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Old English Dictionary Entry

BERSTAN

Back to Letter B
Definitions

Definitions

1 definitions

1 BERSTAN

part. berstende; ic berste, ðú birst, he birsteþ, biersteþ, birst, byrst, bierst, pl. berstaþ; p. ic, he bærst, ðú burste, pl. burston; pp. borsten. I. to BURST, break, fail, fall; cum fragore dissilire, corruere, rumpi, frangi :-- Heofonas berstaþ the heavens burst, Exon. 21 b; Th. 58, 10; Cri. 933. Burston bán-locan the bone-inclosures burst, Beo. Th. 1640; B. 818. Wǽgas burston the waves broke, Cd. 167; Th. 208, 15; Exod. 483. Ðá burston ða weallas muri illico corruerunt, Jos. 6, 20 : Ors. 1, 7; Bos. 29, 38. Gif him áþ burste if an oath failed them, L. Ed. 3; Th. i. 160, 20. II. to make the noise of a bursting or breaking, to crash, dash, crack; fragorem edere, sonare, crepare :-- Brim berstende blód-egesan hweóp the dashing sea threatened bloody horrors, Cd. 166; Th. 208, 2; Exod. 477. Fingras burston his fingers cracked, Beo. Th. 1525; B. 760. [Laym. bersten : Wyc. berste, breste : Plat. barsten : O. Sax. brestan : O. Frs. bersta : Dut. Ger. bersten : M. H. Ger- bresten : O. H. Ger. brestan : Dan. bröste : Swed. brista : O. Nrs. bresta.] DER. a-berstan, æt, for-, óþ-, to-, út-. berstan
Runic Inscription

Runic Inscription

ᛒᛖᚱᛋᛏᚪᚾ

Possible runic inscription in Anglo-Saxon futhorc

Abbreviations Used

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

Ger.
German
L.
Latin
O. Frs.
Old Frisian
O. H. Ger.
Old High German
O. Nrs.
Old Norse
O. Sax.
Old Saxon

Works & Authors

Beo.
Beowulf
Cd.
Codex Diplomaticus Saxonici (Kemble)
Cri.
Christ (OE poem by Cynewulf)
Exon.
Exeter Book
Ors.
Orosius, Historiarum (OE translation by Alfred)
Th.
Thorpe, Benjamin (editor)
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