This is page 858 of An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary by Bosworth and Toller (1898)
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858 SÉL -- SELD-CÚÞ.
206, 15. II. good, worthy, having excellent qualities or properties :--Sancte Iohannes wæs mára and sélra eallum óðrum mannum, Blickl. Homl. 163, 20. Sýlra, 161, 24. Ðeáh hine se dysiga dó tó cyninge, hú mæg gesceádwís scealc gereccan, ðæt hé him ðý sélra sié oððe þince, Met. 15, 15. Næ-acute;nig sélra næ-acute;re rondhæbbendra ríces wyrðra no warrior was worthier, more deserving of rule, Beo. Th. 1725 ; B. 860. Næs mid Rómwarum sincgeofa sélla among the Romans was not a prince of nobler character, Met. 1, 50. Bóþ his sylfes swíðor micle ðonne se sélla mon, Exon. Th. 315, 11 ; Mód. 29. Him wearþ sélle líf bihýded, 227, 3 ; Ph. 417. Wé sculon ídle lustas forseón and ðæs séllran gefeón, 47, 19 ; Cri. 757. Ðæt hé fére him tó ðam sélran ríce (heaven), 352, 24 ; Sch. 102. On sýllan mon, 377, 20 ; Deór. 6. Uton wé georne teolian ðæt wé ðe beteran sýn & ðe sélran for ðære láre ðe wé gehýrdon, Blickl. Homl. 111, 19. Gé sóhtun ða sæ-acute;mran and ða séllan nó démdan æfter dæ-acute;dum, Exon. Th. 131, 30; Gú. 463. Ðú se sélusta Theophilus optime Theophile, Lk. Skt. 1, 3. Hláford mín and bróðor ðín se sélesta, Exon. Th. 183, 26 ; Gú. 1333. On gódre and on sélestre heortan in corde bono et optimo, Lk. Skt. 8, 15. Nymaþ of eówrum sélustan wæstmum, Gen. 43, 11. III. good of its kind, (a) of persons, possessing the excellences of a class, excellent, well-qualified, skilful, efficient :--Hé ðæs wæ-acute;pnes onláh sélran sweordfrecan, Beo. Th. 2940 ; B. 1468. Næ-acute;fre ic sæ-acute;lidan sélran métte, Andr. Kmbl. 942 ; An. 471. Ic fæste binde swearte wealas, hwilum séllan men, Exon. Th. 393, 23 ; Rä. 13, 4. Omerus se góda sceop ðe mid Crécum sélest wæs . . . Firgilius wæs mid Læ-acute;denwarum sélest, Bt. 41, 1 ; Fox 244, 4-6. Cwéna sélost, Drihtnes módor, Menol. Fox 334 ; Men. 168. Ealra sigebearna ðæt séleste and æþeleste, Exon. Th. 33, 4 ; Cri. 520. Twegen wæ-acute;ron biscopas and twegen mæssepreóstas ealle ða sélestan omnes sacerdotes fuere praeclari, Bd. 3, 23 ; S. 555, 19. Manige ðara sélestena cynges þéna forþférdon, Chr. 897 ; Erl. 94, 32. (b) of things :--Næs sincmáðþum sélra on sweordes hád there was no greater treasure in the shape of a sword, Beo. Th. 4392 ; B. 2193. Hí næ-acute;fre song séllan ne hýrdon, Exon. Th. 325, 8 ; Víd. 108. Ídel stód húsa sélest. Beo. Th. 294 ; B. 146. Hof séleste (the ark), Cd. Th. 84, 6 ; Gen. 1393. Éce líf, sélust sigeleána, Elen. Kmbl. 1051 ; El. 527. Blícan swá ðæt séloste gold, H. R. 15, 35. Seó séleste gesæ-acute;lþ, Bt. 24, 2 ; Fox 82, 3. Biþ Drihten úre se sélosta scyld the Lord will be our most effectual