We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out moreJump to Main NavigationJump to Content

Beowulf

Beowulf (c1000).
The 351st most frequently quoted source in the OED, with a total of 1226 quotations (about 0.03% of all OED quotations).

Total number of quotations1226Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a word249Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a particular meaning595Find quotations
LemmaDefinitionDate
alebenchA bench in or in front of an alehouse; a bench in a place where ale is served.1000Go To Quotation
alieintr. To come to an end, to cease; to subside. Also: to turn out badly, to fail.1000Go To Quotation
alimpintr. To happen, occur, befall. Usu. with person as indirect object. Also impers.1000Go To Quotation
anentIn a line with, side by side with, in company with, beside. Obs. or dial.999Go To Quotation
astandTo stand up.999Go To Quotation
atbeartrans. To bear away, carry off.999Go To Quotation
atelTerrible, hideous, foul.999Go To Quotation
atspringTo spring forth; to spring into existence, originate.999Go To Quotation
awendtrans. To turn, turn away.999Go To Quotation
awhile(For) a short time, (for) a little.999Go To Quotation
balegen. A great consuming fire, a conflagration; a blazing pile, a bonfire. Obs.999Go To Quotation
baleActively evil, deadly, dire, pernicious, destructive, fatal, cruel, tormenting.999Go To Quotation
bale-fireA great fire in the open air, a blazing pile or heap kindled to consume anything. In…999Go To Quotation
baretrans. To make or lay bare, uncover, open to view; to unsheathe (a weapon).999Go To Quotation
becarvetrans. To cut off. Obs. (Cf. behead.)999Go To Quotation
begettrans. To get, to acquire (usually by effort).999Go To Quotation
benchA long seat, with or without a back, usually of wood, but also of stone, etc. ‘Distinguished…999Go To Quotation
betimbertrans. To build.999Go To Quotation
bewindfig.999Go To Quotation
beworktrans. To work round about, to surround.999Go To Quotation
biberghtrans. To protect oneself from, ward off.999Go To Quotation
billA weapon of war mentioned in Old English poetry, a kind of broadsword, a falchion. Obs.…999Go To Quotation
birleOne who pours out drink; a cupbearer, butler.999Go To Quotation
bitetrans. To cut into, pierce, or nip (anything) with the teeth.999Go To Quotation
biwiti(etrans. To watch over, observe, guard, keep.999Go To Quotation
blaed-fastProsperous; glorious.999Go To Quotation
blonkPoetic word for ‘horse’; steed.999Go To Quotation
bloodyTo make (a person, part of the body, etc.) bloody by drawing blood, esp. violently; to…1000Go To Quotation
boatwardA boat-keeper; (perh. also more generally) a boatman.1000Go To Quotation
boldA dwelling, habitation, building.999Go To Quotation
boldintr. To be, or show oneself, bold; to become bold, grow strong or big.999Go To Quotation
bolsterA long stuffed pillow or cushion used to support the sleeper's head in a bed; the name…999Go To Quotation
bottomThe ground or bed under the water of a lake, sea, or river. Hence to go to the bottom: to sink, founder; to be wrecked.999Go To Quotation
bowAn arch (of masonry), as in a gateway, or bridge. Obs. exc. dial.999Go To Quotation
boweBowed, bent, crooked.999Go To Quotation
bowerA dwelling, habitation, abode. In early use lit. A cottage; in later use a poetical word for ‘abode’.999Go To Quotation
breastThe front of the thorax or chest, the fore-part of the body, lying between the neck and…999Go To Quotation
bright= brightly adv.999Go To Quotation
burstTo break suddenly, snap, crack, under violent pressure, strain, or concussion. Chiefly…999Go To Quotation
campMartial contest, combat, fight, battle, war.999Go To Quotation
careMental suffering, sorrow, grief, trouble. Obs.999Go To Quotation
comelyHandsomely, nicely, suitably; in a seemly or becoming manner.999Go To Quotation
dearlyDear.999Go To Quotation
death-bedThe bed on which a person dies; the bed of death. (In Old English the grave.)999Go To Quotation
demendA judge.999Go To Quotation
denThe lair or habitation of a wild beast.999Go To Quotation
