blostma

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *blōstmô (“flower”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-. Cognate with Old Norse blómstr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈblost.mɑ/

Noun

blostma m

1. flower, blossom
   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

     Iċ ġeseah þone fæġerostan feld fulne grōwendra blostmena.

     I saw the most beautiful field full of growing flowers.

2. blossom, bloom; blooming, flowering
   • Exeter Book, riddle 40

     Þēah þe līlie sīe beorht on blostman, iċ eom betere þonne hēo.

     Though a lily is bright in its bloom, I am better than it.

Declension

Declension of blostma (weak)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	blostma	blostman
accusative	blostman	blostman
genitive	blostman	blostmena
dative	blostman	blostmum

Related terms

• blostm
• blōwan

Derived terms

• blostmbǣre
• blostmfrēols
• blostmiġ

Descendants

• English: blossom