freoh

freoh

Old English

Alternative forms

• frīo, frioh, frīoh, friġ, frī, frȳ

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European *preyH- (“like, love”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian frī (West Frisian frij), Old Saxon frī, Old Dutch frī (Dutch vrij), Old High German frī (German frei), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃 (freis). The Indo-European root is also the source of Albanian 'Prenda' goddess of love, Perëndi (“God”), Proto-Slavic *prijateljь, Old Irish ríar (Welsh rhydd (“free”)), and perhaps Ancient Greek πρᾶος (prâos, “mild, gentle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /freːo̯x/

Adjective

frēoh

1. (Late West Saxon) free, at liberty; exempt
   • c. 890, Alfred the Great, Laws

     Beo he freo

     he shall be free.

2. (Late West Saxon) (poetic) noble, glad
   • c. 700 Cædmon, Metrical Paraphrase

     Ða wearþ worn afeded freora bearna

     then a number of noble children were brought forth.

Declension

Weak							Strong
case	singular			plural			case	singular			plural
	m	n	f					m	n	f	m	n	f
nominative	frēwa	frēwe	frēwe	frēwan			nom.	frēoh	frēoh	frēu	frēwe	frēu, -frēwe	frēwa, -e
accusative	frēwan	frēwe	frēwan				acc.	frēone	frēoh	frēwe	frēwe	frēu, -frēwe	frēwa, -frēwe
genitive	frēwan			frēora, frēwena			gen.	frēwes	frēwes	frēore	frēora
dative	frēwan			frēwum			dat.	frēwum	frēwum	frēore	frēwum
							instrumental	frēwe

Derived terms

• frēolīċ
• frēolīċe

Related terms

• frēond
• frēoġan
• friþ
• frīġ

Descendants

• Middle English: fre
  • English: free
  • Scots: fre

See also

• frēo