grædig

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *grādag, from Proto-Germanic *grēdagaz, from *grēduz (hunger), equivalent to grǣd +‎ -iġ. Cognate with Old Saxon gradag, Old High German gratag, Old Norse gráðugr (Danish grådig), Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍃 (grēdags, hungry).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɡræː.dij/

Adjective

grǣdiġ (superlative grǣdgost) (West Saxon)

  1. (very) hungry, ravenous
    • 10th century, The Seafarer:
      Forþon nū mīn hyġe hweorfeð ofer hreþerlocan; mīn mōdsefa mid mereflōde ofer hwæles ēþel hweorfeð wīde, eorþan sċēatas, cymeð eft tō mē ġīfre ond grǣdiġ; ġielleð ānfloga, hweteð on wæl weġ hreþer unwearnum ofer holma ġelagu.
      Thus, my mind now wanders over heartstead; my soul wanders afar with the sea-flood over whale’s home, on the Earth’s corners, comes back, greedy and hungry, to me; the lone-flyer yells, whets the soul on the slain way over the stretch of waters with no refuses.
  2. greedy, covetous

Declension

Descendants

  • Middle English: gredy, gredi, grædie, grediȝ (Early Middle English)
    • English: greedy
      • Sranan Tongo: gridi
    • Scots: gredy, gredie