Beowulf
English
Etymology
From Old English Bēowulf.
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Beowulf
- An Old English epic poem written circa 1025.
- John Gardner’s retelling of Beowulf is titled Grendel.
- (poetic) An Anglo-Saxon personal name, usually with reference to the hero of the poem, or to the poem itself.
- Beowulf is as great a hero as Sigmund.
Derived terms
Translations
Epic poem
|
Old English
Alternative forms
- Bēoƿulf — wynn spelling
Etymology
Origin uncertain, perhaps from bēo (“bee”) + wulf (“wolf”), literally “bee-hunter”, used as a kenning for “bear” or “woodpecker”.[1][2][3] Compare also the alternative form Beadowulf, from beadu (“battle”) + wulf, which may be the original.
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Bēowulf m
Declension
Declension of Bēowulf (strong a-stem)
References
- ^ Traditions, Superstitions, and Folklore, (chiefly Lancashire and the North of England: ) Their Affinity to Others in Widely-distributed Localities; Their Eastern Origin and Mythical Significance by Charles Hardwick, 1872.
- ^ Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore by Walter Keating Kelly, 1863.
- ^ The Saxons in England: A History of the English Commonwealth Till the Period of the Norman Conquest by John Mitchell Kemble, 1849.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English proper nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English terms with usage examples
- English poetic terms
- English male given names from Old English
- Old English terms with unknown etymologies
- Old English compound terms
- Old English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old English lemmas
- Old English proper nouns
- Old English masculine nouns
- Old English poetic terms
- Old English masculine a-stem nouns
- Old English male given names