  A—(corrupted from A.-S. on) signifies in, on, at: as abed, aboard, aside, aback; and gives the adverbial form to adjectives, as in aloud, aboard. Be—gives a transitive signification, as in bespeak. It is sometimes intensive, as in bestir, and converts an adjective into a verb, as in bedim. Be, as a form of by, also denotes proximity, as in beside: as bystander. For Fore—before: as foretell, forebode. Mis—error, wrongness: as mistake, misstate, misinform. N—has a negative signification, as in many languages: thus, never, neither, none. Off—from offspring. Out—beyond: as outdo, outlaw. Over—above: as overhang, overflow, overturn. To—in to-day, to-morrow. Un—not, the reverse: as, unskilled, unlearned. Under—beneath: as undermine. With—against (German wider): as withstand. II.—ANGLO-SAXON SUFFIXES.Ar, ard, er, yer, ster Ess, as in songstress, is borrowed from the French. Dom, ship, ric, wic—from dom, judgment; ship, shape or condition; ric, rice, power; wic, a dwelling—signify state, condition, quality, etc., as in kingdom, friendship, bishopric, Berwick. El, kin (= chen, German), let (from French), ling, ock—have a diminutive effect, as in manikin, streamlet, youngling, hillock, cockerel. En—adjective termination, as wooden, from wood; it also converts adjectives into verbs, as deepen from deep. Fold—from fealdan, to fold; a numeral termination, like ple, from the Latin plico, I fold. Ful—full; truthful. Hood, ness—of uncertain derivation, signify state, etc., as in priesthood, righteousness. Ish—isc (Saxon), isch (German), denotes a quality; like rakish, knavish, churlish, Danish. Ish is also employed as a diminutive—blackish. Less—loss: as penniless, hopeless. Like and ly—like; lic (A.-S.): as warlike, manly. Some—sum (A.-S.), sam (German), lonesome, handsome. Teen—ten, as in fourteen. Ty—from tig (A.-S ), ten; zig (German), as in six-ty. Teen adds ten—ty multiplies by ten. Ward—weard, wÄrts (German), versus (Latin), against, direction, towards; downward, eastward. Wise—wisa, manner; likewise. Y—ig, an adjective termination; dreorig (A.-S.), dreary. ANGLO-SAXON ROOTS AND ENGLISH DERIVATIVES.The pronunciation of Anglo-Saxon is much nearer to that of modern German or the Continental pronunciation of Latin than of modern English. The letters of the alphabet wanting in Anglo-Saxon are: j, k, q, v, and z. K is commonly represented by c; thus, cyning (king) is pronounced kining; cyrtel, kirtle; qu is represented by cw, as cwic, quick; cwen, queen; cwellan, to quell; th is represented by two peculiar characters, one of which in its reduced form resembles y, as in ye olden times, where ye should be pronounced the, and not ye, as is often ignorantly done. Long vowels should be carefully distinguished from short vowels. Long vowels are a as far, ae as in fare, e as in they, i as in pique, o as in bone, u as in rule, y as in i (nearly). Short vowels are a as in fast, ae as in man, e as in men, i as in pin, o as in God, u as in full, y as in i (nearly). In the diphthongs ea, eo, and ie, the first element receives the stress; the second is pronounced very lightly. There are no silent letters in Anglo-Saxon as in modern English. The vowel of every syllable is pronounced, and in difficult combinations of consonants, as in hlud, loud, cniht, knight, cnif, knife, each consonant has its distinct sound. E before a and o has the sound of y as a consonant; i before e and u has the same sound: thus, Earl = yarl; eow = you; iett = yett; and iÚgoth = yÚgoth, youth. ac, an oak—oak, oaken. acsian, to inquire—ask. Æcer, a field—acre, acreage. Ær, before—early, ere, erelong, erst. aft, hind-part—after, abaft. Ágan, to have—owe, own, owner, ought, disown. arisan, to arise—raise, rise, rouse. bÁcan, to bake—baker, bakery, bakehouse, batch. bÆc, back—backbite, backslide, backward, aback. bÆlg, a