Syntax & Usage — Wülfing

Loquentes translation and abridgement from Wülfing. Repetitive example catalogues are condensed; Wülfing’s conceptual discussion is retained. The full cleaned German extract appears below in the collapsible block.

Part One: Chapter Two: The Genitive. C. The Genitive with Verbs.

The genitive appears with verbs in Old English, usually bearing the notion of only partial or divided contact with the action of the verb (partitive value), or serving as the representative of other case relations. Verbs governing the genitive alone fall into fourteen semantic categories:

I. Verbs of striving, aiming, desiring, and wishing (§ 11): The genitive designates the goal or object striven for: - earnian (strive for, labour for): earnigaþ þæs (strive after that); ælces monnes ingeþanc wilnaþ to earnienne þæs soðan godes (every man's mind desireth to labour for the true good). - efnan (achieve, strive to accomplish): his bene efnende wæs (was accomplishing his prayer). - fandian (seek after, strive for): hu fela monna fandie swelces feos (how many men seek after such wealth). - fægnian (rejoice in, seek): þæt þu fægenige oþerra manna godes (that thou rejoice in other men's good). - gyrnan (yearn for, desire): Romane gyrndon ðæs gefeohtes (the Romans yearned for the battle); eall moncyn swiðost gyrnð anwealdes (all mankind most of all yearneth for power). - tilian (strive for, attend to): seo lufu ne telað hire agenra ðinga (charity seeketh not her own); swæ tilige ðære orsorgnesse (so strive for security). - wilnian (desire, wish): gif ge friðes wilnien (if ye desire peace); ælc mon wilnað sumes godes (every man desireth some good); he wilnað him selfum gilpes (he desireth vainglory for himself). - wyscan (wish for): ne cwæð he þæt forðy þe he ænegum men þæs wyscte oððe wilnode (he said not that because he wished or desired that for any man).

§ 12 2. Verbs of asking and begging: Closely allied to verbs of striving are those of entreaty and inquiry, with the genitive denoting the object requested or inquired after: - acsian (ask for, ask about): acsa ðæs þe þu wylle (ask of what thou wilt); ic secge on þys sealme hwæs ic wylle ascian (I say in this psalm what I will ask). - biddan (beg for, pray for): þa Oswald biscopes bæde (when Oswald prayed for a bishop); anwiges bæd (asked for single combat); bædan his fultumes (asked for his aid); friðes bæd (begged for peace); we sculon biddan þæs heofoncundan fæder (we must ask of the heavenly Father). - frinan (inquire, ask after): hiora lara frinende (inquiring after their teachings).

§ 13 3. Verbs of oral utterance: The genitive appears with verbs denoting speaking, mentioning, or declaring concerning something: - ætsacan (deny, dispute): ne mæg ic þæs ætsacan (I cannot deny that). - bodian (declare, boast of): bodode þæs þæt he uþwita wære (boasted of this, that he was a philosopher). - gemyndgian, mynegian (make mention of): nu ic þyses Alexandres her gemyndgade (now that I have here made mention of this Alexander); ic sceal eac gemyndgian ðæs þe æfterfylgendas dydon (I must also mention what his successors did); we gemynegodan ðære stowe (we made mention of the place). - secgan (tell of, speak of): se witga sæde his wifes & his suna (the prophet told of his wife and his son). - sprecan (speak of): ic sprece þæs hehstan godes (I speak of the supreme good).

§ 14 4. Verbs of mental activity: Verbs signifying intellectual perception, remembering, forgetting, believing, knowing, doubting, and marveling take the genitive of the thing thought of: - amunan, gemunan, myndgian (remember, keep in mind): hwæt is se mann, þe þu swa myclum amanst (what is man, that thou art so mindful of him); gemune þu þisse tide (remember thou this time); gemun þu hwelcra cræfta þu bruce (remember what virtues thou art wont to practice); he gemunde his halgan wordes (he remembered his holy word). - forgietan (forget): hie forgeatan þara utera gefeohta (they forgot the outward wars); on ðære gesuntfulnesse mon forgit his selfes (in prosperity a man forgetteth himself); þu hæfst þara wæpna to hraþe forgiten (thou hast too quickly forgotten the weapons); hu lange wilt þu min forgitan (how long wilt thou forget me?). - geascian (learn of, hear tell of): þa Scipia geascode þæs færeltes (when Scipio learned of the expedition). - geliefan (believe in): gif hi gelyfdon þæs ecan lifes (if they believed in the eternal life). - geþencan (reflect on, consider): geþence þonne þara tida (consider then those times); gemyne he þæs yfles þe he worhte (let him consider the evil that he wrought). - gieman (heed, attend to): heo Eadbaldes worda ne gymde (she heeded not Eadbald's words); ne giemað þæs ecan (they heed not the eternal). - ongietan (perceive, understand): swa swa þu ongite þisse oðre spræce (even as thou understandest this other discourse). - tweogan (doubt of): ne tweoge ic þæs naht (I doubt naught of that). - witan (know of): ic his nat naht fæstlice (I know naught of it with certainty). - wundrian (wonder at, marvel at): his wundredan, þæt hie swa strange wæron (marveled at it, that they were so strong); þæt þu wundrige swa miclum mines wisdomes (that thou marvelest so greatly at my wisdom).

