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the night before a military engagement or during the battle itself. For example, a typical warrior may boast that he will be the first to strike a blow in a battle, that he would claim a renowned sword from an enemy warrior as spoil of battle, that he will slay a particular monster that has been
267:
For these and other instances of different meaning, see the dictionaries. They give three chief meanings: (1) a threatening, menace; (2) danger; and (3) boasting promise. It seems that the third one is the most usual, and logically the meanings would seem to have developed in the order:
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Einarsson, 1934, p. 975-976, "In both instances we have to do with a solemn promise to carry out a feat—a fight—under very difficult circumstances, partly self-imposed to add glory"
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s were usually accompanied by grand stories of one's past glorious deeds. Although other cultures and times might disdain boasting as a sign of arrogance, or sinful pride, the
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is to proclaim one's acceptance of a seemingly impossible challenge in order to gain tremendous glory for actually accomplishing it.
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157:- The individual predicts two possible outcomes—success or failure—and elaborates the effects of either outcome.
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Anglo-Saxons highly regarded such behaviour as a positive sign of one's determination, bravery, and character.
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163:- The individual commissions the outcome of the challenge to a higher power (e.g.
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for a ritualized boast, vow, threat, or promise. The principle of a
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derives. The second element of the term is cognate with Old Norse
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151:- The individual pledges to endeavour a specific challenge
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52:wreaking havoc on a town or village, and so on.
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97:meaning 'promise'. The original noun-form of
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285:. Cambridge University Press, 1960, p. 42.
117:, on analogy of the verb, gave the late
323:"Home : Oxford English Dictionary"
233:Einarsson, Stefán (1934). "Old English
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715:Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
77:without using any weapons or armour.
73:, such as when Beowulf vows to fight
67:can be seen throughout the epic poem
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268:promise—boasting—threatening—danger.
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283:A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary
109:. A shifting of the stress from
161:Commissioning to a higher power
43:warriors would usually deliver
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303:Einarsson, 1934, p. 978-979
294:Einarsson, 1934, p. 976-978
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136:, also meaning 'promise'.
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783:Early Germanic calendars
403:Beowulf, lines 2526-2527
385:Beowulf, lines 2535-2537
358:Beowulf, lines 2510-2525
101:corresponds to the verb
16:Anglo-Saxon ritual boast
449:Gods and divine figures
155:Speculation of outcomes
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394:Beowulf, lines 685-687
670:Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
656:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
902:Modern pagan revival
878:Wetlands and islands
728:Old English language
441:Anglo-Saxon paganism
761:Society and culture
704:Finnesburg Fragment
684:De temporum ratione
280:Clark Hall, John R.
93:comes from earlier
237:and Old Icelandic
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552:Hengist and Horsa
511:Wayland the Smith
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639:Middangeard
603:Eoten/Thurs
119:Old English
87:Old English
41:Anglo-Saxon
31:Old English
947:Categories
738:Sutton Hoo
733:Spong Hill
332:6 February
249:(4): 980.
220:References
914:Seax-Wica
909:Heathenry
828:Moot hill
632:Locations
542:Eormenric
107:be-ˈhátan
81:Etymology
49:mead hall
47:s in the
932:Category
868:Weregild
788:Folkmoot
618:Wælcyrge
209:Weregild
176:See also
818:Maypole
744:Widsith
677:Beowulf
663:Æcerbot
648:Sources
562:Waldere
347:Beowulf
327:oed.com
199:Flyting
182:Beowulf
115:bi-ˈhát
75:Grendel
70:Beowulf
848:Symbel
808:Horses
778:Burial
773:Blōtan
583:Dragon
578:Cofgod
557:Sceafa
491:Saxnot
481:Hretha
476:Gefjon
466:Ēostre
263:458120
261:
149:Pledge
130:behote
122:beˈhát
873:Wicce
863:Thyle
858:Thing
853:Thegn
838:Rings
833:Runes
803:Hearg
793:Frith
623:Wight
537:Beowa
516:Wōden
496:Þunor
471:Frige
461:Beowa
259:JSTOR
193:Craic
187:Boast
128:word
111:bíhát
95:bíhát
89:word
58:pagan
893:Yule
888:Wyrd
843:Scop
768:Bēot
691:Deor
613:Neck
608:Mare
598:Ides
547:Finn
532:Ægil
506:Wade
334:2011
243:PMLA
235:Beot
214:Wyrd
169:fate
142:bēot
134:heit
99:bēot
91:bēot
85:The
65:bēot
54:Bēot
45:bēot
35:bēot
25:bēot
813:Law
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501:Tiw
486:Ing
456:Ēse
251:doi
241:".
165:God
113:to
103:bi-
29:is
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257:.
247:49
245:.
171:).
167:,
105:,
21:A
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