oþ deaþ ondrædan
Old English
editEtymology
editCould be an ancient phrase, since similar phrases exist in modern Germanic languages.
Pronunciation
editVerb
edit- (idiomatic) to be scared to death (+accusative or genitive of something) (often with a dative reflexive pronoun)
- late 10th century, Life of Malchus
- Wit wēndon þæt þæt wǣren uncre hlāfordas, and wit unc þā ondrēdon oþ dēaþ.
- We thought they were our masters, and we were scared to death.
- late 10th century, Life of Malchus