Gardene

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: gårdene and gardene

Old English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

gār (spear) +‎ Dene (Danes)

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

Gārdene m

  1. (poetic) ‘Spear-Dane’, Dane
    • c. 975–1025, Beowulf (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV)‎[1], published 4th quarter 10th century–2nd half 16th century, page 129, lines 1-3:
      Hwæt wē Gārdena in ġeārdagum, þēodcyninga, þrym ġefrūnon, hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon.
      Truly, we have heard about the might of the Spear-Danes, of great kings, how those noblemen performed brave deeds.

Usage notes

[edit]

One of many poetic compounds of Dene where the first element is largely meaningless and added just for sake of alliteration, cf. Beorhtdene, Hringdene, Sǣdene, Norþdene, Ēastdene, Sūþdene, Westdene.

Declension

[edit]