Bosworth & Toller Anglo-Saxon(Old English) Dictionary

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This is an online edition of the Anglo-Saxon(Old English) Dictionary, reflecting the English language as used between approximately 700-1100 AD.

Based on the manuscript collections of Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller, it stands as the most comprehensive dictionary of Old English available today.

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was the early form of the English language spoken in medieval England. It has significantly influenced the modern English language.

A sample of Old English:

Hwæt! Wē Gār-Dena in ġeārdagum, þēod-cyninga, þrym ġefrūnon, hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Sċyld Sċefing sċeaþena þrēatum, monegum mǽgþum, meodo-setla oftēah, egsode eorlas, syððan ǽrest wearð fēasċeaft funden; hē þæs frōfre gebād, wēox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þāh, oðþæt him ǽġhwylc þāra ymbsittendra ofer hron-rāde hýran scolde, gomban gyldan. Þæt wæs gōd cyning.

- Excerpt is from the Old English epic poem "Beowulf."

Our Old English Dictionary is based on the comprehensive Bosworth and Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. It combines traditional lexicography with modern digital accessibility, offering users a rich resource for exploring the intricacies of Old English vocabulary and usage.

Summary
The online edition of the Anglo-Saxon Dictionary provides a comprehensive resource for Old English, the early form of the English language used from approximately 700-1100 AD. Based on the manuscript collections of Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller, it is the most extensive dictionary of Old English available today. Old English has significantly influenced modern English and is exemplified in texts like the epic poem 'Beowulf.' The dictionary merges traditional lexicography with modern digital accessibility, allowing users to explore the complexities of Old English vocabulary and usage. It serves as a valuable tool for those interested in the linguistic heritage of England and the evolution of the English language.