seldan

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *seldanā. Cognate with Old High German seltan, Old Norse sjaldan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsel.dɑn/, [ˈseɫ.dɑn]

Adverb

seldan (comparative seldor, superlative seldost)

  1. not often: seldom, rarely
    • early 11th century, anonymous gloss of Ælfric's Latin Colloquy (c. 995)
      [Teacher:] Forhwȳ ne fiscast þū on sæ?
      [Student:] Hwīlum iċ dō, ac seldan, forþon miċel hrēow mē is tō sæ.
      — Why don't you fish on the sea? [Rather than only on rivers or lakes]
      — Sometimes I do, but rarely, because I feel great sorrow at sea.

Antonyms

Descendants

  • Middle English: selden, seilden, seldom

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *seldanā. Cognate with Old English seldan, seldum, Old High German seltan, Old Norse sjaldan.

Adverb

seldan

  1. seldom

Descendants

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