bag. bald, bold, brave—bold, boldness. bÁna, death—bane, baneful, henbane. banc, a bank or raised place—bank, banker, bankrupt, bankruptcy, bench, embankment. beacnian, to beckon—beck, beckon, beacon. bellan, to roar—bawl, bellow. beorgan, to protect—borough, borrow, burgh, burglar, burrow, harbinger, harbor, berth. beorht, bright—bright. beran, to bear, to bring forth—barrow, bear, bier, birth. bidan, to wait—abide. biddan, to pray, to bid—bid, bidding, bead, beadsman, beadle, forbid, unbidden. bindan, to bind—band, bond, bondage, bundle. blÆc, pale—bleach, bleacher, bleak, bleakness. blawan, to blow—blade, bladder, blast, blaze, blazon, blister, blossom, blow, blush, bluster. bletsian, to bless—bless, blessing. brÁd, broad—broad, breadth, board, aboard. brÉcan, to break—bray (to pound), breach, breaker, breakfast, brink, broken. breost, the breast—breast, breastplate, breastwork, abreast. breÓwan, to brew—brew, brewer, brewery. brucan, to use—broker, brokerage, brook (to endure). buan, to cultivate—boor, boorish, neighbor, neighborhood. bugan, to bow or bend—bay, bight, bough, bow, buxom, elbow. byldan, to design, to make—build, builder, building. byrnan, to burn—brand, brandish, brandy, brimstone, brown, brunt, auburn, firebrand. cÆlan, to cool—chill, chilblain. ceapian, to buy—cheap, cheapen, cheapness, chaffer, chapman. cÉnnan, to produce—kin, kind, kindness, kindred, akin, mankind. ceorl, a churl—carle, churlish. clÆne, clean—clean, cleanly, cleanliness, cleanse, unclean. clÁth, cloth—clothe, clothier, clothing, clad, unclad. cleÓfan, to cleave; clifian, to adhere—cleaver, cliff, clover, club. cnafa, a boy—knave, knavery. cnÁwan, to know—knowledge, acknowledge, foreknow, unknown. cnyll, a loud noise—knell. cnyttan, to knit—knitting, knot, knotty, net, network. cracian, to crack; cearcian, to creak—crack, crackle, creak, cricket, croak, screech, shriek. cuman, to come—comely, comeliness, become, overcome, welcome. cunnan, to know, to be powerful—can, con, cunning, keen. cwellan, to slay—kill, quell. dÆg, a day—dawn, daylight, day-star, daisy = day's eye. dǽl, a part—deal, dole, ordeal. dÉman, to think—deem. deor, a wild animal—deer. deore, dusky or black—dark, darken, darkly, darkness. dic, a dyke—dig, ditch, ditcher. disc, a plate—desk, disc, dish. dÓm, judgment—doom, doomsday. dÓn, to do—doer, deed, undo. dragan, to draw—drag, draggle, drain, draught, draughtsman, draw, dray. drifan, to drive—drift, driver, drove. drigan, to dry—drysalter, drought, drug (originally dried plants), druggist. drincan, to suck in—drench, drink, drunk, drunkard, drunken. drypan, to drip or drop—drip, drop, droop, dribble, drivel. dwinan, to pine—dwindle, dwine. dyn, a noise—din, dun. eage, the eye—eye, eyeball, eye-bright, eyelid. eald, old—alderman, earl. efen, just—even, evenness. erian, to plough, to ear—earth, earthy, earthquake. faeger, bright—fair, fairness. fÁer, fear—fearful, fearless. faran, to go—fare, farewell, ferry, ford, seafaring, wayfarer. fedan, to feed—feed, feeder, fodder, food, father, fatherly. feond, an enemy—fiend, fiendish. fleÓgan, to fly—flag, flake, fledge, flee, flicker, flight. fleÓtan, to float—float, fleet. flÓwan, to flow—flood, flow. folgian, to go after—follow. fÓn, to seize —fang, finger. fÓt, the foot—foot, fetter, fetlock. freÓn, to love—free, freedom, friend, friendship. fretan, to gnaw—fret, fretful. fugel, a bird—fowl, fowler, fowling-piece. fÚl, unclean—filth, filthy, foul, fulsome. fullian, to whiten—full (to scour and thicken cloth in a mill), fuller, fuller's-earth. fÝr, fire—fiery, fireworks, bonfire. gabban, to mock—gabble, gibe, gibberish, jabber. galan, to sing—nightingale. gangan, to go—gang, gangway. gÁst, a ghost—gas, ghastly, ghost, ghostly, aghast. geard, an