dæġ
Old English had no word for a calendar date. A date was given by naming the day itself with dæġ, "day": on þǣm fēorþan dæġe, "on the fourth day".
Dates were usually told by a church feast, as in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: on Sancte Martines mæssedæġe, "on St Martin's Day".
Meaning: point in time (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
æ is the a of "cat" and ġ is a y sound, so dæġ sounds roughly like "dye".
Did you know?
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dates many of its entries by church feasts, such as Easter or a saint's mass-day, rather than by day and month.
Examples in context
- Hē cōm on Sancte Martines mæssedæġe.He came on St Martin's Day.
- Hit wæs se fēorþa dæġ þæs mōnþes.It was the fourth day of the month.
Example conversation
Eadric and Eadgyth are waiting for the king.
- EadricHwonne cymþ se cyning, Eadgyth?When is the king coming, Eadgyth?
- EadgythOn Sancte Martines mæssedæġe.On St Martin's Day.
- EadricHū fela daga sindon oþ þone dæġ?How many days are there until that day?
- EadgythFēower dagas, Eadric.Four days, Eadric.
