pl. beorgaþ; p. ic, he bearg, bearh, ðú burge, pl. burgon; impert. beorg, beorh, pl. beorgaþ, beorge ge; pp. borgen; I. cum dat. To save, protect, shelter, defend, fortify, spare, preserve; servare, salvare, custodire, tueri, parcere :-- Beorh ðínum feore salva animam tuam, Gen. 19, 17. Woldon feore beorgan they would save their lives, Andr. Kmbl. 3075; An. 1540. Beorh me, Drihten, swá swá man byrhþ ðám æplum on his eágum mid his brǽwum custodi me, Domine, ut pupillam oculi, Ps. Th. 16, 8. Ðæt se bittra bryne beorgan sceolde ǽfæstum þrím that the bitter burning should spare the pious three, Exon. 53 b; Th. 189, 10; Az. 57. II. dat. of the pers. acc. of the thing or following wið, - To defend, secure, guard against, avoid; defendere, arcere, cavere, vitare :-- Hý him hryre burgon they secured him from fall, Exon. 43 a; Th. 145, 30; Gú. 702 : 55 a; Th. 195, 21; Az. 159. Hý beorgaþ him bealoníþ they guard themselves against baleful malice, 44 b; Th. 150, 19; Gú. 781. Druncen beorg ðé from drunkenness guard thyself, 80 b; Th. 302, 10; Fä. 34. Ðæt preóstas beorgan wið ofer-druncen that priests avoid [over-drinking] drunkenness, L. Edg. C. 57; Th. ii. 256, 13. [Orm. berrȝhenn : Plat. bargen : O. Sax. gi-bergan : M. H. Ger. bergen : O. H. Ger. perkan, bergan : Goth. bairgan : Dan. bjerge : Swed. berga : O. Nrs. biarga : Grm. Wrtbch. i. 1507 refers to Grk. φράγνυμι, φάργνυμι to hedge round, to secure.] DER. be-beorgan, ge-, ymb-. beorgan