Old English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From Proto-West Germanic *haldan, from Proto-Germanic *haldaną (to watch, look after).

Cognate with Old Frisian halda (West Frisian hâlde), Old Saxon haldan (Low German holen), Old Dutch haldan (Dutch houden), Old High German haltan (German halten), Old Norse halda (Swedish hålla, Danish holde), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌽 (haldan).

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈxæ͜ɑl.dɑn/, [ˈhæ͜ɑɫ.dɑn]

Verb

edit

healdan (West Saxon)

  1. to keep watch over (cattle etc.)
    • Old English Heptateuch, Genesis 4:9
      ...sċeolde iċ mīnne broþor healdon?
      ...should I watch over my brother?
  2. to hold fast, to grasp
  3. to contain
  4. to possess
  5. to keep, hold, preserve something in a specific position or state
    • 10th century, Exeter Book Riddle 8[1]:
      Iċ… hlūde ċirme, healde mīne wīsan, hlēoþre ne mīþe,…
      I… loudly cry out, hold my tone, don't hide a sound,…
  6. to keep to, maintain, observe a custom or habit
  7. (intransitive) to maintain one’s position against an enemy

Conjugation

edit

Derived terms

edit

Descendants

edit

References

edit