tormented (N.H.G. brachte die Neugier um), 232, 1986, 2785.
ge-brecan, to break to pieces: pret. bānhūs gebræc, broke in pieces his body (Bēowulf in combat with Dæghrefn), 2509.
tō-brecan, to break in pieces: inf., 781; pret. part. tō-brocen, 998.
þurh-brecan, to break through, pret. wordes ord brēosthord þurh-bræc, the word’s point broke through his closed breast, i.e. a word burst out from his breast, 2793.
brecð, st. f., condition of being broken, breach: nom. pl. mōdes brecða (sorrow of heart), 171.
ā-bredwian, w. v. w. acc., to fell to the ground, to kill (?): pret. ābredwade, 2620.
bregdan, st. v., properly to swing round, hence: 1) to swing: inf. under sceadu bregdan, swing among the shadows, to send into the realm of shadows, 708; pret. brægd ealde lāfe, swung the old weapon, 796; brægd feorh-genīðlan, swung his mortal enemy (Grendel’s mother), threw her down, 1540; pl. git ēagorstrēam... mundum brugdon, stirred the sea with your hands (of the movement of the hands in swimming), 514; pret. part. brōden (brogden) mǣl, the drawn sword, 1617, 1668.—2) to knit, to knot, to plait: inf., figuratively, inwitnet ōðrum bregdan, to weave a waylaying net for another (as we say in the same way, to lay a trap for another, to dig a pit for another), 2168; pret. part. beadohrægl brōden, a woven shirt of mail (because it consisted of metal rings joined together), 552; similarly, 1549; brogdne beadusercean, 2756.
ā-bregdan, to swing: pret. hond up ā-bræd, swung, raised his hand, 2576.
ge-bregdan: 1) swing: pret. hring-mǣl gebrægd, swung the ringed sword, 1565; eald sweord ēacen... þæt ic þȳ wǣpne gebrægd, an old heavy sword that I swung as my weapon, 1665; with interchanging instr. and acc. wællseaxe gebrǣ, biter and beadu-scearp, 2704; also, to draw out of the sheath: sweord ǣr gebrǣ, had drawn the sword before, 2563.—2) to knit, to knot, to plait: pret. part. bere-byrne hondum gebrōden, 1444.
on-bregdan, to tear open, to throw open: pret. onbræd þā recedes mūðan, had then thrown open the entrance of the hall (onbregdan is used because the opening door swings upon its hinges), 724.
brego, st. m., prince, ruler: nom. sg. 427, 610.
brego-rōf, adj., powerful, like a ruler, of heroic strength: nom. sg. m., 1926.
brego-stōl, st. m., throne, figuratively for rule: acc. sg. him gesealde seofon þūsendo, bold and brego-stōl, seven thousand see under sceat), a country-seat, and the dignity of a prince, 2197; þǣr him Hygd gebēad... brego-stōl, where H. offered him the chief power, 2371; lēt þone bregostōl Bēowulf healdan, gave over to Bēowulf the chief power (did not prevent Bēowulf from entering upon the government), 2390.
brēme, adj., known afar, renowned. nom. sg., 18.
brenting (see brant), st. m., ship craft: nom. pl. brentingas, 2808.
ā-brēatan, st. v., to break, to break in pieces, to kill: pret. ābrēot brimwīsan, killed the sea-king (King Hæðcyn), 2931. See brēotan.
brēost, st. n.: 1) breast: nom. sg., 2177; often used in the pl., so acc. þæt mīne brēost wereð, which protects my breast, 453; dat. pl. beadohrægl brōden on brēostum læg. 552.—2) the inmost thoughts, the mind, the heart, the bosom: nom. sg. brēost innan wēoll þēostrum geþoncum, his breast heaved with troubled thoughts, 2332; dat. pl. lēt þā of brēostum word ūt faran, caused the words to come out from his bosom, 2551.
brēost-gehygd, st. n. f., breast-thought, secret thought: instr. pl. -gehygdum, 2819.
brēost-gewǣdu, st. n. pl., breast-clothing, garment covering the breast, of the coat of mail: nom., 1212; acc., 2163.
brēost-hord, st. m., breast-hoard, that which is locked in the breast, heart, mind, thought, soul: nom. sg., 1720; acc. sg., 2793.
