Beowulf

Beowulf

English

Etymology

From Old English Bēowulf.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeɪoʊwʊlf/, /ˈbeɪəwʊlf/

Proper noun

Beowulf

1. An Old English epic poem written circa 1025.

   John Gardner’s retelling of Beowulf is titled Grendel.

2. (poetic) An Anglo-Saxon personal name, usually with reference to the hero of the poem, or to the poem itself.

   Beowulf is as great a hero as Sigmund.

Derived terms

• Beowulfian

Translations

Epic poem

Armenian: Բեովուլֆ (Beovulf) Bulgarian: Беоулф (Beoulf) Chinese: Mandarin: 貝奧武夫／贝奥武夫 (zh) (Bèi'àowǔfū) Esperanto: Beoŭulf Finnish: Beowulf French: Beowulf (fr) m Georgian: ბეოვულფი (beovulpi) Greek: Μπέογουλφ m (Béogoulf) Icelandic: Bjólfskviða Italian: Beowulf, Beovulfo (very rare) Japanese: ベーオウルフ (Bēourufu) Korean: 베오울프 (Be'oulpeu) Macedonian: Бе́овулф m (Béovulf) Portuguese: Beowulf m Russian: Беовульф (Beovulʹf) Spanish: Beowulf

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Old English

Alternative forms

• Biowulf

Etymology

Origin uncertain, perhaps from bēo (“bee”) +‎ wulf (“wolf”), literally “bee-hunter”, used as a kenning for “bear” or “woodpecker”.[1][2][3] Compare also the alternative form Beadowulf, from beadu (“battle”) +‎ wulf, which may be the original. Probably cognate with Old Norse Bjólfr (from earlier *Bíolfr, *Béolfr).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbe͜oːˌwulf/, [ˈbe͜oːˌwuɫf]

Proper noun

Bēowulf m

1. (poetic) Beowulf

Declension

Declension of Beowulf (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	Bēowulf	Bēowulfas
accusative	Bēowulf	Bēowulfas
genitive	Bēowulfes	Bēowulfa
dative	Bēowulfe	Bēowulfum

References

1. Traditions, Superstitions, and Folklore, (chiefly Lancashire and the North of England: ) Their Affinity to Others in Widely-distributed Localities; Their Eastern Origin and Mythical Significance by Charles Hardwick, 1872.
2. Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore by Walter Keating Kelly, 1863.
3. The Saxons in England: A History of the English Commonwealth Till the Period of the Norman Conquest by John Mitchell Kemble, 1849.