scildan

Old English

Alternative forms

• sċieldan, sċeldan, sċeoldan

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *skildijaną, derived from *skelduz, whence Old English sċield (“shield”). Sċildan is the inherited form of the verb; the alternative form sċieldan has its ie leveled in from the noun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃil.dɑn/, [ˈʃiɫ.dɑn]

Verb

sċildan

1. to protect (from something = wiþ + accusative)
2. to protect (from something = wiþ + dative)
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

     ...;sē ūs ġescylt wið eallum yfellum.

     ...;He shieldeth us against every evil.

3. to shield

Conjugation

Conjugation of sċildan (weak class 1)

infinitive	sċildan	sċildenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	sċilde	sċilde
second person singular	sċildest, sċilst, sċiltst	sċildest
third person singular	sċildeþ, sċilt	sċilde
plural	sċildaþ	sċildon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	sċilde	sċilde
plural	sċilden	sċilden
imperative
singular	sċild
plural	sċildaþ
participle	present	past
	sċildende	(ġe)sċilded

Derived terms

• ġesċildan (“to protect”)
• ġesċildnes (“protection”)
• sċildend (“protector”)

Descendants

• English: shield