§ 15 5. Verbs of emotion and emotional utterance: Verbs expressing joy, grief, shame, regret, pity, pride, or care govern the genitive of the cause or occasion: - aþreotan (weary of, tire of): wæs aþroten his ællreordre gespræce (was weary of his foreign speech); þæt mon aþreote þære nætinge yfelra monna (that one tire of the affliction of evil men). - fægnian, feon (rejoice in, be glad of): he fægenode þæs miclan weorces (he rejoiced in the great work); hi fægniað þæs unrihtes (they rejoice in unrighteousness); gefeonde þæs heofonlican rices (rejoicing in the heavenly kingdom). - geomrian, heofian (mourn, lament over): geomrode his wræcsiðes (mourned his exile); heofodon heora heretogan gefangennesse (lamented their leader's capture). - lystan (desire, take pleasure in, impersonal): hine þæs lyste (he had pleasure therein). - modgian (be proud of): he gemodgode þæs folces (he was puffed up over the people). - ofhreowan, ofþyncan (rue, repent of, displease): him ofhreow þæs monncwealmes (he pitied the slaughter); him ofþuhte his unhælo (he was grieved at his infirmity). - reccan (care for, reckon): he ne recð his lare (he careth not for his teaching); ic ne recce þæs (I care not for that). - sceamian (be ashamed of): him sceamað þæs (they are ashamed of that). - sorgian (sorrow for, worry about): ðu sorgast þæs þe ðu naht ymb sorgian ne þearft (thou sorrowest for that concerning which thou needest not sorrow).

§ 16 6. Verbs of touching, approaching, obtaining, and tasting: Here the partitive conception is prominent: - begietan (acquire, get): þara wilniaþ ealle men to begitanne (those all men desire to obtain); þæt hi þurh þæt mæge mæst bearna begitan (that they thereby might obtain most children). - beridan (surround, overtake): gif he mægnes hæbbe, þæt he his gefan beride (if he have the might to surround his foe). - cunnian, fandian (try, test, visit): mot ic nu cunnian hwon þinre fæstrædnesse (may I now test a little of thy firmness?); ic wæs untrum & on carcerne, & ge min noldon fandian (I was sick and in prison, and ye would not visit me); þa þe gefandod habbað þara flæsclicra synna (those who have had experience of carnal sins). - gefredan (feel, perceive): þæt hi ne gefredon nane sarlicnesse þære wunde (that they felt no painfulness of the wound). - gehrinan, hrinan (touch): gehran þæt fæs his hrægeles (touched the hem of his garment); ne gehrinð his nan yfel (no evil toucheth him). - neosian (visit): he wolde his neosian (he wished to visit him). - onbitan, onbyrgan (taste of, partake of): he onbite ðæs unalyfedan treowes wæstmes (he tasted of the fruit of the forbidden tree); he onbyrigde þæs halgan geleafan (he tasted of the holy faith).

§ 17 7. Verbs of heeding, ruling, and guarding: - agyman, gyman (care for, take care of): þam timum þe ic hys agyme (at the times when I take care of it); se þe ne gimð ðara þe his beoð (he who heedeth not those who are his). - healdan, wealdan (rule, govern, maintain): se þe ealra gesceafta welt & healt (he who ruleth and maintaineth all creatures); God welt ealles middangeardes (God ruleth all the world); þæt he nage þæra geweald (that he have not control of them). - warian (guard against, beware): warnige he his agenes modes (let him be on guard against his own mind).

§ 18 8. Verbs of separation, deprivation, and ceasing: - bereafian (bereave, rob): ða bereafodon ælcere lustbærnesse (they bereaved [me] of every delight). - beswician (escape, be freed from): na læs þæt an oþra lima, ac swylce eac þære tungan onstyrenesse beswicade (escaped not only in respect of other limbs, but also from the disturbance of the tongue); heo þære langan untrumnesse beswicede (she escaped from the prolonged illness). - blinnan, geswican (cease from, desist): ne blon he godra weorca (he ceased not from good works); ne blinð he his weorces (he ceaseth not from his work); he ne geswac his gewunelican weorces (he ceased not from his customary work); hie þæs gewinnes geswicon (they desisted from that contest). - getwæfan (separate from, deprive of): hi his lifes getwæfde (deprived him of his life). - oðsacan (deny, renounce): he oðsoc þæs soðfæstan geleafan (he renounced the true faith). - stieran (restrain, control): on ðæm hiewe þe he sceolde his gilpes stieran (under the appearance in which he ought to have restrained his vainglory). - wiernan (refuse, withhold): gif he forwyrnð his hlafes ðæm hungregum (if he withholdeth his bread from the hungry).

§ 19 9. Verbs of enjoying, using, and needing: The genitive designates the substance or supply enjoyed or needed: - behofian (need, require): mycel wund behofaþ mycles læcedomes (a great wound needeth great healing). - brucan (enjoy, partake of, use): þa wæs þæt folc þæs micclan welan ungemetlice brucende (then the people were immoderately enjoying that great wealth); uton nu brucan þisses undernmetes (let us now partake of this morning meal); woldon hiora siþþan fela wucena ætgædere brucan (wished afterwards to enjoy their company together for many weeks); we brucað ures agnes (we enjoy our own); þæt þu minra gifa wel bruce (that thou use my gifts well); seo sæ mot brucan smyltra yþa (the sea may enjoy gentle waves). - neotan, notian (use, enjoy): þæt we moton neotan þæs leohtes (that we may enjoy the light); þonne hie his noht ne notiað (when they make no use of it).

§ 20 10. Verbs of waiting and expecting: - abidan, anbidian, bidan, geanbidian (await, wait for): hi monige dagas windes & gewidor abidon (they waited many days for wind and favorable weather); ic swiðe ambidie þara gehata (I earnestly await the promises); ælce dæge ic anbidige þines fultumes (every day I await thy help); hwæs anbidie ic, butan þin, Drihten (what wait I for, Lord, but thee?); swa swa heo bidende wære his andsware (as though she were awaiting his answer); utan we wel ðære tide bidan (let us well await that hour); he þær bad westanwindes (he waited there for a west wind); wit geanbidigaþ þinre are (we two await thy grace).