dighelSecret, obscure.999Go To Quotation
dinintr. (In Old English and Middle English) To sound, ring with sound, resound. Obs.999Go To Quotation
drepetrans. To strike, kill, overcome.999Go To Quotation
drevetrans. To trouble, disturb, agitate.999Go To Quotation
drightinA lord, ruler, chief; spec. the Lord God, or Christ.999Go To Quotation
eddreA blood vessel, vein.999Go To Quotation
edgeThe thin sharpened side of the blade of a cutting instrument or weapon; opposed to the…999Go To Quotation
eightIn concord with n. expressed.999Go To Quotation
eillandA foreign land.999Go To Quotation
eisietrans. To frighten.999Go To Quotation
eldfatherA grandfather; a forefather in general.999Go To Quotation
elfThe name of a class of supernatural beings, in early Teutonic belief supposed…999Go To Quotation
elsewhereAt some other point; in some other place.999Go To Quotation
emeAn uncle; also dial. a friend, gossip.999Go To Quotation
end-dayThe last day; the day of one's death.999Go To Quotation
eneOnce, on one occasion; opposed to often.999Go To Quotation
enow‘The plural of enough adj. adv. ’ (Johnson). (The recent literary use is almost peculiar to Sc. writers.)999Go To Quotation
erdThe land where one dwells; native land, home; a region, country.999Go To Quotation
esteOf things: Agreeable, pleasant, savoury.999Go To Quotation
etenishGigantic.999Go To Quotation
ethemVapour, breath.999Go To Quotation
fartrans. To put far off, remove. In mod. dial. only in the expression of a wish (see quots.). Const. from; rarely with double obj.999Go To Quotation
fearIn Old English: A sudden and terrible event; peril.999Go To Quotation
fetwith obj. a person; = fetch v. 1a.999Go To Quotation
fiend-scatheA monster.999Go To Quotation
fiftyThe cardinal numeral equal to five tens, represented by the symbols 50 or l. Also with…999Go To Quotation
fire-drakeA ‘fiery dragon’: a mythical creature belonging to Germanic superstition.999Go To Quotation
fire-light(quot. 1845) = aurora n. 5.999Go To Quotation
flaneAn arrow.999Go To Quotation
flemeFlight; exile.999Go To Quotation
fletThe floor or ground under one's feet.999Go To Quotation
foeAt feud with; hostile, inimical (to).999Go To Quotation
foldDry land; the earth, as the dwelling-place of man. in, on, upon fold: on the earth; often as a mere expletive.999Go To Quotation
forleadtrans. To mislead, seduce.999Go To Quotation
forlesetrans. To lose n., in various senses.999Go To Quotation
fornimtrans. To take away, do away with, destroy; also, to take up, appropriate by encroachment.999Go To Quotation
forswallowtrans. To swallow up, devour utterly.999Go To Quotation
forsweartrans. To abandon or renounce on oath or in a manner deemed irrevocable; = abjure v. to forswear…999Go To Quotation
forthringtrans. To press heavily upon, oppress.999Go To Quotation
forthwisetrans. To guide forth, direct; hence, to bring up (a child).999Go To Quotation
forwerpetrans. To cast away, cast off, reject.999Go To Quotation
foryemetrans. To disregard, neglect.999Go To Quotation
fousEager, ready. Const. with of, to, and inf.999Go To Quotation
fowlAny feathered vertebrate animal; = bird n. 2 (q.v. with note attached). Now rare exc. collect.999Go To Quotation
FrankA person belonging to the Germanic nation, or coalition of nations, that conquered Gaul in…999Go To Quotation
frekeProperly, one eager for fight; a warrior, champion; but usually a mere poetic synonym for ‘man’ (cf. berne n., tulk n., wye n.).999Go To Quotation
frettrans. Chiefly of animals: To eat, devour. Also with up and to eat of. Obs.999Go To Quotation
friendshipThe state or relation of being a friend; association of persons as friends.999Go To Quotation
frimEasily melting, soluble, fusible.999Go To Quotation
fristA space of time, time; a certain time.999Go To Quotation
froverComfort; a means of comforting.999Go To Quotation
frumeBeginning.999Go To Quotation
fullA cup, goblet; a bumper.999Go To Quotation
gadlingOriginally, a companion or fellow, in good sense; esp. a companion in arms.999Go To Quotation
galderA charm, or incantation.999Go To Quotation
