wiþmetan
Old English edit
Etymology edit
From wiþ- (“against”) + metan (“to measure”).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
wiþmetan
- to compare (+dative to something)
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Deuteronomy 3:24
- Nis nān ōðer god ne on heofone ne on eorðan þe mæġe bēon wiþmeten þīnre strengðe.
- There is no other god either in heaven or on earth who could be compared with your strength.
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Decollation of St. John the Baptist"
- Nān wilde dēor nis tō wiþmetenne yfelum wīfe.
- No wild beast is comparable to an evil woman.
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Fifth Sunday in Lent"
- Dryhten nis nā ōðrum mannum tō wiþmetenne.
- The Lord is not comparable to other people.
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Deuteronomy 3:24
Usage notes edit
- Wiþmetan is the word for “to compare” in Late West Saxon (c. 950 onwards). In the Early West Saxon of King Alfred (late 9th century), the word used is metan.
Conjugation edit
Conjugation of wiþmetan (strong class 5)
| infinitive | ||
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | ||
| second person singular | ||
| third person singular | , | |
| plural | ||
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | ||
| plural | ||
| imperative | ||
| singular | ||
| plural | ||
| participle | present | past |