stæf

See also: Stäf

Middle English

Noun

stæf

  1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of staf

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *stabaz, whence also Old High German stab, Old Norse stafr.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /stæf/

Noun

stæf m (nominative plural stafas)

  1. staff
  2. (grammar) letter, written character
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Midlent Sunday"
      On ōðre wīsan wē sċēawiaþ mētinge and on ōðre wīsan stafas. Ne gǣþ nā māre tō mētinge būtan þæt þū hit ġesēo and herġe. Nis nā ġenōg þæt þū stafas sċēawiġe būtan þū hīe ēac rǣde and þæt andġiet understande.
      We look at pictures in one way and letters in another. You don’t do anything with a painting except see it and praise it. Just looking at letters isn’t enough unless you also read them and understand the meaning.

Declension

Derived terms

Synonyms

Descendants

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