shield. Blickl. Homl. 13, 10. Heó hié gegyrede mid ðon sélestan hrægle, 139, 7. IIIa. marking the rank or class of a person :--Ðone sélestan (of the highest class) . . . ðane óðerne . . . ðane þriddan, L. Ethb. 26 ; Th. i. 8, 12. IV. good, advantageous, to one's interest, advisable :--Is hit micle sélre ðæt wé hine álýsan, Andr. Kmbl. 3124 ; An. 1565. Sélle, Exon. Th. 371, 15 ; Seel. 76. Him sylfum sélle þynceþ leahtras tó fremman, 266, 33 ; Jul. 407. Ne mæg ðec séllan ræ-acute;d mon gelæ-acute;ran, 119, 4 ; Gú. 249. Wé ðé mágon sélre ge&dash-uncertain;læ-acute;ran, Andr. Kmbl. 2706 ; An. 1355. Ðá forléton wé ða frécnan wegas and ðæ-acute;m sélran wé férdon, Nar. 17, 13. Ðæt him soelest wæ-acute;re ðæt hié friþes wilnaden nullam esse residuam spem, nisi in petenda pace, Ors. 4, 10 ; Swt. 202, 18. Hé brytniæ swæ-acute; hígum maest réd sié and ðaem sáwlum soelest, Chart. Th. 461, 2 : 465, 33. Ófest is sélost, Cd. Th. 196, 18 ; Exod. 293 : Andr. Kmbl. 3129 ; An. 1567 : Beo. Th. 518 ; B. 256. Hwæt sélest wæ-acute;re tó gefremmanne, 351 ; B. 173 : Elen. Kmbl. 2328 ; El. 1165. Ellen biþ sélast ðam ðe sceal dreógan dryhtenbealu, Exon. Th. 183, 4 ; Gú. 1322. Biþ andgit æ-acute;ghwæ-acute;r sélest, Beo. Th. 2123 ; B. 1059. Is hit ealles sélest tó sécenne hwæt ðæs willa sié, Blickl. Homl. 205, 27. V. good, honourable, noble, proper :--Deáþ biþ sélla eorla gehwylcum ðonne edwítlíf, Beo. Th. 5773 ; B. 2890. Sélre biþ æ-acute;ghwæm ðæt hé his freónd wrece, ðonne hé fela murne, 2773 ; B. 1384 : Andr. Kmbl. 640 ; An. 320. Ðé ðæt sélre geceós, éce ræ-acute;das, Beo. Th. 3523 ; B. 1759. Hé smeáde hwæt him sélest (or under III) tó dónne wæ-acute;re quid sibi esset faciendum tractabat, Bd. 2, 9 ; S. 512, 15. Maria geceás ðone sélestan dæ-acute;l, Lk. Skt. 10, 42. VI. of value, precious :--Ðú golde eart, sincgife sýlla. Andr. Kmbl. 3016 ; An. 1511. Hú nys seó sáwl sélre ðonne mete nonne anima plus est quam esca ? Mt. Kmbl. 6, 25. Ne hýrde ic guman æ-acute;nigne bringan ofer sealtne mere sélran láre, Menol. Fox 204 ; Men. 103. Gé synt sélran ðonne manega spearuan, Mt. Kmbl. 10, 31. Gif hé nele ðone sélestan dæ-acute;l Gode gedæ-acute;lan, Blickl. Homl. 195, 7, VII. good, happy, pleasant :--On ðæ-acute;m sélran þingum in secundis rebus, Nar. 7, 26. Wé dreámas hefdon sélrum tídum, Cd. Th. 267, 29 ; Sat. 45. [Þu scalt uurþan sæl thou shalt prosper, Laym. 1234. Cloten hauede enne sune þe sel (bold, 2nd MS.) wes, 4071. Mid selere strengðe with great strength, 21654. Seoue þusend selere (boldere, 2nd MS.) þeinen, 18011. Ich wulle sende to selen mine þeinen, 25162. Ne isæh na man selere cniht nenne, 21166. Þat us is selest (best, 2nd MS.) to don, 918. In al þat sel is, H. M. 47, 34. Goth. séls good, kind : Icel. sæll blest, happy.] v. next word.
