Words from Old English
Thousands of our most used words have their roots in Old English, but some of them have undergone so many changes that it is difficult to see the connection between the modern word and the Old English root.
Here are a few that you should be able to recognise. They are given like definitions in a dictionary, but the words defined have been omitted.
| Definition | Origin - derivation | Our English word |
|---|---|---|
| A passage between rows of seats | O.E. gangan ..to go | gangway |
| A container for carrying water | O.E. buc..a pitcher | bucket |
| To put down | O.E. settan.. to place | settle, settee |
| A person who entertains another | O.E. hus.. house | host |
| Not often | O.E. seld..rare | seldom |
| To leave lonely by death | O.E. bereafian .. to rob | bereaved, bereft |
| To go with the wind or tide | O.E. drifan.. to drive | drift |
| To be tormented by worry | O.E. fretan.. to eat | fret |
| Sour, sharp or painful | O.E. bitan.. to bite | biting |
| A bench with high seat and arms | O.E. setl.. seat | settee |
| Firm, constant, unchanging | O.E. stede.. place | steady |