enclosure —garden, orchard, yard. geotan, to pour—gush, gut. gerefa, a governor—grieve (an overseer), sheriff, sheriffdom. getan, to get—get, beget, begotten, forget, forgetful. gifan, to give—give, gift, forgive, forgiveness, misgive, unforgiven. glowan, to glow—glow, glowing. gÓd, good—gospel, gossip. grÆs, grass—grass, graze, grazier. grafan, to dig—grave, graver, graft, groove, grove, grub, engrave. grapian, to grapple; grÍpan, to gripe; gropian, to grope—grapple, grapnel, gripe, grope, group, grovel. greot, dust—gritty, groats. grÓwan, to grow—grow, growth. grÚnd, the ground—ground, groundless, groundsel, groundwork. habban, to have—have, haft, behave, behavior, misbehave. hÆge, a hedge—haw, hawthorn. hÆl, sound, whole—hail, hale, heal, health, healthful, healthy, holy, holiness, whole, wholesome. hÁm, a dwelling—hamlet, home, homely, homeliness. hangian, to hang—hang, hanger, hinge, unhinge, overhang. hÁt, heat—heat, heater, hot. healdan, to hold—halt, halter, hilt, hold, behold, uphold, upholsterer, withhold. heard, hard—harden, hardihood, hardship, hardware, hardy. hebban, to lift—heap, heave, heaven, heavy, upheaval. hÉdan, to heed—heed, heedful, heedfulness, heedless, heedlessness. heorte, the heart—hearten, heartless, hearty, heartburn, heart's-ease, dishearten. hlÁf, bread—loaf. hleapan, to leap—leap, overleap, elope, elopement. hol, a hole—hole, hold (of a ship), hollow, hollowness. hristlan, to make quick sounds—rustle, rustling. huntian, to rush—hunt, hunter, huntsman. hÚs, house—housewife, husband, hustings. hweorfan, to turn—swerve, wharf. hÝran, to hear—hear, hearer, hearsay. lǽdan, to lead—lead, leader, loadstar, loadstone, mislead. lÆfan, to leave—left, eleven, twelve. lǽran, to teach—learn, learner, learning, lore, unlearned. lang, long—long, length, lengthen, lengthy, linger. lecgan, to lay—lay, layer, lair, law, lawful, lawless, lea, ledge, ledger, lie, low, lowly, outlaw. leofian, lybban, to live—live, lively, livelihood, livelong, alive, outlive. leoht, light—lighten, lightsome, lighthouse, enlighten. lÍc, like—like, likely, likelihood, likeness, likewise, unlike. locian, to stretch forward—look. loma, utensils, furniture—loom, hand-loom, power-loom. losian, to lose—lose, loser, loss. lÚf, love; lufian, to love—lover, lovely, loveliness, lief, beloved, unlovely. lyfan, to permit—leave (permission), belief, believe, believer, misbelieve. lyft, the air—loft, lofty, aloft. macian, to make—make, maker, match, matchless, mate, inmate. mÆngan, to mix—among, mingle, commingle, intermingle, mongrel. magan, to be able—may, might, mighty, main, mainland, dismay. mearc, a boundary—mark, marksman, marches, remark. metan, to measure—meet, meeting, meet (fit), meetness. mund, a defence—mound. murnan, to murmur—mourn, mourner, mournful. mynd, the mind—mind, mindful, mindfulness, remind. nÆs, a nose—naze, ness. nama, a name—name, nameless, namesake, misname. nead, need—need, needful, needless, needs, needy. neah, nigh—near, next, neighbor. niht, night—night, nightfall, nightless, nightmare, nightshade. oga, dread—ugly, ugliness. pÆth, a path—pathless, pathway, footpath. plegan, to exercise, to sport—play, player, playful, playmate. rÆcan, to reach—reach, overreach, rack, rack-rent. rǽdan, to read—read, readable, reader, reading, riddle. read, red—red, redden, ruddy. reafian, to seize—bereave, bereavement, raven, ravenous, rive, rob, robber, robbery, rove, rover. recan, to heed—reck, reckless, recklessness, reckon, reckoning. rÍdan, to ride—ride, rider, road, roadster, roadstead. rinnan, to run—run, runner, runaway, outrun. ripan, to reap—reap, reaper, ripe, ripen, ripeness, unripe. ruh, rough—rough, roughness. sÆgan, to say—say, saying, hearsay, unsay. sar, painful—sore, soreness, sorrow, sorrowful, sorry. scacan, to