§ 21 11. Verbs of begetting and bearing: - beran (bear, bring forth): þeos eorðe is berende missenlicra fugela & sæfihta (this land is productive of various birds and marine creatures). - cennan (beget, bring forth): Anna wæs god monn & þæs betstan tudres cennend (Anna was a good man and the begetter of the best offspring). - strienan (beget, produce): for intingan anum bearna to strynenne (for the sole purpose of begetting children); þær þonne bearna striendon (and there then begat children); hie sculon bearna strienan (they shall beget children).

§ 22 12. Miscellaneous verbs governing the genitive: - angildan (pay for, atone for): hu eall moncyn angeald þæs ærestan monnes synna mid miclum teonum & witum (how all mankind paid for the first man's sins with great injuries and torments); Romane anguldon þæs wordes (the Romans paid for that word); nan hus næs binnan þære byrig þæt hit næfde þære wrace angolden (there was no house within the city that had not suffered for that vengeance). - fremman (execute, perform): þa tugon hie hiene þæt he heora swicdomes wið Alexander fremmende wære (they accused him of practicing their treachery against Alexander). - fulgangan (accomplish, fulfill): þæt ic ne mot mid minum þeawum minra benunga fulgangan (that I may not with my customs fulfill my prayers). - gebigan (bend): gebigde his cneowa (bent his knees). - gedafenian (befit): þy mode, þe bisceopa gedafenode (with the spirit that befitted bishops). - gehelpan, helpan (help, succor): þær heora þa ne hulpe (if [he] had not then helped them); þonne heora helpan ne mehte (when [he] could not help them). - plegan, pleon (risk, venture): se ilca his agnes herges pleah (that same man risked his own army); se þe his lifes nele plegan (he who will not risk his life). - spowan (succeed, prosper in): hu him speow ðære godcundan lare (how he succeeded in the divine teaching); him þæs weorces speow (he succeeded in that work).

§ 23 13. beon (wesan) with the predicative genitive of belonging and possession: Grimm termed this use the predicative genitive, because it readily resolves into a noun or adjective predicate denoting origin, kin, class, or possession: - Origin, nation, and family: Severus Casere se wæs Aeffrica cynnes (the Emperor Severus was of African origin); saga me, hwylces hiredes & hwylces cynnes þu si (tell me of what household and of what kin thou art); wæs he lichomlicre gebyrde æþeles cynnes (he was of noble family by bodily birth); he wæs eac ðæs cynecynnes (he was also of the royal line); he wæs Englisces cynnes (he was of English race); æghwæþer heora wæs Scotta cynnes (each of them was of Scottish race); se Casere wæs heora ealdhlafordcynnes (the Emperor was of their ancient lords' line); he wæs cynecynnes (he was of royal kin). - Condition, office, and world: ða ðe sacerdhades wæron (those who were of the priestly order); ða ðing ðe ðisses middangeardes wæron (the things that were of this earth); nemne dynre eþunge anre ætywde þæt he lifes wæs (save by faint breathing alone showed that he was yet among the living). - Territorial or numerical possession: monege þeoda sindon þæs landes (many nations belong to that land); þæs landes is XLIII þeoda (there belong forty-three nations to that land). - Spiritual ownership: ge sint acoren kynn Gode & kynelices preosthades (ye are a chosen generation unto God and of royal priesthood); sum cwæð ðæt he wære Cristes (one said that he was of Christ); þara þe Godes sien (of those that be God's).

§ 24 14. beon (wesan) and weorðan with the genitive of quality or characteristic: The genitive alone with the copula designates quality, disposition, or nature (genitive of characteristic quality): - he wæs micelre clænnesse & arwyrðnesse wer (he was a man of great purity and dignity); þæt wæs mycles mægenes teald & gelyfed (that was accounted and believed to be of great power). - eowre ieldran wæron utan hlæne & innan fætte, stronges modes & fæstes (your forefathers were lean without and fat within, of stout and firm mind); þæt hie swelces modes wæron (that they were of such mind); he wæs swa godes willan (he was of such good will). - The idiom þæs wordes beon (to be of the opinion, to maintain the saying): ac ealle hie wæron þæs wordes þæt him leofre wæs (but all of them were of the mind that it was dearer unto them). - Physical and mental attributes: þæt fleax bið hwites hiewes (flax is of white hue); hie ne sint ealle anes modes & anra ðeawa (they are not all of one mind and of the same customs); þæt ge sien swæ gelices modes swæ ge sint gelices lichoman (that ye be of like mind even as ye are of like body); sint swiþe ungelices hiwes (they are of very unlike appearance); beo nu godes modes (be now of good courage); þe synt rihtes modes (who are of upright heart); he ys fægrostes andwlitan (he is of fairest countenance). - With weorðan: se þe forlæt þone cele ungetreownesse, & wyrð wlacra treowa (he who forsaketh the chill of faithlessness, and becometh of lukewarm fidelity).

