Bí

According to the Old English Dictionary:

bí

prep. dat. [Bí is more frequently shortened into be. In compounds it is generally written be- or bi-; but bí- is long where it is used for big, or is a contraction, thus, - bí-spell for big-spell, and as bí-breád for beó-breád. 1. dat. By, near to, at, in, upon; juxta, prope, apud, in :-- Arás bí ronde oretta the champion arose by his shield, Beo. Th. 5069; B. 2538. He bí sesse geóng he went by the seat, 5506; B. 2756. Bí staðe fæste fast by the shore, Exon. 96 b; Th. 361, 11; Wal. 18. Hwearf bí bence turned by the bench, Beo. Th. 2380;B. 1188. 2. dat. Of, about; de, quoad :-- Ðæt bí ðé sóþfæst sægde Esaias what Isaiah said truly of thee, Exon. 12 a; Th. 19, 16; Cri, 301. Hýrde ic secgan gén bí sumum fugle I have yet heard tell of a certain bird, 97 b; Th. 365, 17; Reb. 1. Bí ðon se wítga song of whom the prophet sang, 17 a; Th. 41, 4; Cri. 650. 3. dat. By, through, because of, after, according to, in comparison with; per, secundum, pro, ex :-- Bí hwon scealt ðú lifgan by what art thou to live? Exon. 36 b; Th. 118, 23; Gú. 244. Bí noman gehátne called by name, 23 b; Th. 66, 16; Cri. 1072. Bí heofonwóman through the crash of heaven, 20 a; Th. 52, 18; Cri. 835. Leán cumaþ werum bí gewyrhtum retribution shall come to men according to their works, 27 b; Th. 84, 3; Cri. 1368 : 76 a; Th. 286, 8; Jul. 728. Ðisses fugles gecynd fela gelíces bí ðám gecornum Cristes þegnum the nature of this bird is much like to the chosen servants of Christ, 61 b; Th. 225, 12; Ph. 388. 4. sometimes bí is separated from its case :-- Bí wædes ófre by the shore of the sea, Exon. 96 b; Th. 360, 22; Wal. 9. bi

Related words: be.]