galeintr. and trans. To sing; also, to deliver an oracular response.999Go To Quotation
gallows-tree= gallows n. 1.999Go To Quotation
gameAmusement, delight, fun, mirth, sport. Often in game and glee, game and play, joy and game;…999Go To Quotation
gannetThe Solan goose (Sula bassana).999Go To Quotation
gareA spear or javelin.999Go To Quotation
gengintr. To go, pass, move.999Go To Quotation
gildenMade of gold, golden.999Go To Quotation
girdedIn senses of the vb.999Go To Quotation
gloveA covering for the whole of the hand, usually one with a separate sheath for…999Go To Quotation
gold fawAdorned with gold.999Go To Quotation
gomeA man.999Go To Quotation
gripFirm hold or grasp; the action of gripping, grasping, or clutching; esp. the tight…999Go To Quotation
hameA covering, esp. a natural covering, integument; skin, membrane, slough (of a serpent).999Go To Quotation
handgripGrasp, seize with the hand. to come to handgrips, to come to close combat. So to be at or in handgrips.999Go To Quotation
hangTo have the top bending or projecting beyond the lower part; to bend forward or downward…999Go To Quotation
harmEvil (physical or otherwise) as done to or suffered by some person or thing; hurt…999Go To Quotation
heedintr. To have a care, pay attention, take notice. Const. in Old English and Middle…999Go To Quotation
helethA warrior, hero, man.999Go To Quotation
hereGentle, mild, pleasant.999Go To Quotation
heventrans. To raise, lift up, exalt. lit. and fig.999Go To Quotation
hiltThe handle of a sword or dagger.999Go To Quotation
hiltedFurnished with or possessing a hilt; in Heraldry, having a hilt of a different tincture from the blade.999Go To Quotation
holmThe sea, the wave. (Only in Old English.)999Go To Quotation
howintr. To be anxious, think, consider, purpose, intend.999Go To Quotation
i-beddeA bedfellow.999Go To Quotation
i-cundeNatural; native.999Go To Quotation
icyAbounding in or covered with ice; characterized by the presence of ice.1000Go To Quotation
i-falleintr. To fall, befall.999Go To Quotation
i-fusetrans. To cause to make haste, hasten, hurry.999Go To Quotation
i-haldtrans. To hold, maintain, observe, keep, preserve.999Go To Quotation
inkerIn partitive expressions: of you two. inker either: either of you. inker both: both of you.1000Go To Quotation
iron-hardAs hard as iron: extremely hard.999Go To Quotation
i-sechetrans. To seek, seek for.999Go To Quotation
i-seetrans. To see, behold.999Go To Quotation
isoundSound, in health, well, safe.999Go To Quotation
i-taseConvenient, suitable, handy.999Go To Quotation
lakeAn offering, sacrifice; also, a gift. Only Old English and early Middle English to lake (dat.), as a gift. In quot. 1325: a tax.999Go To Quotation
land-right‘Law of the land; legal rights of natives of the country; legal obligation connected with land or estate’ (Sweet Ags. Dict.).999Go To Quotation
lavetrans. To wash, bathe.999Go To Quotation
leamLight, flame; a flash, ray, or gleam of light; brightness, gleam. Also fig.999Go To Quotation
leanReward, recompense.999Go To Quotation
leaveTo transmit at one's death to heirs or successors. Hence, to direct that (something…999Go To Quotation
leothA song.999Go To Quotation
liftThe sky, upper regions; †in early use also, the air, atmosphere. Also pl., the (seven) heavens.999Go To Quotation
linintr. To cease, leave off; desist from (something; in Old English const. dat.); also const. to…999Go To Quotation
lite(In Old English followed by genit. pl. with sing. vb.; subsequently ellipt. as subj. to plural vb.) Few.999Go To Quotation
loUsed to direct attention to the presence or approach of something, or to what is about to…999Go To Quotation
longsomeLong, lengthy; long-lasting; esp. tediously long; †tardy, dilatory, slow.999Go To Quotation
lordlessWithout a lord; having no lord. Of a woman: Husbandless.999Go To Quotation
love-tokenSomething given as a sign or token of love. Also in extended use.999Go To Quotation
low= law n. 1. arch.999Go To Quotation
mankinThe human race, mankind.999Go To Quotation
