Old English edit

Alternative forms edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Proto-West Germanic *balu (evil).

Cognate with Old Frisian balu, Old Saxon balu, Old High German balo, and Old Norse bǫl (misfortune); also the first part of the Gothic compound 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (balweins, torture).

Noun edit

bealu n

  1. (poetic) harm, evil
    • 10th century, Codex Exoniensis:
      Ne ondrǣde iċ þīnra wīta bealu.
      I do not fear the evil of your torments.
Declension edit
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
  • English: bale

Etymology 2 edit

From Proto-West Germanic *balu (evil).

Adjective edit

bealu

  1. (poetic) baleful, deadly, dangerous, wicked, evil
Declension edit