brēost-net, st. n., breast-net, shirt of chain-mail, coat of mail: nom. sg. brēost-net brōden, 1549.
brēost-weorðung, st. f., ornament that is worn upon the breast: acc. sg. brēost-weorðunge, 2505: here the collar is meant which Bēowulf receives from Wealhþēow (1196, 2174) as a present, and which B., according to 2173, presents to Hygd, while, according to 1203, it is in the possession of her husband Hygelāc. In front the collar is trimmed with ornaments (frætwe), which hang down upon the breast, hence the name brēost-weorðung.
brēost-wylm, st. m., heaving of the breast, emotion of the bosom: acc. sg, 1878.
brēotan, st. v., to break, to break in pieces, to kill: pret. brēat bēodgenēatas, killed his table-companions (courtiers), 1714.
ā-brēotan, same as above: pret. þone þe hēo on ræste ābrēat, whom she killed upon his couch, 1299; pret. part. þā þæt monige gewearð, þæt hine sēo brimwylf ābroten hæfde, many believed that the sea-wolf (Grendel’s mother) had killed him, 1600; hī hyne... ābroten hæfdon, had killed him (the dragon), 2708.
brim, st. n., flood, the sea: nom. sg., 848, 1595; gen. sg. tō brimes faroðe, to the sea, 28; æt brimes nosan, at the sea’s promontory, 2804; nom. pl. brimu swaðredon, the waves subsided, 570.
brim-clif, st. n., sea-cliff, cliff washed by the sea: acc. pl. -clifu, 222.
brim-lād, st. f., flood-way, sea-way: acc. sg. þāra þe mid Bēowulfe brimlāde tēah, who had travelled the sea-way with B., 1052.
brim-līðend, pt, sea-farer, sailor acc. p. -līðende, 568.
brim-strēam, st. m., sea-stream, the flood of the sea: acc. pl. ofer brim-strēamas, 1911.
brim-wīsa, w. m., sea-king: acc. sg. brimwīsan, of Hæðcyn, king of the Gēatas, 2931.
brim-wylf, st. f., sea-wolf (designation of Grendel’s mother): nom. sg. sēo brimwylf, 1507, 1600.
brim-wylm, st. m., sea-wave: nom. sg., 1495.
bringan, anom. v., to bring, to bear: prs. sg. I. ic þē þūsenda þegna bringe tō helpe, bring to your assistance thousands of warriors, 1830; inf. sceal hringnaca ofer hēaðu bringan lāc and luftācen, shall bring gifts and love-tokens over the high sea, 1863; similarly, 2149, 2505; pret. pl. wē þās sǣlāc... brōhton, brought this sea-offering (Grendel’s head), 1654.
ge-bringan, to bring: pres. subj. pl. þat wē þone gebringan... on ādfære, that we bring him upon the funeral-pile, 3010.
brosnian, w. v., to crumble, to become rotten, to fall to pieces: prs. sg. III. herepād... brosnað æfter beorne, the coat of mail falls to pieces after (the death of) the hero, 2261.
brōðor, st. m., brother: nom. sg., 1325, 2441; dat sg. brēðer, 1263; gen. sg. his brōðor bearn, 2620; dat. pl. brōðrum, 588, 1075.
ge-brōðru, pl., brethren, brothers: dat. pl. sæt be þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm, sat by the two brothers, 1192.
brōga, w. m., terror, horror: nom. sg., 1292, 2325, 2566; acc. sg. billa brōgan, 583.—Comp.: gryre-, here-brōga.
brūcan, st. v. w. gen., to use, to make use of: prs. sg. III. sē þe longe hēr worolde brūceð, who here long makes use of the world, i.e. lives long, 1063; imp. brūc manigra mēda, make use of many rewards, give good rewards, 1179; to enjoy: inf. þæt hē bēahhordes brūcan mōste, could enjoy the ring-hoard, 895; similarly, 2242, 3101; pret. brēac līfgesceafta, enjoyed the appointed life, lived the appointed time, 1954. With the genitive to be supplied: brēac þonne mōste, 1488; imp. brūc þisses bēages, enjoy this ring, take this ring, 1217. Upon this meaning depends the form of the wish, wēl brūcan (compare the German geniesze froh!): inf. hēt hine wēl brūcan, 1046; hēt hine brūcan well, 2813; imp. brūc ealles well, 2163.