manlyIn a manner regarded as typical of a man as distinguished from a woman…999Go To Quotation
misstrans. Of a person, a weapon, a missile, etc.: to fail to hit, strike, or come into…999Go To Quotation
moodyBrave, bold, high-spirited, passionate. (Freq. as a non-specific term of approbation.) Sc. in later use. Obs.999Go To Quotation
netherDown, downwards.999Go To Quotation
netherLower, lower down, further down.999Go To Quotation
nickerA supernatural being supposed to live in the sea or other waters; a water-demon, a…999Go To Quotation
night-longThat lasts or has lasted all night. Also fig.999Go To Quotation
night workWork done, or which must be done, at night; an instance of this.999Go To Quotation
nillWith bare infinitive. Sometimes also denoting simple futurity. Obs.999Go To Quotation
oathA solemn or formal declaration invoking God (or a god, or other object of reverence) as…999Go To Quotation
onstelltrans. To institute, originate, establish; to set (an example).999Go To Quotation
orkA cup, flagon, or tankard.999Go To Quotation
outfousEager to go out or stay out.999Go To Quotation
overfleetrans. To escape from, flee.999Go To Quotation
overseetrans. To look down upon; to look at from, or as if from, a higher position; to keep watch over, survey. Now somewhat arch.999Go To Quotation
overseektrans. To overtax, put to too severe a trial.999Go To Quotation
overswimtrans. To swim or float over, across, or upon. Also in extended use.999Go To Quotation
queenlyOf, relating to, or befitting a queen.1000Go To Quotation
radlyQuickly, promptly, without delay or hindrance, soon.1000Go To Quotation
reseintr. To rush on (also upon) a person, etc.; to make a rush, attack, or assault on a person or thing.1000Go To Quotation
-rightsForming adverbs of time and place, chiefly expressing immediacy or direction…1000Go To Quotation
ringedOf armour: made of rings. Now hist.1000Go To Quotation
ring netpoet. A coat of mail.1000Go To Quotation
saleA hall or spacious chamber; a king's or noble's lodging, palace, castle; occas. a tent.999Go To Quotation
sarkA garment worn next the skin; a shirt or chemise; occas. a nightshirt; also transf. a surplice.999Go To Quotation
scatheOne who works harm; a malefactor; a wretch, fiend, monster. Obs.999Go To Quotation
sea-boatspec. A small, manœuvrable craft sent out from a larger vessel, as in cases of emergency at sea.999Go To Quotation
sea-groundThe bottom of the sea (cf. ground n. 1a).999Go To Quotation
seamanspec. A sailor below the rank of officer.999Go To Quotation
sea-wallA wall or embankment to prevent the encroachment of the sea, or to form a breakwater, etc.999Go To Quotation
seetheTo digest (food). Hence perh. the use in Old English for: To brood over (care, anxiety): cf. Greek κήδεα πέσσειν. Obs.999Go To Quotation
seggeA man. (In the 16th c. only contemptuous.)999Go To Quotation
seineA banner.999Go To Quotation
seleHappiness, prosperity, good fortune. on sele, a sele (Old English on sǽlum, on sálum): happy.999Go To Quotation
sellyStrange, marvellous, wonderful.999Go To Quotation
seneEasy to see, visible, evident, manifest. (In later use blended with seen pa. pple. of see v.)999Go To Quotation
shalkOriginally, a servant; in alliterative poetry one of the common synonyms for ‘man’. (In the last example used contemptuously.)999Go To Quotation
shenchtrans. To pour out (liquor); to give (a person) drink.999Go To Quotation
sheppendThe Creator.999Go To Quotation
shildyGuilty.999Go To Quotation
showtrans. To look at, gaze upon, behold, view; to inspect, review; to reconnoitre, spy (a…999Go To Quotation
showerOne who looks out, observes, or inspects; an observer; a scout or spy; a watchman. OE.999Go To Quotation
sitheintr. To go, travel.999Go To Quotation
sokenAn attack or assault. Obs. rare.999Go To Quotation
soleA rope, cord, etc. Obs.999Go To Quotation
soothTruly; truthfully; in truth.999Go To Quotation
sorry-moodDistressed, sorrowful, sad. In Old English also as n.: a distressed or sorrowful…1000Go To Quotation
soughingRushing, rustling, murmuring, etc.999Go To Quotation
