Old English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Equivalent to ġe- +‎ cweþan.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /jeˈkwe.θɑn/, [jeˈkwe.ðɑn]

Verb edit

ġecweþan

  1. to speak
  2. (transitive or intransitive or with clause) to say
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"
      Þā ġecwæð sē abbod and ealle þā ġebrōðra þæt þēr ne mihte nā mā muneca wunian...
      Then said the abbot and all the brothers, that no more monks could dwell there...
  3. to tell
  4. to declare, announce
  5. to settle
    (a) to agree upon or arrange a time or course of action
    • 10-11th c., Beowulf, lines 1074-1081
      Wit þæt ġecwǣdon, cniht wesende, and ġebēotedon, wǣron beġen þā ġit on ġeogoðfeore, þæt wit on gārsecg ūt aldrum nēðdon, and þæt ġeæfndon swā.
      We agreed, being striplings, and promised, (we were both yet in youthful life,) that we on the ocean out our lives would venture, and that we thus accomplish'd.
    (b) to settle a regulation, law, or ordinance
  6. to offer, propose
  7. to order; to give orders for
  8. to call, name
    (a) to call a person or place
    (b) to call a name
    (c) to call an object by some identity
    (d) to name, mention, or speak of
    (e) to describe an object

Conjugation edit

Related terms edit

References edit