hwealf

Old English

Alternative forms
  • hwalf, hƿealf

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *hwalbą, *hwalfą. Cognate with Old High German walbe, Old Norse hvalf (Icelandic hólf).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈhwæɑlf/

Noun

hwealf f

  1. vault, arch
    • 10th century, Anonymous, Beowulf, line 576:
      under heofenes hwealf
      under heaven’s vault

Declension
Declension of hwealf (strong a-stem)
Case Singular Plural
nominative hwealf hwealf
accusative hwealf hwealf
genitive hwealfes hwealfa
dative hwealfe hwealfum

Adjective

hwealf

  1. arched, vaulted, hollow, concave, bent
    • 10th century, Anonymous, Judith XI 214, Nowell Codex:
      bordum beðeahte, / hwealfum lindum,
      with bucklers protected, / With their hollow shields, [1]
      warded with bucklers, / Linden-shields curved, [2]
  • hwealfian

References
  1. 1902, J. Lesslie Hall, Judith, Phœnix and other Anglo-Saxon poems, Silver Burdett and Company, New York, p.12
  2. 1888, Albert S. Cook, Judith, an Old English epic fragment, D.C. Heath & Co, Boston 1888, pp. 17-19
  • hwealf in John R. Clark Hall, A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary for the Use of Students, The Macmillan Company, New York 1916, p. 170
  • hwealf in Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (digital edition)
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