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hefig

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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Middle English

Adjective

hefig

  1. (chiefly Early Middle English) alternative form of hevy

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *habīgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“take, seize”). Germanic cognates include Old Saxon hevig, Dutch hevig, Old High German hebig, Old Norse hǫfigr. The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin capere, Old Irish cacht, Albanian kap (“grip”), Proto-Slavic *xopiti (Old Church Slavonic хапѭште (xapjǫšte), Russian ха́пать (xápatʹ)), Proto-Balto-Slavic *kap- (Lithuanian kàpteleti, Latvian kàmpt (“bite”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈxe.fij/, [ˈhe.vij]

Adjective

hefiġ (comparative hefiġra, superlative hefiġost or hefiġust or hefiġast)

  1. heavy
    Eorþe is hefiġre ōðrum ġesceaftum ― earth is heavier than the other elements.
    • Exeter Book, riddle 40
      Hefiġere iċ eom micle þonne sē hāra stān
      oþþe unlȳtel lēades clympre,
      lēohtre iċ eom micle þonne þēs lȳtla wyrm
      þe hēr on flōde gǣð fōtum dryġe.
      I am much heavier than the gray stone
      or an un-little clump of lead,
      I am much lighter than this little bug
      that walks here on the water with dry feet
    • 10th century, The Wanderer:
      Þonne bēoð þȳ hefiġran · heortan benne,
      sāre æfter swǣsne. · Sorg bið ġenīwad,
      Then heart's wounds are heavier,
      painful after beloved. Sorrow is renewed
  2. grievous, serious
    Hit is swīðe hefigu sċyld. ― It is a very serious crime.
  3. important

Declension

Declension of hefiġ — Strong
More information Singular, Masculine ...
Declension of hefiġ — Weak
More information Singular, Masculine ...

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Middle English: heviȝ, hevy
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