smiþian

Old English

Alternative forms

• smiðian — edh spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *smiþōną (“to smith”), equivalent to smiþ +‎ -ian.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsmi.θi.ɑn/, [ˈsmi.ði.ɑn]

Verb

smiþian

1. to forge: to make skillfully, especially of metal
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Invention of the Holy Cross"

     Hē hēt ēac smiðian of smǣtum golde āne lȳtle rōde, þā hē leġde on his swīðran.

     He also had a little cross forged out of pure gold, which he placed in his right hand.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul"

     Hē cwæþ, "Iċ þē betǣċe heofones rīċes cǣġe." Nis sēo cǣġ gyldenu, ne seolfrenu, ne of nānum andtimbre ġesmiðod.

     He said, "I will give you the key to the kingdom of heaven." That key is not made of gold, or silver, or forged from any material.

Conjugation

Conjugation of smiþian (weak class 2)

infinitive	smiþian	smiþienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	smiþiġe	smiþode
second person singular	smiþast	smiþodest
third person singular	smiþaþ	smiþode
plural	smiþiaþ	smiþodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	smiþiġe	smiþode
plural	smiþiġen	smiþoden
imperative
singular	smiþa
plural	smiþiaþ
participle	present	past
	smiþiende	(ġe)smiþod

Descendants

• Middle English: smythen
  • English: smith

References

• Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “SMIÐIAN”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[1], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.