Old English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *sprangijan, from Proto-Germanic *sprangijaną.

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈspren.jɑn/, [ˈspren.d͡ʒɑn]

Verb

edit

sprenġan

  1. (transitive, accusative) to scatter something
    • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:
      His ēagan wǣron spearcan sprengende.
      His eyes were scattering sparks.
  2. (transitive, accusative) to sprinkle something (onto or over something else) (+ on, intō, ofer with dative or accusative)
    • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:
      Sprænge se mæsseprēost hāligwæter ofer hig ealle.
      The priest sprinkle holy water over them all.
    • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:
      Genim ðās ylcan wyrte gesodene, spreng intō ðam hūse.
      Take (thee) up these same herbs (that have become) boiled/sodden, and sprinkle (them) into the house.
  3. (intransitive) to burst apart, splinter
    • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:
      Hē scēaf mid ðam scylde, ðæt se sceaft tōbærst, and ðæt spere sprengde, ðæt hit sprang ongēan.
      He shoved with his shield, the shaft burst in twain, and the spear splintered so that it sprang back.
  4. (medicine) to apply an enema or a suppository

Conjugation

edit

Derived terms

edit

Descendants

edit
  • Middle English: sprengen, sprenge, springe
    • English: springe (obsolete)

References

edit