Ge-feormian

According to the Old English Dictionary:

ge-feormian

p. ode; pp. od. I. to entertain, harbour, receive as a guest, feed, cherish, support; suscipere, hospitio suscipere, epulare, fovere, curare :-- Sanctus Albanus for ðam cuman, ðe he gefeormode [MS. gefeormade] gegyrede hine Saint Alban arrayed himself for the stranger whom he entertained, Bd. 1, 7; S. 477, 9. Ðæt se, ðe hine feormode, and se, ðe gefeormod wæs, sýn hí begen bisceopes dóme scyldig that he who entertained him, and he who was entertained, be both liable to excommunication; susceptor et is qui susceptus est excommunicationi subjacebit, 4. 5; S. 573, 1. Búton ðæs bisceopes leáfe, ðe hí on his scíre gefeormode [MS. gefeormade] sín without the bishop's leave, in whose diocese they may be entertained, 4, 5; S. 573, 5. We ðé gefeormedon we entertained thee, Cd. 127; Th. 162, 24; Gen. 2686. Ðonne mon monnan betýhþ ðæt he ceáp forstele, oððe forstolenne gefeormie when a man charges another that he steal cattle, or harbour the stolen, L. In. 46; Th. i. 130, 13. Geóca mihtig Dryhten mínre sáwle, gefreoða hyre and gefeorma hý save my soul, O mighty Lord, protect it and cherish it, Exon. 118 b; Th. 456, 3; Hy. 4, 61. II. to feed on, devour; vesci, comedere :-- Hie ða behlidenan him to lífnere gefeormedon they feed on the dead [mortuos] to [save] their lives, Andr. Kmbl. 2181; An. 1092. Grendel unlifigendes gefeormod fét and folma Grendel devoured the feet and hands of the lifeless, Beo. Th. 1493; B. 744. III. to cleanse, farm or cleanse out, Provncl; mundare :-- Ðæt hí ða bán woldon upádón, and onþweán and gefeormian that they would take up the bones to wash and cleanse, Bd. 4, 19; S. 589, 11. Hát gefeormian mín blód bid [them] wipe away my blood, Blickl. Homl. 183, 26. v. feormian. ge-feormian

Related words: a.