earfoþe

Old English

Alternative forms

• earfeþe, earfod

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *arbaidiz (“hardship”), from a verb *arbijaną, *arbāną (“be orphaned”). Compare Old English ierfa. See also Proto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos, whence Ancient Greek ὀρφανός (orphanós), Latin orbus, Old Church Slavonic рабъ (rabŭ, “slave”). Cognate with Old Frisian arbēd, Old Saxon arƀed, arvēd, Old Dutch arbeit (Dutch arbeid), Old High German arbeit (German Arbeit (“work, labour”)), Old Norse erfiði (Swedish arvode (“salary”)), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌹𐌸𐍃 (arbaiþs).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑr.fo.θe/, [ˈæ͜ɑrˠ.vo.θe]

Noun

earfoþe n (nominative plural earfoþu)

1. work; labour
2. suffering; hardship
3. labour; pains; trouble; childbirth
4. disease

Derived terms

• earfoþþrāg

Adjective

earfoþe

1. hard, difficult

Declension

Declension of earfoþe — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	earfoþe	earfoþu, earfoþo	earfoþe
Accusative	earfoþne	earfoþe	earfoþe
Genitive	earfoþes	earfoþre	earfoþes
Dative	earfoþum	earfoþre	earfoþum
Instrumental	earfoþe	earfoþre	earfoþe
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	earfoþe	earfoþa, earfoþe	earfoþu, earfoþo
Accusative	earfoþe	earfoþa, earfoþe	earfoþu, earfoþo
Genitive	earfoþra	earfoþra	earfoþra
Dative	earfoþum	earfoþum	earfoþum
Instrumental	earfoþum	earfoþum	earfoþum

Declension of earfoþe — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	earfoþa	earfoþe	earfoþe
Accusative	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþe
Genitive	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþan
Dative	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþan
Instrumental	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþan
Accusative	earfoþan	earfoþan	earfoþan
Genitive	earfoþra, earfoþena	earfoþra, earfoþena	earfoþra, earfoþena
Dative	earfoþum	earfoþum	earfoþum
Instrumental	earfoþum	earfoþum	earfoþum

Derived terms

• earfoþnes

Descendants

• Middle English: arveð, earfeþ, earveþ, arveþ, arveth