hwealf

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /xwæ͜ɑlf/, [ʍæ͜ɑɫf]

Noun

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hwealf f

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

Declension

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Adjective

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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]

Declension

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References

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  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