seldan

Old English

Alternative forms

• seldum

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *seldanē. Cognate with Old High German seltan, Old Norse sjaldan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsel.dɑn/, [ˈseɫ.dɑn]

Adverb

seldan (comparative seldor, superlative seldost)

1. not often: seldom, rarely
   • early 11th century, anonymous gloss of Ælfric's Latin Colloquy (c. 995)

     "Hwȳ ne fiscast þū on sǣ?" "Hwīlum iċ dō, ac seldan."

     "Why don't you fish in the sea?" "Sometimes I do, but not much."

Antonyms

• oft

Related terms

• selden

Descendants

• Middle English: selden, seilden, seldom
  • Scots: seld, seldin, seendil
  • English: seldom

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *seldanē. Cognate with Old English seldan, seldum, Old High German seltan, Old Norse sjaldan.

Adverb

seldan

1. seldom

Descendants

• Middle Low German: selden