Examples

earnigaþ þæs

ælces monnes ingeþanc wilnaþ to earnienne þæs soðan godes

seige nu, hwæs þu eamodest oððe hwæt þu habban woldest

he . . . his bene efnende wæs

hu fela monna fandie swelces feos

ic lære þæt þu fægenige oþerra manna godes & heora æþelo to þon swiðe þæt þu ne tilige þe selfum agnes

Romane gyrndon ðæs gefeohtes

eall moncyn swiðost gyrnð anwealdes

hwi ge wilnigen oððe gyrnen þæs hlisan

ealle þa þe gyrnað þinre hælo

seo lufu ne telað hire agenra ðinga

þæt þu ne tilige þe selfum agnes

swæ tilige ðære orsorgnesse

gif ge friðes wilnien

ælc mon wilnað sumes godes

he wilnað him selfum gilpes

ne cwæð he þæt forðy þe he ænegum men þæs wyscte oððe wilnode

acsa ðæs þe þu wylle

ic secge on þys sealme hwæs ic wylle ascian

þa Oswald . . . biscopes bæde

he wæs biddende anes lytles troges æt anum earman men

anwiges bæd

bædan his fultumes

friðes bæd

we sculon biddan þæs heofoncundan fæder

hiora lara frinende

ne mæg ic þæs ætsacan

he hine swa orgellice upahof and bodode þæs þæt he uþwita wære

nu ic þyses Alexandres her gemyndgade

ic sceal eac gemyndgian ðæs þe . . . æfterfylgendas . . . dydon

we gemynegodan ðære stowe

se witga sæde his wifes & his suna

ic sprece þæs hehstan godes

hwæt is se mann, þe þu swa myclum amanst

hie forgeatan þara utera gefeohta

on ðære gesuntfulnesse mon forgit his selfes

þu hæfst þara wæpna to hraþe forgiten

hu lange wilt þu min forgitan

ealle þa þe Godes forgytað

þa Scipia geascode þæs færeltes

gif hi gelyfdon þæs ecan lifes

gemune þu þisse tide & uncres gecwydrædnesse

gemun þu hwelcra cræfta þu bruce

geþence þonne þara tida

gemyne he þæs yfles þe he worhte

heo Eadbaldes worda ne gymde

ne giemað þæs ecan

he gemunde his halgan wordes

swa swa þu ongite þisse oðre spræce

ne tweoge ic þæs naht

ic his nat naht fæstlice

his wundredan, þæt hie swa strange wæron

þæt þu wundrige swa miclum mines wisdomes

se cyning, se þe Seaxna gereorde an cuþe, wæs aþroten his ællreordre gespræce

þæt mon aþreote þære nætinge yfelra monna

he fægenode þæs miclan weorces & fægernesse þære ceastre

hi fægniað þæs unrihtes

gefeonde þæs heofonlican rices

geomrode his wræcsiðes

heofodon heora heretogan gefangennesse

hine þæs lyste

he gemodgode þæs folces

him ofhreow þæs monncwealmes

him ofþuhte his unhælo

he ne recð his lare

ic ne recce þæs

him sceamað þæs

ðu sorgast þæs þe ðu naht ymb sorgian ne þearft

þara wilniaþ ealle . . . men to begitanne

þæt hi þurh þæt mæge mæst bearna begitan

gif he mægnes hæbbe, þæt he his gefan beride

mot ic nu cunnian hwon þinre fæstrædnesse

ic wæs untrum & on carcerne, & ge min noldon fandian

þa þe gefandod habbað þara flæsclicra synna

þæt hi ne gefredon nane sarlicnesse þære wunde

gehran þæt fæs his hrægeles

ne gehrinð his nan yfel

he wolde his neosian

he onbite ðæs unalyfedan treowes wæstmes

he onbyrigde þæs halgan geleafan

þam timum þe ic hys agyme

se þe ne gimð ðara þe his beoð

se þe ealra gesceafta welt & healt

warnige he his agenes modes

se þe ealra gesceafta wealdeð

God welt ealles middangeardes

þæt he nage þæra geweald

ða bereafodon ælcere lustbærnesse, þa ða ic him æfre betst truwode

na læs þæt an oþra lima, ac swylce eac þære tungan onstyrenesse beswicade

heo þære langan untrumnesse beswicede

ne blon he godra weorca

ne blinð he his weorces

he ne geswac his gewunelican weorces

hie þæs gewinnes geswicon

hi his lifes getwæfde

he oðsoc þæs soðfæstan geleafan

on ðæm hiewe þe he sceolde his gilpes stieran

gif he forwyrnð his hlafes ðæm hungregum

mycel wund behofaþ mycles læcedomes

þa wæs þæt folc þæs micclan welan ungemetlice brucende

uton nu brucan þisses undernmetes

woldon . . . hiora siþþan fela wucena ætgædere brucan

brycð ðære godcundan are worldcundlice

we brucað ures agnes

þeah þu heora bruce

þæt þu minra gifa wel bruce

seo sæ mot brucan smyltra yþa

þæt we moton neotan þæs leohtes

þonne hie his noht ne notiað

hi monige dagas windes & gewidor abidon

ic . . . swiðe ambidie þara gehata

ælce dæge ic anbidige þines fultumes

hwæs anbidie ic, butan þin, Drihten

swa swa heo bidende wære his andsware

utan we wel ðære tide bidan

he þær bad westanwindes

wit geanbidigaþ þinre are

þeos eorðe is berende missenlicra fugela & sæfihta

Anna . . . wæs god monn & þæs betstan tudres cennend

for intingan anum . . . bearna to strynenne

& þær þonne bearna striendon

bi eallum heora wifum bearna striendon

hie sculon bearna strienan

hu eall moncyn angeald þæs ærestan monnes synna mid miclum teonum & witum

Romane anguldon þæs wordes mid . . . miclum hungre

hi ðis anguldon

nan hus næs binnan þære byrig þæt hit næfde þære wrace angolden

þa tugon hie hiene þæt he heora swicdomes wið Alexander fremmende wære

þæt ic ne mot mid minum þeawum minra benunga fulgangan, swa ealla oþra gesceafta moton