brūn, adj., having a brown lustre, shining: nom. sg. sīo ecg brūn, 2579.
brūn-ecg, adj., having a gleaming blade: acc. sg. n. (hyre seaxe) brād [and] brūnecg, her broad sword with gleaming blade, 1547.
brūn-fāg, adj., gleaming like metal: acc. sg. brūnfāgne helm, 2616.
bryne-lēoma, w. m., light of a conflagration, gleam of fire: nom. sg., 2314.
bryne-wylm, st. m., wave of fire: dat. pl. -wylmum, 2327.
brytnian (properly to break in small pieces, cf. brēotan), w. v., to bestow, to distribute: pret. sinc brytnade, distributed presents, i.e. ruled (since the giving of gifts belongs especially to rulers), 2384.
brytta, w. m., giver, distributer, always designating the king: nom. sg. sinces brytta, 608, 1171, 2072; acc. sg. bēaga bryttan, 35, 352, 1488; sinces bryttan, 1923.
bryttian (to be a dispenser), w. v., to distribute, to confer: prs. sg. III. god manna cynne snyttru bryttað, bestows wisdom upon the human race, 1727.
brȳd, st. f.: 1) wife, consort: acc. sg. brȳd, 2931; brȳde, 2957, both times of the consort of Ongenþēow (?).—2) betrothed, bride: nom. sg., of Hrōðgār’s daughter, Frēaware, 2032.
brȳd-būr, st. n., woman’s apartment: dat. sg. ēode... cyning of brȳdbūre, the king came out of the apartment of his wife (into which, according to 666, he had gone), 922.
bunden-stefna, w. m., (that which has a bound prow), the framed ship: nom. sg., 1911.
bune, w. f., can or cup, drinking-vessel: nom. pl. bunan, 3048; acc. pl. bunan, 2776.
burh, burg, st. f., castle, city, fortified house: acc. sg. burh, 523; dat. sg. byrig, 1200; dat. pl. burgum, 53, 1969, 2434.—Comp.: frēo, freoðo-, hēa-, hlēo-, hord-, lēod-, mǣg-burg.
burh-loca, w. m., castle-bars: dat. sg. under burh-locan, under the castle-bars, i.e. in the castle (Hygelāc’s), 1929.
burh-stede, st. m., castle-place, place where the castle or city stands: acc. sg. burhstede, 2266.
burh-wela, w. m., riches, treasure of a castle or city: gen. sg. þenden hē burh-welan brūcan mōste, 3101.
burne, w. f., spring, fountain: gen. þǣre burnan wælm, the bubbling of the spring, 2547.
būan, st. v.: 1) to stay, to remain, to dwell: inf. gif hē weard onfunde būan on beorge, if he had found the watchman dwelling on the mountain, 2843.—2) to inhabit, w. acc.: meduseld būan, to inhabit the mead-house, 3066.
ge-būan, w. acc., to occupy a house, to take possession: pret. part. hēan hūses, hū hit Hring Dene æfter bēorþege gebūn hæfdon, how the Danes, after their beer-carouse, had occupied it (had made their beds in it), 117.—With the pres. part. būend are the compounds ceaster-, fold-, grund-, lond-būend.
būgan, st. v., to bend, to bow, to sink; to turn, to flee: prs. sg. III. bon-gār būgeð, the fatal spear sinks, i.e. its deadly point is turned down, it rests, 2032; inf. þæt se byrnwīga būgan sceolde, that the armed hero had to sink down (having received a deadly blow), 2919; similarly, 2975; pret. sg. bēah eft under eorðweall, turned, fled again behind the earth-wall, 2957; pret. pl. bugon tō bence, turned to the bench, 327, 1014; hȳ on holt bugon, fled to the wood, 2599.
