Seaxe
Old English
Etymology
Derived from Seaxa (“a Saxon”). The older plural is Seaxan, which is also quite common. The i-stem plural Seaxe formed sometime after i-umlaut had gone to completion, by analogy with other names of peoples such as Engle (“the Angles”), Mierċe (“the Mercians”), and Norþanhymbre (“the Northumbrians”).
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Seaxe m pl
- Alternative form of Seaxan (“the Saxons”)
Usage notes
- The expected genitive form *Seaxa does not occur in this noun or any of its derivatives. Instead Seaxena or Seaxna is used, from the competing plural Seaxan. Since Seaxe and Seaxan do not differ in the dative case (Seaxum), Seaxe is only distinct in the nominative/accusative.
Declension
Declension of Seaxe (strong i-stem)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | — | Seaxe |
| accusative | — | Seaxe |
| genitive | — | Seaxena, Seaxna |
| dative | — | Seaxum |