sél, soel ; also sélor ; adv. (cpve.) Better. I. of health :--Cwæð ðæt heó gelýfde ðæt hire sóna sél wæ-acute;re quia crederet eam mox melius habituram, Bd. 5, 3 ; S. 616, 11. Sóna ic wæs wyrpende and mé sél wæs statim melius habere incipio, S. 616, 34 : 5, 5 ; S. 618, 4. Sóna him biþ sél. Lchdm. iii. 288, 19. Him biþ soel bene habebunt, Mk. Skt. Lind. 16,18. Ia. of moral or spiritual well-being :--Ne mæg ic gehycg&dash-uncertain;
an, hwý him on hige þorfte á ðý sæ-acute;l wesan, Met. 15, 10. II. of knowledge :--Gé sind searowum beswicene oððe sél nyton, móde gemyrde, Andr. Kmbl. 1490 ; An. 746. Findaþ ða ðe fyrngewritu sélost cunnen, Elen. Kmbl. 748 ; El. 374. III. of the operation of the senses :--Hé biþ suá micle sél gehiéred, suá hé ufor gestent, Past. 14, 1 ; Swt. 81, 17. IV. denoting excellence in act or in conduct :--Nó ðý sél dyde, ac ðam æðelinge oferhygd gesceód, Cd. Th. 246, 35 ; Dan. 489. Ne gefrægn ic næ-acute;fre wurðlícor æt hilde sixtig sigebeorna sél gebæ-acute;ran, Fins. Th. 77 ; Fins. 38 : Beo. Th. 2029 ; B. 1012. Hwylc hira sélast simle gelæ-acute;ste hláforde æt hilde, Andr. Kmbl. 821 ; An. 411. Bet gé ræ-acute;daþ melius legitis, sélost (sæ-acute;lost, MS. T.) hí ræ-acute;daþ optime legunt, Ælfc. Gr. 5 ; Zup. 9, 17. Hwæ-acute;r ic sélast wisse cwén giefe bryttian, Exon. Th. 324, 28 ; Víd. 101. V. denoting advantage or profit :--Hwæt byþ ús tó méde (ús ðý soel, Lind.), Mt. Kmbl. 19, 27. Tó hwan hió ða næglas sélost and deórlícost gedón meahte, Elen. Kmbl. 2315 ; El. 1158. VI. denoting success or good result, with (more) success, (more) effectually, to (more) purpose :--Ic gelýfe ðe sél and ðý fæstlícor ferhþ staþelige, Elen. Kmbl. 1589 ; El. 796. Ne gefrægn ic næ-acute;fre sixtig sigebeorna medu sél forgyldan, Fins. Th. 79 ; Fins. 39. For ðý ðe mon ðás feorme ðý soel gelæ-acute;ste, Chart. Th. 474, 12. Næs him wihte ðe sél he did not succeed any the better, Beo. Th. 5368 ; B. 2687. Sél æfter wælræ-acute;se wunde gedýgan to be more successful in escaping wounds, 5054 ; B. 2530. Se æcer syððan gegreów .c. síða sélor ðonne hé æ-acute;r dyde, Shrn. 137, 25. Hú man sélost mæg synna forbúgan how sins may most effectually be avoided, Ælfc. T. Grn. 7, 38. Hú ic ðíne; sóðfæstnesse sélest heólde, Ps. Th. 118, 54, 26. Hié hígon gefeormien swæ-acute; hié soelest þurhtión mégen, Chart. Th. 476, 31. VII. with verbs of liking or pleasing :--Hé nánum menn sél ne úðe ðonne mé there was no one he would sooner give it to than to me, Chart. Th. 485, 17. Ða men ðe ic mínes erfes seólest onn, 480, 20. Se getreówa man sceal syllan his gód on ða tíd ðe hine sylfne sélest lyste his brúcan, Blickl. Homl. 101, 20. Hí genáman ðæs folces ðe ðæ-acute;r tó láfe wæs and him sélost lícodan, 79, 21.
