bæc

See also: baec

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką.

Alternative forms

• bec — Mercian, Kentish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bæk/

Noun

bæc n

2. back
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "De libro regum"

     ...Hieu hine scēt bæftan his bæce þæt him tōbærst sēo heorte.

     ...Jehu shot him behind his back, so that his heart burst.

3. back or rear end (of something)

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	bæc	bacu
accusative	bæc	bacu
genitive	bæces	baca
dative	bæce	bacum

Synonyms

• hryċġ

Descendants

• Middle English: bak, back
  • English: back
  • Scots: bak, back, bake

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *baki, from Proto-Germanic *bakiz.

Alternative forms

• bæċe, beċe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bæt͡ʃ/

Noun

bæċ f or m or n

2. stream; brook

Declension

Due to this noun's variation in gender, multiple declensions are attested.

Masculine declension: Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	bæċ	bacas
accusative	bæċ	bacas
genitive	bæċes	baca
dative	bæċe	bacum

Neuter declension: Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	bæċ	bacu
accusative	bæċ	bacu
genitive	bæċes	baca
dative	bæċe	bacum

Feminine declension: Strong ō-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	bæċ	bæċa, bæċe
accusative	bæċe	bæċa, bæċe
genitive	bæċe	bæċa
dative	bæċe	bæċum

Descendants

• Middle English: bæcche, bæche, bache
  • English: beach, batch