gesceaft

Old English

Alternative forms

• ġesċæft, ġesċeft

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *gaskaftiz. Equivalent to ġe- +‎ sċeaft. Cognate with Old High German giscaft (German Geschäft), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍆𐍄𐍃 (gaskafts).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jeˈʃæ͜ɑft/

Noun

ġesċeaft f or n

1. creation
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "On Auguries"

     Þas twa gesceafta habbað gesceadwisnysse and ælc man hæfð agenne freodom...

     These two creations possess reason, and every man hath his own freedom...

2. creature
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Octaves and Circumcision of our Lord"

     Þa gesceafta ðe sind þwyrlice geðuhte, hí sind to wrace gesceapene yfel-dædum.

     The creatures that are thought monstrous have been created for punishment of evil deeds.

3. institution, destiny
4. element (the four classical elements)
   • c. 994, Ælfric, On the Twelve Winds

     Nis nān līchamlīċ þing ðe næbbe ðā fēower ġescēafta him mid, þæt is, lyft, ⁊ fȳr, eorðe, ⁊ wæter.

     There is no corporeal thing that is not made from the four elements, which are air, fire, earth, and water.

5. decree, destiny, fate, doom, condition
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Eall is earfoðlīċ · eorþan rīċe;
     onwendeð wyrda ġesċeaft · weoruld under heofonum.

     Kingdom of Earth is fully hardsome;
     the doom of outcomes changes the world under heavens.

Declension

Strong i-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	ġesċeaft	ġesċeafte, ġesċeafta
accusative	ġesċeaft, ġesċeafte	ġesċeafte, ġesċeafta
genitive	ġesċeafte	ġesċeafta
dative	ġesċeafte	ġesċeaftum

Sometimes occurs as neuter: Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	ġesċeaft	ġesċeaft
accusative	ġesċeaft	ġesċeaft
genitive	ġesċeaftes	ġesċeafta
dative	ġesċeafte	ġesċeaftum

Derived terms

• forþġesċeaft (“the world, creation”)

Descendants

• Middle English: ȝescafte, iscefte, ishafte, ishaft