gebigde his cneowa

þy mode, þe bisceopa gedafenode

þær heora þa ne hulpe

þonne heora helpan ne mehte

se ilca his agnes herges pleah

se þe his lifes nele plegan

hu him speow ðære godcundan lare

him þæs weorces speow

Severus Casere se wæs Aeffrica cynnes

saga me, hwylces hiredes & hwylces cynnes þu si

nænig heora of ðam ðe hi ahton owiht his beon onsundran cwæð

wæs he lichomlicre gebyrde æþeles cynnes

ða ðe sacerdhades wæron

ða ðing ðe ðisses middangeardes wæron

he wæs eac ðæs cynecynnes

he wæs Englisces cynnes

æghwæþer heora wæs Scotta cynnes

nemne dynre eþunge anre ætywde þæt he lifes wæs

monege þeoda sindon þæs landes

þæs landes is XLIII þeoda

ælcne þara þe hio geacsian myhte þæt kynekynnes wæs

ealle þa þe þær cynecynnes wæron

for þon þe he ryhtcynecynnes wæs

buton he æþeles cynnes wære

ealle þa þe þære mægþe wæron

ge sint acoren kynn Gode & kynelices preosthades

sume cwædon ðæt hie wæron Apollan, sume Paules, sume Petres, sum cwæð ðæt he wære Cristes

þe anes cynnes bioð

þara þe Godes sien

se Casere wæs heora ealdhlafordcynnes

hwylcra gebyrda þu wære & hwylcra burgwara

hi sint stilre gecynde and heardre

he wæs cynecynnes

he wæs micelre clænnesse & arwyrðnesse wer

he wæs micelre arwyrðnesse wer

þæt wæs . . . mycles mægenes teald & gelyfed

eowre ieldran wæron utan hlæne & innan fætte, stronges modes & fæstes

þæt hie swelces modes wæron

he wæs swa godes willan

sæde eac þæt he þara ælces ehtend wolde beon swa swa his feondes, þe þæs wordes wære þæt from Romebyrig þohte

ac ealle hie wæron þæs wordes þæt him leofre wæs . . . .

þæt fleax . . . bið hwites hiewes

hie ne sint ealle anes modes & anra ðeawa

ðe simle anes willan wæs & God fæder

þæt ge sien swæ gelices modes swæ ge sint gelices lichoman

he bið godes willan

ærþæmþe he self wære fulfremedre ielde

næs ic næfre git nane hwile swa emnes modes

sint swiþe ungelices hiwes

beo nu godes modes

þe synt rihtes modes

he ys fægrostes andwlitan

se þe forlæt þone cele ungetreownesse, & wyrð wlacra treowa

Original German — Wülfing

C. Der Genitiv bei Zeitwörtern. Der Genitiv erscheint bei Zeitwörtern, und zwar gewöhnlich mit dem Begriffe der nur unvollständigen (geteilten) Berührung durch die Thätigkeit des Zeitwortes, z. T. auch als Vertreter anderer Kasus. Vgl. Erdmann, a. a. O., II, § 198. — Die Zeitwörter mit dem Genitiv lassen sich in mehrere Gruppen einordnen:

I. Bei den Zeitwörtern, die ein Erzielen, Streben, Begehren, Wünschen ausdrücken, bezeichnet der Genitiv das Ziel, den Inhalt. Vgl. auch § 20. § 11 a. earnian, erstreben (to labour for). In der Bedeutung „verdienen“ hat dies Zeitwort den Akk. bei sich, vgl. § 101. Bo. 102, 8 earnigaþ þæs; 274, 14 ælces monnes ingeþanc wilnaþ to earnienne þæs soðan godes; So. 171, 9 seige nu, hwæs þu eamodest oððe hwæt þu habban woldest; b. efnan, vollbringen, erstreben. Be. 562, 28 he . . . his bene efnende wæs (= voti compos fieret); c. fandian, erstreben, suchen. Bo. 164, 3 hu fela monna fandie swelces feos; d. fægnian, erstreben. Bo. 168, 27 ic lære þæt þu fægenige oþerra manna godes & heora æþelo to þon swiðe þæt þu ne tilige þe selfum agnes; e. girnan, gyrnan, ersehnen, begehren. Or. 3, 32 Romane gyrndon ðæs gefeohtes; Bo. 46, 21 eall moncyn swiðost gyrnð anwealdes; 70, 24 hwi ge wilnigen oððe gyrnen þæs hlisan; Ps. 39, 17 ealle þa þe gyrnað þinre hælo; f. tilian, sich bemühen um, erstreben. Be. 495, 38 seo lufu ne telað hire agenra ðinga; Bo. 168, 28 þæt þu ne tilige þe selfum agnes; Cp. 236, 16 swæ tilige ðære orsorgnesse; g. wilnian, wünschen, begehren. Or. 68, 22 gif ge friðes wilnien; Bo. 274, 15 ælc mon wilnað sumes godes; Cp. 54, 2 he wilnað him selfum gilpes; h. wyscan, wünschen. Cp. 28, 11 ne cwæð he þæt forðy þe he ænegum men þæs wyscte oððe wilnode. […]

§ 12 2. An die im vorigen § besprochenen Zeitwörter schließen sich die des Bittens und Fragens an, bei denen der Gen. gleichfalls Ziel oder Inhalt ausdrückt. a. acsian, fragen nach, bitten um. Be. 568, 26 acsa ðæs þe þu wylle; Ps. 48, 4 ic secge on þys sealme hwæs ic wylle ascian; b. biddan, bitten um. Be. 527, 18 þa Oswald . . . biscopes bæde; Or. 84, 14 he wæs biddende anes lytles troges æt anum earman men; 108, 10 anwiges bæd; 114, 26 bædan his fultumes; 204, 2 friðes bæd; Bo. 326, 6 we sculon biddan þæs heofoncundan fæder; c. frinan, fragen nach. Or. 132, 20 hiora lara frinende. […]