shake—shake, shaky, shock, shocking. sceadan, to shade—shade, shady, shadow, shed (a covered enclosure). scedan, to scatter, to shed—shed (to spill), watershed. sceofan, to push—shove, shovel, scuffle, shuffle, sheaf. sceÓtan, to shoot—shoot, shot, sheet, shut, shutter, shuttle, overshoot, undershot, upshot. scÉran, to cut—scar, scarf, score, share, sharp, shear, sheriff, shire. scÍnan, to shine—sheen, outshine, moonshine, sunshine. screopan, to creak—scrape, scraper, swap, scrap-book. scrob, a bush—shrub, shrubbery. scyppan, to form—shape, shapeless, landscape. sellan, to give—sale, sell, sold. seon, to see—see, seer, sight, foresee, oversee, unsightly, gaze. settan, to set; sittan, to sit—set, setter, settle, settler, settlement, set, beset, onset, outset, upset. sÍde, side—side, sideboard, aside, beside, inside, outside, upside. singan, to sing—sing, singer, song. slÆc, slack—slack, slackness, slow, sloth, slothful, sluggard, sluggish. sleÁn, to slay—slay, slaughter, sledge (a heavy hammer). slidan, to slide—slide, sled, sledge. slipan, to glide—slip, slipper, slippery, slipshod. smitan, to smite—smite, smiter, smith, smithy. snican, to creep—snake, sneak. socc, a shoe—sock, socket. soft, soft—soften, softly, softness. soth, true—sooth, soothsayer. specan, to speak—speak, speaker, speech, bespeak. spell, a message—spell (discourse), gospel. spinnan, to spin—spinner, spider. stÁn, a stone—stony, stoneware. standan, to stand—standard, understand, understanding, withstand. steall, a place—stall, forestall, install, pedestal. steorfan, to die—starve, starvation, starveling. stician, to stick—stake, stick, stickle, stickleback, sting, stitch, stock, stockade, stocking. stigan, to ascend—stair, staircase, stile, stirrup, sty. streccan, to stretch—stretch, stretcher, straight, straighten, straightness, outstretch, overstretch. stÝran, to steer—steer, steerage, steersman, stern (the hind part of a ship), astern. stÝrian, to stir—stir, bestir. sÚr, sour—sour, sourish, sourness, sorrel, surly, surliness. swerian, to swear—swear, swearer, forswear, answer, unanswered. swÉt, sweet—sweet, sweetbread, sweeten, sweetmeat, sweetness. tÁecan, to show, to teach—teach, teachable, teacher. tellan, to count—tell, teller, tale, talk, talkative, foretell. thincan, to seem; pret. thuh-te, methinks, methought. thringan, to press—throng. thyr, dry—thirst, thirsty. treowe, true—true, truth, truthful, truism, trust, trustee, trustworthy, trusty. twa, two—twice, twine, twist, between, entwine. tyrnan, to turn—turn, turner, turncoat, turnkey, turnpike, overturn, return, upturn. wacan, to awake—wake, wakeful, waken, wait, watch, watchful, watchfulness, watchman. warnian, to defend, to beware—warn, warning, warrant, wary, weir, aware, beware. wearm, glowing—warm, warmth. wegan, to move—wag, waggle, wain, wave, way, wayfarer, weigh, weight, weighty. weordh, worth—worth, worthy, worship, worshipper, unworthy. werian, to cover—wear, wearable, weary, wearisome. winnan, to labor—win, won. witan, to know—wise, wisdom, wizard, wit, witness, witty. wringan, to twist—wrangle, wrench, wriggle, wring, wrinkle. writhan, to twist—wrath, wrathful, wroth, wreath, wreathe, wry, wryneck, wrong. wunian, to dwell—wont, wonted. wyrm, a worm, a serpent—worm. Specimens of Anglo-Saxon, and the same literally translated into Modern English.EXTRACT FROM CÆDMON'S PARAPHRASE. CÆdmon: died about 680.
PASSAGE REPEATED BY BEDE ON HIS DEATH-BED. Bede: died 735.
EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE—Tenth Century.
EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON GOSPELS—Eleventh Century.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Specimens of Semi-Saxon and Early English.EXTRACT FROM THE BRUT OF LAYAMON—About 1180.
EXTRACT FROM A CHARTER OF HENRY III.—1258.
