wælcyrge

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *walakuzjǭ, either by descent or through Old Norse valkyrja. Equivalent to wæl +‎ cyre.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈwæl.kyr.je/, [ˈwæɫ.kyrˠ.je]

Noun

wælcyrġe f

  1. a malevolent female demon
    • glossing Eurynis, Allecto, Bellona, Gorgo (wælkyrian eagan =oculos gorgoneos)
  2. a sorceress, a female witch
    • her syndan wiccan & wælcyrian. (Wulfstan, Sermo ad Anglos, ca. 1015)

Declension

Weak feminine (n-stem):

singular plural
nominative wælcyrġe wælcyrġan
accusative wælcyrġan wælcyrġan
genitive wælcyrġan wælcyrġena
dative wælcyrġan wælcyrġum

Descendants

  • Middle English: walkirie, walkyrie