hæle

• IPA^(key): [ˈhɛːlɐ]

From Middle Low German hēlen, from Proto-Germanic *helaną (“to hide, conceal”), cognate with German hehlen (“to fence”) and Dutch helen (“to fence”).

hæle (imperative hæl, infinitive at hæle, present tense hæler, past tense hælede, perfect tense har hælet)

1. to fence (to sell stolen goods as a middleman)

• hæler
• hæleri

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

hæle c

1. indefinite plural of hæl

hæle

1. (Early Middle English) alternative form of hele (“health”)

hæle (imperative and present tense hæl, passive hæles, simple past hælte, past participle hælt)

1. to heel; to add a heel to, or increase the size of the heel of (a shoe or boot).
2. to bear, endure, stand, tolerate

• hæleþ, hæleð

From Proto-West Germanic *haliþ, from Proto-Germanic *haliþaz. Compare cognates: Old Norse halr (“hero, person”), hǫldr (“free-born, prominent yeoman”), also German Held (“hero”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈxæ.le/, [ˈhæ.le]

hæle m (poetic)

1. hero
   • 10th century, Exeter Book Riddle 8‎^[1]:

     Saga hwæt iċ hātte, þe swā scireniġe scēawendwīsan hlūde onhyrġe, hæleþum bodie wilcumena fela wōþe mīnre.

     Say what I am called, who as actress loudly imitate a jester song, proclaim many welcome guests as heroes with my voice.

2. man
3. warrior

• Hæle exhibits various inflectional endings that can be grouped into two separate declensions: a þ-stem declension, matching very few other words like ealu (“beer”), and an a-stem declension (including nom.-acc. sg. hæleþ), matching most masculine nouns.^[1]

þ-stem

Consonant stem, irregular:

a-stem

Strong a-stem:

• Middle English: heleð, haleð, hæleð; hathel (conflation with athel (“nobleman”))
  • English: (obsolete) health
  • Middle Scots: hathill