§ 13 3. Der Genitiv erscheint bei Zeitwörtern der mündlichen Äuſserung irgendwelcher Art. a. ætsacan, widersprechen, leugnen. So. 182, 7 ne mæg ic þæs ætsacan; b. bodian, verkünden, sich rühmen. Bo. 102, 19 he hine swa orgellice upahof and bodode þæs þæt he uþwita wære; c. gemyndgian, erwähnen. Or. 110, 10 nu ic þyses Alexandres her gemyndgade; 142, 10 ic sceal eac gemyndgian ðæs þe . . . æfterfylgendas . . . dydon; d. mynegian, erwähnen. Be. 531, 35 we gemynegodan ðære stowe; e. secgan, sagen von. Cp. 441, 16 se witga sæde his wifes & his suna; f. sprecan, sprechen von. Bo. 154, 8 ic sprece þæs hehstan godes. […]

§ 14 4. Bei den Zeitwörtern, die eine geistige Thätigkeit bezeichnen, steht der Gen. zur Angabe des Inhalts derselben. a. amunan, sich erinnern an. Ps. 8, 5 hwæt is se mann, þe þu swa myclum amanst; b. forgietan, vergessen. Or. 88, 24 hie forgeatan þara utera gefeohta; Cp. 34, 7 on ðære gesuntfulnesse mon forgit his selfes; Bo. 6, 16 þu hæfst þara wæpna to hraþe forgiten; Ps. 12, 1 hu lange wilt þu min forgitan; 49, 23 ealle þa þe Godes forgytað; c. geascian, erfahren von. Or. 220, 12 þa Scipia geascode þæs færeltes; d. geliefan, glauben an. Bo. 358, 23 gif hi gelyfdon þæs ecan lifes; e. gemunan, sich erinnern an. Be. 514, 22 gemune þu þisse tide & uncres gecwydrædnesse; Bo. 8, 14 gemun þu hwelcra cræfta þu bruce; f. geþencan, bedenken. Or. 50, 22 geþence þonne þara tida; Cp. 24, 3 gemyne he þæs yfles þe he worhte; g. gieman, achten auf. Be. 508, 39 heo Eadbaldes worda ne gymde; Cp. 160, 24 ne giemað þæs ecan; h. myndgian, myngian, sich erinnern. Ps. 104, 37 he gemunde his halgan wordes; i. ongietan, verstehen, einsehen. Bo. 232, 28 swa swa þu ongite þisse oðre spræce; j. tweogan, zweifeln an. Bo. 340, 15 ne tweoge ic þæs naht; k. witan, wissen von. So. 181, 3 ic his nat naht fæstlice; l. wundrian, sich wundern über. Or. 170, 24 his wundredan, þæt hie swa strange wæron; Bo. 222, 16 þæt þu wundrige swa miclum mines wisdomes. […]

§ 15 5. Bei Zeitwörtern, die eine Gemütsbewegung oder deren Äuſserung bezeichnen, drückt der Gen. die Ursache aus. a. aþreotan, überdrüssig werden, verdrießen. Be. 530, 4 se cyning, se þe Seaxna gereorde an cuþe, wæs aþroten his ællreordre gespræce; Cp. 352, 11 þæt mon aþreote þære nætinge yfelra monna; b. fægnian, sich freuen über. Cp. 38, 15 he fægenode þæs miclan weorces & fægernesse þære ceastre; Bo. 110, 15 hi fægniað þæs unrihtes; c. feon, sich freuen über. Be. 574, 33 gefeonde þæs heofonlican rices; d. geomrian, trauern über. Bo. 8, 17 geomrode his wræcsiðes; e. heofian, wehklagen über. Bo. 8, 19 heofodon heora heretogan gefangennesse; f. lystan, gelüsten nach (unpersönlich). Bo. 220, 25 hine þæs lyste; g. modgian, stolz sein auf. Cp. 112, 16 he gemodgode þæs folces; h. ofhreowan, reuen, leid tun. Or. 52, 15 him ofhreow þæs monncwealmes; i. ofþyncan, missfallen, leid tun. Be. 568, 11 him ofþuhte his unhælo; j. reccan, sich kümmern um. Cp. 138, 20 he ne recð his lare; Bo. 142, 24 ic ne recce þæs; k. sceamian, sich schämen über. Cp. 150, 4 him sceamað þæs; l. sorgian, sich sorgen um. Bo. 46, 12 ðu sorgast þæs þe ðu naht ymb sorgian ne þearft. […]

§ 16 6. Bei den Zeitwörtern des Berührens, sich Näherns, Empfangens, Erwerbens, Besitzens u. ä. kommt der Begriff der Teilung wieder mehr zur Geltung, aber auch der des Zieles. a. begietan, erwerben, erlangen. Bo. 126, 10 þara wilniaþ ealle . . . men to begitanne; 128, 18 þæt hi þurh þæt mæge mæst bearna begitan; b. beridan, einholen, umzingeln. Le. 64, 42 gif he mægnes hæbbe, þæt he his gefan beride; c. cunnian, versuchen, erproben. Bo. 16, 14 mot ic nu cunnian hwon þinre fæstrædnesse; d. fandian, versuchen, kosten. Cp. 328, 5 ic wæs untrum & on carcerne, & ge min noldon fandian; 403, 7 þa þe gefandod habbað þara flæsclicra synna; e. gefredan, fühlen. Cp. 260, 18 þæt hi ne gefredon nane sarlicnesse þære wunde; f. gehrinan, hrinan, berühren. Be. 494, 6 gehran þæt fæs his hrægeles; Bo. 176, 21 ne gehrinð his nan yfel; g. neosian, besuchen. Be. 600, 29 he wolde his neosian; h. onbitan, onbyrgan, kosten von. Cp. 427, 24 he onbite ðæs unalyfedan treowes wæstmes; Be. 524, 25 he onbyrigde þæs halgan geleafan. […]