seld, es ; n. I. a seat, that on which one sits, a throne ; sedes :--In heofene seld his his throne is in heaven (A. V.), Ps. Surt. 10, 5 : 44, 7. Dóm gegearwung seldes ðínes, 88, 15 : 96, 2. Of dúne sette maehtge of selde, ii. p. 200, 20 : Cd. Th. 275, 17 ; Sat. 173 : 276, 12 ; Sat. 187. Ðæ-acute;r is sang æt selde (the throne of God), 306, 12 ; Sat. 662. Sang ymb seld secgan, 279, 9 ; Sat. 235. Siteþ him on heofnum, hafaþ wuldres bearn his seolfes seld, 301, 27 ; Sat. 588. God siteþ ofer seld hálig his, Ps. Surt. 46, 9 : 9, 8. Ealdormenn sæ-acute;ton on seldum, Ps. Th. 118, 23. Hí on seldon sæ-acute;ton æt dómum, 121, 5. II. a seat, residence, mansion, hall :--Scyppendes seld, Salm. Kmbl. 160 ; Sal. 79. Ðá hé ða mænego (the rebellious angels) ádráf of ðæm heán selde (heaven), Cd. Th. 277, 10 ; Sat. 202. Cwom Daniel in ðæt seld gangan, 225, 9 ; Dan. 151 : 262, 1 ; Dan. 737. Engel lét his hand cuman in ðæt heá seld (Belshazzar's hall), 261, 7 ; Dan. 722. Hié tempel strudon, Salomanes seld, 260, 19 ; Dan. 712. Com tó Heorot, ðæ-acute;r Hring-Dene geond ðæt sæld swæ-acute;fon, Beo. Th. 2564 ; B. 1280. Wæ-acute;ron on ðyssum felda unríme gesomnunge manna and monig seld (or to I ?) gefeóndra weorada erant in hoc campo innumera hominum conventicula, sedesque plurimae agminum laetantium, Bd. 5, 12 ; S. 629, 25. Ða heallícan seld palatias zetas, Wrt. Voc. ii. 81, 23. Hú hé eft gesette swegeltorhtan seld, Cd. Th. 6, 27 ; Gen. 95. Heáhgetimbru, seld on swegle, Exon. Th. 137, 10 ; Gú. 557. [Ær he arise of selde, Laym. 25988. Cf. Goth. salithwa ; f. a mansion, chamber : O. Sax. seliða, selda : O. H. Ger. selida ; f. domicilium, mansio, habitaculum, tabernaculum.] v. án-, biscop-, cear-, éðel-, heáh-, medu-, páp-, sundor-, þrym-, weard-seld ; selde.
-selda. v. ge-selda.
seldan (-on, -un, -um) ; cpve. seldnor ; adv. Seldom, rarely :--Seldan (-on) raro, Ælfc. Gr. 38 ; Zup. 240, 12 : Bt. 16, 1 ; Fox 50, 14. Oft nalæs seldan. Ps. Th. 74, 4. Tó seldan hit biþ, beó hit seldor on dæg ðonne seofon síðum, Btwk. 194, 11. Oft (of ? cf. Icel. of- too, and v. of-) seldan hwæ-acute;r æfter leódhryre lytle hwíle bongár búgeþ too rare are the cases in which after the fall of men the deadly weapon retires, or often after slaughter the spear is seldom at rest, i. e. in most cases frequent strife follows (cf. the first passage under seld-hwanne, and seldum hwonne), Beo. Th. 4063 ; B. 2039. Him seldon teola gespeów, Ors. 4, 5 ; Swt. 168, 19 : Bd. 1, 1 ; S. 474, 31 : Met. 28, 71. Seldon wé æ-acute;nig seolfor fundon. Nar. 5, 15. Hwílon ic dó ac seldon aliquando facio, sed raro, Coll. Monast. Th. 24, 3. Se ðe him ealneg wind ondræ-acute;t, hé sæ-acute;wþ tó seldon, Past. 39, 2 ; Swt. 285, 18. Seldun, 9 ; Swt. 57, 16. Seldum æ-acute;fre, Salm. Kmbl. 540 ; Sal. 269. Ac ðeáh hí seldum hwonne (cf. seld&dash-uncertain;hwanne) beswemde weorþon ðonne sleáþ hé eft on ða solu but though on rare occasions they (swine) get washed, at such times they return to the mire, Bt. 37, 4 ; Fox 192, 28. Ðæt dysie folc ðæs hit seldnor gesihþ swíðor wundriaþ, Met. 28, 66. [O. Frs. sielden : O. H. Ger. seltan ; cpve. seltanor : Icel. sjaldan ; cpve. sjaldnor ; spve. sjaldnast.] v. un-seldan, seldor.
seld-, sel-cúþ ; adj. Little known, strange, wonderful, unfamiliar :--Se seldcúþa tungel gebícnode ðæs sóðan cyninges ácennednysse, Homl.