gesælan

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Old English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

ġesǣlan

  1. to happen, take place, befall
    • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care
      Ac hit mæġ ēaðe ġesǣlan, ġif wē him swelc secgað, ðæt hīe ēac mid ūs ðā ōðre tǣlen, and hīe ðonne eft hira selfra ġescamiġe, ðonne hīe ġemunað ðæt hīe ðæt ilce dōð ðæt hīe on ðǣm ōðrum tǣldon.
      It can easily happen that, if we tell them such things, they will also join us in blaming the others, and afterwards be ashamed of themselves, remembering that they do the same that they blamed in the others.
    • Hwæþere mē ġesǣlde þæt ic mid sweorde ofsloh / niceras nigene.Anyway, it happened that with my sword I killed nine sea-monsters. (Beowulf, ll. 574-5)

Conjugation[edit]