gesceaft
Old English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *gaskaftiz. Equivalent to ġe- + sċeaft. Cognate with Old High German giscaft (German Geschäft), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍆𐍄𐍃 (gaskafts).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /jeˈʃæ͜ɑft/
Noun
ġesċeaft f or n
- creation
- late 10th century, Ælfric, "On Auguries"
- Þas twa gesceafta habbað gesceadwisnysse and ælc man hæfð agenne freodom...
- These two creations possess reason, and every man hath his own freedom...
- late 10th century, Ælfric, "On Auguries"
- creature
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Octaves and Circumcision of our Lord"
- Þa gesceafta ðe sind þwyrlice geðuhte, hí sind to wrace gesceapene yfel-dædum.
- The creatures that are thought monstrous have been created for punishment of evil deeds.
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Octaves and Circumcision of our Lord"
- institution, destiny
- element (the four classical elements)
- c. 994, Ælfric, On the Twelve Winds
- Nis nān līchamlīċ þing ðe næbbe ðā fēower ġescēafta him mid, þæt is, lyft, ⁊ fȳr, eorðe, ⁊ wæter.
- There is no corporeal thing that is not made from the four elements, which are air, fire, earth, and water.
- c. 994, Ælfric, On the Twelve Winds
- decree, destiny, fate, doom, condition
- 10th century, The Wanderer:
- Eall is earfoðlīċ · eorþan rīċe;
onwendeð wyrda ġesċeaft · weoruld under heofonum.- Kingdom of Earth is fully hardsome;
the doom of outcomes changes the world under heavens.
- Kingdom of Earth is fully hardsome;
Declension
Strong i-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | ġesċeaft | ġesċeafte, ġesċeafta |
| accusative | ġesċeaft, ġesċeafte | ġesċeafte, ġesċeafta |
| genitive | ġesċeafte | ġesċeafta |
| dative | ġesċeafte | ġesċeaftum |
Sometimes occurs as neuter: Strong a-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | ġesċeaft | ġesċeaft |
| accusative | ġesċeaft | ġesċeaft |
| genitive | ġesċeaftes | ġesċeafta |
| dative | ġesċeafte | ġesċeaftum |
Derived terms
- forþġesċeaft (“the world, creation”)
Descendants
- Middle English: ȝescafte, iscefte, ishafte, ishaft