§ 17 7. Der Genitiv steht ferner bei Zeitwörtern des Sorgetragens und Nichtsorgetragens, des Gewalthabens u. ä. a. agyman, sich kümmern um. So. 177, 22 þam timum þe ic hys agyme; b. gyman, gieman, achten auf, hüten. Be. 508, 39 heo Eadbaldes worda ne gymde; Cp. 138, 2 se þe ne gimð ðara þe his beoð; 160, 24 ne giemað þæs ecan; c. healdan, hüten, walten. Bo. 144, 22 se þe ealra gesceafta welt & healt; d. warian, warnian, sich hüten vor. Be. 498, 27 warnige he his agenes modes; e. wealdan, walten, herrschen. Be. 507, 30 se þe ealra gesceafta wealdeð; Bo. 232, 10 God welt ealles middangeardes; Le. 104, 77 þæt he nage þæra geweald. […]

§ 18 8. Der Genitiv ist verbunden mit Zeitwörtern, die irgendwie eine Trennung bezeichnen, ein Berauben, Ablassen u. ä. Vgl. Erdmann, a. a. O., II. § 209. a. bereafian, berauben. Bo. 6, 2 ða bereafodon ælcere lustbærnesse, þa ða ic him æfre betst truwode; b. beswician, entrinnen, frei werden von. Be. 577, 17 na læs þæt an oþra lima, ac swylce eac þære tungan onstyrenesse beswicade; 617, 24 heo þære langan untrumnesse beswicede; c. blinnan, aufhören mit. Be. 488, 39 ne blon he godra weorca; Cp. 98, 22 ne blinð he his weorces; d. geswican, ablassen von, aufhören mit. Be. 500, 26 he ne geswac his gewunelican weorces; Or. 82, 12 hie þæs gewinnes geswicon; e. getwæfan, trennen von, berauben. Be. 614, 18 hi his lifes getwæfde; f. oðsacan, leugnen, abschwören. Cp. 381, 14 he oðsoc þæs soðfæstan geleafan; g. stieran, steuern, wehren, abhalten. Cp. 54, 10 on ðæm hiewe þe he sceolde his gilpes stieran; h. wiernan, verweigern, vorenthalten. Cp. 334, 13 gif he forwyrnð his hlafes ðæm hungregum. […]

§ 19 9. Bei den Zeitwörtern des Geniefsens, Gebrauchens, Bedürfens bezeichnet der Genitiv den Inhalt. a. behofian, bedürfen, verlangen. Be. 599, 40 mycel wund behofaþ mycles læcedomes; b. brucan, genießen, gebrauchen. Or. 32, 8 þa wæs þæt folc þæs micclan welan ungemetlice brucende; 86, 1 uton nu brucan þisses undernmetes; 272, 26 woldon . . . hiora siþþan fela wucena ætgædere brucan; Cp. 56, 7 brycð ðære godcundan are worldcundlice; 336, 19 we brucað ures agnes; Bo. 24, 22 þeah þu heora bruce; 30, 11 þæt þu minra gifa wel bruce; 30, 24 seo sæ mot brucan smyltra yþa; c. neotan, benutzen, genießen. Bo. 340, 20 þæt we moton neotan þæs leohtes; d. notian, gebrauchen. Bo. 144, 16 þonne hie his noht ne notiað. […]

§ 20 10. Der Genitiv bezeichnet das Ziel, den Inhalt bei den Zeitwörtern des Erwartens. Vgl. § 11. a. abidan, erwarten, abwarten. Be. 623, 19 hi monige dagas windes & gewidor abidon; b. anbidian, ambidian, erwarten. So. 180, 5 ic . . . swiðe ambidie þara gehata; Ps. 24, 4 ælce dæge ic anbidige þines fultumes; 38, 9 hwæs anbidie ic, butan þin, Drihten; c. bidan, erwarten. Be. 577, 23 swa swa heo bidende wære his andsware; 599, 5 utan we wel ðære tide bidan; Or. 17, 15 he þær bad westanwindes; d. geanbidian, erwarten. Bo. 36, 7 wit geanbidigaþ þinre are. […]

§ 21 11. Bei den Zeitwörtern, die Erzeugen und Gebären bezeichnen, steht der Genitiv. a. beran, gebären, hervorbringen. Be. 473, 15 þeos eorðe is berende missenlicra fugela & sæfihta; b. cennan, erzeugen, hervorbringen. Be. 546, 39 Anna . . . wæs god monn & þæs betstan tudres cennend; c. strienan, erzeugen, hervorbringen. Be. 495, 33 for intingan anum . . . bearna to strynenne; Or. 46, 10 & þær þonne bearna striendon; 56, 26 bi eallum heora wifum bearna striendon; Cp. 397, 10 hie sculon bearna strienan. […]

