oþþe
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
See also: oððe
Old English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Probably an alteration of earlier ofþe (“or”), from Proto-Germanic *efþau (“or”). Cognate with Old Frisian jeftha, joftha (“or”), Old Saxon eftha, Old High German odo; compare different ablaut-grades in Old English eþþa, Old Norse eða. Ultimately thought to be a Germanic suffixed dual form of the base of if.
Pronunciation
[edit]Conjunction
[edit]oþþe
- or
- Sind foxas hundas oþþe cattas?
- Are foxes dogs or cats?
- 10th century, The Wanderer:
- sōhte seledrēoriġ · sinces bryttan,
hwǣr iċ feor oþþe nēah · findan meahte
þone þe in meoduhealle · mīne wisse- sought hall-sad a giver of treasure,
where I far or near could find
who in a mead-hall would know my men
- sought hall-sad a giver of treasure,
- (oþþe ... oþþe) either ... or
- Ne nis nā tō wēnenne þæt sē mann sīe oþþe sē ieldesta oþþe sē sīðmesta eorðan hlāforda.
- Nor is it to be thought that man is either the oldest or the last of Earth's masters.
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
- Oþþe hīe hit nyton, oþþe hīe hit witan nyllaþ.
- Either they don't know it, or they don't want to know it.