ā-būgan, to bend off, to curve away from: pret. fram sylle ābēag medubenc monig, from the threshold curved away many a mead-bench, 776.
be-būgan, w. acc., to surround, to encircle: prs. swā (which) wæter bebūgeð, 93; efne swā sīde swā sǣ bebūgeð windige weallas, as far as the sea encircles windy shores, 1224.
ge-būgan, to bend, to bow, to sink: a) intrans.: hēo on flet gebēah, sank on the floor, 1541; þā gebēah cyning, then sank the king, 2981; þā se wyrm gebēah snūde tōsomne (when the drake at once coiled itself up), 2568; gewāt þā gebogen scrīðan tō, advanced with curved body (the drake), 2570.—b) w. acc. of the thing to which one bends or sinks: pret. selereste gebēah, sank upon the couch in the hall, 691; similarly gebēag, 1242.
būr, st. n., apartment, room: dat. sg. būre, 1311, 2456; dat. pl. būrum, 140.—Comp. brȳd-būr.
būtan, būton (from be and ūtan, hence in its meaning referring to what is without, excluded): 1) conj. with subjunctive following, lest: būtan his līc swice, lest his body escape, 967. With ind. following, but: būton hit wæs māre þonne ǣnig mon ōðer tō beadulāce ætberan meahte, but it (the sword) was greater than any other man could have carried to battle, 1561. After a preceding negative verb, except: þāra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston būton Fitela mid hine, which the children of men did not know at all, except Fitela, who was with him, 880; ne nom hē māðm-ǣhta mā būton þone hafelan, etc., he took no more of the rich treasure than the head alone, 1615.—2) prep, with dat., except: būton folcscare, 73; būton þē, 658; ealle būton ānum, 706.
bycgan, w. v., to buy, to pay: inf. ne wæs þæt gewrixle til þæt hīe on bā healfa bicgan scoldon frēonda fēorum, that was no good transaction, that they, on both sides (as well to Grendel as to his mother), had to pay with the lives of their friends, 1306.
be-bycgan, to sell: pret. nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte frōde feorhlege (now I, for the treasure-hoard, gave up my old life), 2800.
ge-bycgan, to buy, to acquire; to pay: pret. w. acc. nō þǣr ǣnige... frōfre gebohte, obtained no sort of help, consolation, 974; hit (his, MS.) ealdre gebohte, paid it with his life, 2482; pret. part. sylfes fēore bēagas [geboh]te, bought rings with his own life, 3015.
byldan, w. v. (to make beald, which see), to excite, to encourage, to brave deeds: inf. w. acc. swā hē Frēsena cyn on bēorsele byldan wolde (by distributing gifts), 1095.
ge-byrd, st. n., “fatum destinatum” (Grein) (?): acc. sg. hīe on gebyrd hruron gāre wunde, 1075.
ge-byrdu, st. f., birth; in compound, bearn-gebyrdu.
byrdu-scrūd, st. n., shield-ornament, design upon a shield(?): nom. sg., 2661.
byre, st. m., (born) son: nom. sg., 2054, 2446, 2622, etc.; nom. pl. byre, 1189. In a broader sense, young man, youth: acc. pl. bǣdde byre geonge, encouraged the youths (at the banquet), 2019.
byrðen, st. f., burden; in comp. mægen-byrðen.
byrele, st. m., steward, waiter, cupbearer: nom. pl. byrelas, 1162.
byrgan, w. v., to feast, to eat: inf., 448.
ge-byrgea, w. m., protector; in comp. lēod-gebyrgea.
byrht. See beorht.
byrne, w. f., shirt of mail, mail: nom. sg. byrne, 405, 1630, etc.; hringed byrne, ring-shirt, consisting of interlaced rings, 1246; acc. sg. byrnan, 1023, etc.; sīde byrnan, large coat of mail, 1292; hringde byrnan, 2616; hāre byrnan, gray coat of mail (of iron), 2154; dat. sg. on byrnan, 2705; gen. sg. byrnan hring, the ring of the shirt of mail (i.e. the shirt of mail), 2261; dat. pl. byrnum, 40, 238, etc.; beorhtum byrnum, with gleaming mail, 3141.—Comp.: gūð-, here-, heaðo-, īren-, īsern-byrne.
byrnend. See beornan.
byrn-wiga, w. m., warrior dressed in a coat of mail: nom. sg., 2919.
bysgu, bisigu, st. f., trouble, difficulty, opposition: nom. sg. bisigu, 281; dat. pl. bisgum, 1744, bysigum, 2581.
bysig, adj., opposed, in need, in the compounds līf-bysig, syn-bysig.
bȳme, w. f., a wind-instrument, a trumpet, a trombone: gen. sg. bȳman gealdor, the sound of the trumpet, 2944.
bȳwan, w. v., to ornament, to prepare: inf. þā þe beado-grīman bȳwan sceoldon, who should prepare the helmets, 2258.