§ 22 12. Der Genitiv findet sich endlich bei folgenden einzelnen Zeitwörtern, die sich in keine der elf vorhergehenden Gruppen einreihen lassen. a. angildan, entgelten für, büßen. Or. 250, 27 hu eall moncyn angeald þæs ærestan monnes synna mid miclum teonum & witum; 254, 15 Romane anguldon þæs wordes mid . . . miclum hungre; 256, 6 hi ðis anguldon; 274, 13 nan hus næs binnan þære byrig þæt hit næfde þære wrace angolden; b. fremman, ausführen. Or. 168, 17 þa tugon hie hiene þæt he heora swicdomes wið Alexander fremmende wære; c. fulgangan, ausführen, vollenden. Bo. 72, 3 þæt ic ne mot mid minum þeawum minra benunga fulgangan, swa ealla oþra gesceafta moton; d. gebigan, beugen. Be. 502, 27 gebigde his cneowa; e. gedafenian, sich gebühren. Be. 571, 42 þy mode, þe bisceopa gedafenode; f. gehelpan, helpan, helfen. Or. 88, 5 þær heora þa ne hulpe; Bo. 238, 19 þonne heora helpan ne mehte; g. plegan, pleon, wagen, Gefahren aussetzen. Cp. 36, 7 se ilca his agnes herges pleah; 228, 20 se þe his lifes nele plegan; h. spowan, gelingen, Erfolg haben. Be. 547, 43 hu him speow ðære godcundan lare; Or. 248, 17 him þæs weorces speow. […]

§ 23 13. Mit dem Genitiv erscheint endlich beon (wesan); diesen Genitiv möchte Grimm (Gr. IV. 652.) „den prädikativen nennen, weil er sich leicht in ein substantives oder adjektives Prädikat auflösen läſst.“ a. Der Genitiv drückt die Zugehörigkeit, den Besitz aus, und es liegt dann auch meist etwas Partitives in ihm: Be. 476, 5 Severus Casere se wæs Aeffrica cynnes; 477, 26 saga me, hwylces hiredes & hwylces cynnes þu si; 489, 15 nænig heora of ðam ðe hi ahton owiht his beon onsundran cwæð; 509, 15 wæs he lichomlicre gebyrde æþeles cynnes; 526, 5 ða ðe sacerdhades wæron; 24 ða ðing ðe ðisses middangeardes wæron; 546, 38 he wæs eac ðæs cynecynnes; 551, 41 he wæs Englisces cynnes; 557, 20 æghwæþer heora wæs Scotta cynnes; 640, 24 nemne dynre eþunge anre ætywde þæt he lifes wæs. Or. 12, 3 monege þeoda sindon þæs landes; 14, 18 þæs landes is XLIII þeoda; 30, 30 ælcne þara þe hio geacsian myhte þæt kynekynnes wæs; 68, 1 ealle þa þe þær cynecynnes wæron; 150, 10 for þon þe he ryhtcynecynnes wæs; 190, 16 buton he æþeles cynnes wære; 258, 25 ealle þa þe þære mægþe wæron. Cp. 84, 19 ge sint acoren kynn Gode & kynelices preosthades; 138, 2 se þe ne gimð ðara þe his beoð; 210, 4 sume cwædon ðæt hie wæron Apollan, sume Paules, sume Petres, sum cwæð ðæt he wære Cristes; 348, 21 þe anes cynnes bioð; 393, 28 þara þe Godes sien. Bo. 4, 8 se Casere wæs heora ealdhlafordcynnes; 14, 10 hwylcra gebyrda þu wære & hwylcra burgwara; 236, 4 hi sint stilre gecynde and heardre; 300, 14 he wæs cynecynnes. […]

§ 24 b. Der Genitiv bezeichnet eine Eigenschaft: Be. 499, 8 he wæs micelre clænnesse & arwyrðnesse wer; 583, 29 he wæs micelre arwyrðnesse wer; 594, 20 þæt wæs . . . mycles mægenes teald & gelyfed. Or. 212, 25 eowre ieldran wæron utan hlæne & innan fætte, stronges modes & fæstes; 222, 2 þæt hie swelces modes wæron; 264, 2 he wæs swa godes willan; das deutsche „der Ansicht sein“ ist zweimal übersetzt durch þæs wordes beon: 190, 24 sæde eac þæt he þara ælces ehtend wolde beon swa swa his feondes, þe þæs wordes wære þæt from Romebyrig þohte; 286, 6 ac ealle hie wæron þæs wordes þæt him leofre wæs . . . . Cp. 86, 20 þæt fleax . . . bið hwites hiewes; 172, 18 hie ne sint ealle anes modes & anra ðeawa; 307, 8 ðe simle anes willan wæs & God fæder; 344, 18 þæt ge sien swæ gelices modes swæ ge sint gelices lichoman; 348, 1 he bið godes willan; 385, 18 ærþæmþe he self wære fulfremedre ielde. Bo. 140, 28 næs ic næfre git nane hwile swa emnes modes; 386, 23 sint swiþe ungelices hiwes. So. 200, 4 beo nu godes modes. Ps. 35, 10 þe synt rihtes modes; 44, 3 he ys fægrostes andwlitan.

Anmerkung: Ähnlich erscheint einmal weorðan. Cp. 447, 6 se þe forlæt þone cele ungetreownesse, & wyrð wlacra treowa. Vgl. übrigens beim Instr. § 124, 7.

Source: Johann Ernst Wülfing, Die Syntax in den Werken Alfreds des Grossen, vol. 1, pp. 11-33, §§ 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 (Der Genitiv bei Zeitwörtern (alleiniger Genitiv)). Scan authority: archive.org diesyntaxindenw02wlgoog; OCR extraction aid: Google Books McUqAAAAMAAJ. Translator: Loquentes. Printed edition in the US public domain.