Anglo-Saxon Element in Modern English.That the young student may be made aware of the extent of the employment of Anglo-Saxon in our present language, and that he may have some clue to direct him to a knowledge of the Saxon words, the following extracts, embracing a great proportion of these words, are submitted to his attention. The words not Teutonic are marked in Italics. MILTON. Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater man Restore us and regain the blissful seat— Sing, heavenly Muse. With thee conversing, I forget all time, All seasons, and their change; all please alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth, After soft showers; and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild; then silent night With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, And these the gems of heaven, her starry train. SHAKESPEARE. To be, or not to be, that is the question; Whether 't is nobler in the mind to suffer The stings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep; No more;—and by a sleep to say we end The heartache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to! 't were a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To die; to sleep; To sleep?—perchance to dream! All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts; His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in his nurse's arms. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel; Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.—Genesis i. 1-6. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau, his eldest son, and said unto him, My son. And he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.—Genesis xxvii. 1-7. THOMSON. These as they change, Almighty Father! these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of thee. Forth in the pleasing spring Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness and love. Wide flush the fields; the softening air is balm; Echo the mountains round; the forest smiles; And every sense and every heart is joy. Then comes thy glory in the summer months, With light and heat refulgent. Then thy sun Shoots full perfection through the swelling year. ADDISON. I was yesterday, about sunset, walking in the open fields, till the night insensibly fell upon me. I at first amused myself with all the richness and variety of colours which appeared in the western parts of heaven. In proportion as they faded away and went out, several stars and planets appeared, one after another, till the whole firmament was in a glow. The blueness of the ether was exceedingly heightened and enlivened by the season of the year. YOUNG. Let Indians, and the gay, like Indians, fond Of feathered fopperies, the sun adore: Darkness has more divinity for me; It strikes thought inward; it drives back the soul To settle on herself, our point supreme. There lies our theater: there sits our judge. Darkness the curtain drops o'er life's dull scene: 'T is the kind hand of Providence stretched out 'Twixt man and vanity; 't is reason's reign, And virtue's too; these tutelary shades Are man's asylum from the tainted throng. Night is the good man's friend, and guardian too. It no less rescues virtue, than inspires. SWIFT. Wisdom is a fox, who, after long hunting, will at last cost you the pains to dig out. 'T is a cheese, which by how much the richer has the thicker, homelier, and the coarser coat; and whereof, to a judicious palate, the maggots are the best. 'Tis a sack posset, wherein the deeper you go on you will find it sweeter. But then, lastly, 'tis a nut, which, unless you choose with judgment, may cost you a tooth, and pay you with nothing but a worm. HUME. The beauties of her person and graces of her air combined to make her the most amiable of women; and the charms of her address and conversation aided the impression which her lovely figure made on the heart of all beholders. Ambitious and active in her temper, yet inclined to cheerfulness and society; of a lofty spirit, constant and even vehement in her purpose, yet politic, gentle, and affable, in her demeanor, she seemed to partake only so much of the male virtues as to render her estimable, without relinquishing those soft graces which compose the proper ornament of her sex. GIBBON. In the second century of the Christian era, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown, and disciplined valour. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence. JOHNSON. Of genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates; the superiority must, with some hesitation, be allowed to Dryden. It is not to be inferred that of this poetical vigor Pope had only a little, because Dryden had more; for every other writer since Milton must give place to Pope; and even of Dryden it must be said, that if he has brighter paragraphs, he has not better poems. BYRON. Ancient of days! august Athena! where, Where are thy men of might—thy grand in soul? Gone—glimmering through the dream of things that were. First in the race that led to Glory's goal, They won, and passed away. Is this the whole? A school-boy's tale—the wonder of an hour! The warrior's-weapon and the sophist's stole Are sought in vain, and o'er each mouldering tower, Dim with the mist of years, gray flits the shade of power. SIR WALTER SCOTT. The way was long, the wind was cold, The Minstrel was infirm and old; His withered cheek and tresses gray Seemed to have known a better day; The harp, his sole remaining joy, Was carried by an orphan boy. The last of all the bards was he Who sung of border chivalry; For, well-a-day! their dale was fled; His tuneful brethren all were dead; And he, neglected and oppressed, Wished to be with them and at rest. WORDSWORTH. Ah! little doth the young one dream, When full of play and childish cares, What power is in his wildest scream, Heard by his mother unawares! He knows it not, he cannot guess; Years to a mother bring distress; But do not make her love the less. My son, if thou be humbled, poor, Hopeless of honor and of gain, Oh! do not dread thy mother's door; Think not of me with grief and pain. I now can see with better eyes; And worldly grandeur I despise, And Fortune with her gifts and lies. TENNYSON. Not wholly in the busy world, nor quite Beyond it, blooms the garden that I love. News from the humming city comes to it In sound of funeral or of marriage bells; And sitting muffled in dark leaves you hear The windy clanging of the winter clock; Although between it and the garden lies A league of grass, washed by a slow broad stream, That, stirred with languid pulses of the oar, Waves all its lazy lilies, and creeps on, Barge laden, to three arches of a bridge, Crowned with the minster-towers. |
|
