geþanc

Old English

Alternative forms

• ġeþonc, ġeþang

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *gaþank, from Proto-Germanic *gaþankaz. By surface analysis, ġe- +‎ þanc. Cognate with Old High German gidank (German Gedanke), Old Saxon githanko.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jeˈθɑnk/, [jeˈθɑŋk]

Noun

ġeþanc m or n

1. thought, mind
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The First Sunday in Lent"

     Nu bidde ic eow þæt ge beon geðyldige on eowerum ġeðance, ōðþæt we ðone traht mid Godes fylste oferrædan magon.

     Now I pray you to be patient in your thoughts till, with God's assistance, we can read over the text.

2. intention, purpose
3. design, what is thought-out
4. act of thinking
5. imagination
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Purification of St. Mary"

     Ne sohte Crist na ða modigan, þa þa micele beoð on hyra geþance; ac ða ðe beoð lytle and eaðmode on heora heortan, þa cumað to Godes rice; ac ðider ne mæg astigan nán modignys.

     Christ sought not the proud, those who are great in their own imagination, but those who are little and humble in their hearts, these shall come to God's kingdom; but thither may no pride ascend.

6. opinion
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Passion of St. Julian and his wife Basilissa"

     Iulianus sæde ure geþanc is swa swa hit wæs...

     Julianus said, ' our opinion is just as it was;...

Usage notes

• Generally masculine in gender, it is only occasionally neuter.

Declension

masculine

Declension of geþanc (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ġeþanc	ġeþancas
accusative	ġeþanc	ġeþancas
genitive	ġeþances	ġeþanca
dative	ġeþance	ġeþancum

neuter

Declension of geþanc (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ġeþanc	ġeþanc
accusative	ġeþanc	ġeþanc
genitive	ġeþances	ġeþanca
dative	ġeþance	ġeþancum

Derived terms

• inġeþanc
• mōdġeþanc

Descendants

• Middle English: geðanc, ȝeðanc, ȝeþank, ȝeþonk, iþank, iþanc, iðonc, iþonc, iðang