lyft
/lyft/feminine
The Old English word for air is lyft.
The word lyft refers to the mixture of gases making up the Earth's atmosphere.
Meaning: mixture of gases making up the atmosphere of the Earth (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
lyft is a feminine noun. In the dative singular case, it takes the ending -e, as seen in the phrase on lyfte (in the air). The nominative plural form is lyftas.
How do you pronounce it?
/lyft/
Did you know?
- While 'air' in English refers to the atmosphere, the Old English lyft is also the distant ancestor of the modern English word 'lift'.
- In Old English poetry, lyft is often used in 'kennings', which are metaphorical compound words, to describe the sky or the heavens.
- Because lyft meant the upper air, it eventually evolved into the meaning of 'height' or 'overhead space', leading to the modern word 'loft'.
Examples in context
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Exaltation of the Holy Cross"
Wynsum brǣþ āfylde þā lyft.A pleasant aroma filled the air.This sentence shows how a pleasant aroma can fill the lyft. - late 10th century, Ælfric, On the Seasons of the Year
Nis nā sēo orðung þe wē ūt blāwaþ and inn ātēoþ ūru sāwol, ac is sēo lyft þe wē on libbaþ on þissum dēadlīcan līfe.The breath that we draw in and blow out is not our soul, but the air that we live in during this mortal life.This sentence distinguishes the air we live in from the breath we draw. - Úre líchoma wæs gesceapen of feówer gesceaftum, of eorþan and of fýre and of wætere and of lyfte.Our body was formed out of four elements: earth, fire, water, and air.This sentence lists the air as one of the four elements used to form the body.Tatoeba #3212089 by aandrusiak, translation #5336138 by Amittai
Example conversation
Two people are discussing the weather outside.
- GodricSēo lyft is tō ċeald tōdæġ.The air is too cold today.
- ÆthelflædIc hit ġefēle, Godric.I feel it, Godric.
- GodricHwæt þenċst þū be þǣre lyfte?What do you think about the air?
- ÆthelflædSēo lyft is clǣne and fersc.The air is clean and fresh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “air” translations and entries lyft, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