stareintr. To gaze fixedly and with eyes wide open. Said also of the eyes. Const. in mod.…999Go To Quotation
stevenA time, turn, vicissitude, occasion. níwan stefne (Old English), afresh, anew. to change (by)…999Go To Quotation
stone-bowAn arch of stone. Obs. exc. as the name of one of the gates of Lincoln.999Go To Quotation
stundumAt times.999Go To Quotation
swevetSleep, slumber.999Go To Quotation
swinkintr. To labour, toil, work hard; to exert oneself, take trouble.999Go To Quotation
thatchtrans. To cover. (Only OE.)999Go To Quotation
theal(Old English.) A floor.999Go To Quotation
tirGlory, honour, majesty.999Go To Quotation
to-glideintr. To glide or slip away or off; to pass away.999Go To Quotation
to-midsIn or into the midst.999Go To Quotation
undermealThe time of undern; in later use esp. the early part of the afternoon. Also attrib.999Go To Quotation
unimeteImmoderately, excessively.999Go To Quotation
unnutUseless, worthless, unprofitable, vain.999Go To Quotation
unrightImproperly; not in the right way; wrongly.999Go To Quotation
uprightWith verbs, as go, rise, sit, stand, walk.999Go To Quotation
wakentransf. and fig., of inanimate things, etc. †Of a condition, state of things: To…999Go To Quotation
wallingOf the sea, waves: Boiling up, raging. Of water: Welling up, flowing abundantly.999Go To Quotation
wamA scar. Cf. wem n.999Go To Quotation
wardThe action or function of a watchman, sentinel, or the like; observation for the…999Go To Quotation
warthA shore, strand; in mod. use, ‘a flat meadow, esp. one close to a stream; a stretch of coast’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.).999Go To Quotation
watchingThat watches; observant, vigilant, unsleeping.999Go To Quotation
whatQuick, active; stout, brave.999Go To Quotation
whetherNevertheless, however, and yet, for all that.999Go To Quotation
whoIn an indirect question, or clause of similar meaning. †In early use also with that (that conj. 6).999Go To Quotation
widgeIn Old English (poetical) a steed; later, a beast of burden; in quot. 1553, a mare.999Go To Quotation
winJoy, pleasure, delight, bliss; a source of joy, a delight.999Go To Quotation
windyOf places, etc.: Full of, exposed to, blown upon or through by the wind.999Go To Quotation
wineA friend.999Go To Quotation
wisetrans. To show the way to (a person); to guide, direct; †hence, to direct or manage the…999Go To Quotation
witThe faculty of thinking and reasoning in general; mental capacity…999Go To Quotation
witFirst person dual pronoun: we two.1000Go To Quotation
witherOpposition, hostility; adversity. on wiðere, adversely.999Go To Quotation
wittySaid of God or Christ: cf. wise adj. 1 (b). Obs.999Go To Quotation
wopWeeping.999Go To Quotation
worthfulOf persons: Honourable; deserving of honour; meriting respect or reverence; full of worth or merit. Also absol.999Go To Quotation
woundenTwisted, twined.999Go To Quotation
writheTo confine or fasten with a cord, bond, etc.; to bind, fetter. Obs.999Go To Quotation
wrothlyIn a wrathful, bitter, or cruel manner; wrathfully, angrily, furiously.999Go To Quotation
yboundBound.999Go To Quotation
yeUsed to address two or more persons, animals, or personified things.1000Go To Quotation
yedA song, poem, speech, tale, riddle. Obs.999Go To Quotation
yesternightOn the night of yesterday, last night.999Go To Quotation
yfondedattempted, tried, tested, tempted.999Go To Quotation
yitThe subjective case of the second person dual pronoun: you two, both of you. Cf. inc pron.1000Go To Quotation
ylereTo teach; to learn.999Go To Quotation
yomerly= yomer adj.999Go To Quotation
ywhereEverywhere.999Go To Quotation

Back to top

The top one thousand authors and works cited in the OED

The Sources page contains details about the most frequently cited authors and works in the OED.

Use the search box to search for any of these sources by author name or work title.

Click on any of the author names or work titles for more information and links to dictionary entries.

Click on the column headings to order the top one thousand sources by date, number of quotations, and first evidence for word or sense.