tō dæġe
The Old English phrase for "today" is tō dæġe.
tō dæġe is an adverb used to mean "on the current day".
Meaning: on the current day (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "to the day". It is a dative construction where tō is a preposition and dæġe is the dative singular form of dæġ.
Which one should you use?
While tō dæġe is the adverbial form used to mean "today" (on the current day), the related noun phrase þēs dæġ is used to refer to "today (noun)".
Related words
Did you know?
- The word dæġ in tō dæġe did not always mean a twenty-four hour period. In early Germanic usage, it referred specifically to the daylight hours, while the night was considered a separate entity.
- The 'g' in the middle of dæġ was likely pronounced as a soft 'y' sound in many Old English dialects, making it sound more like 'dye'. This makes the ancestor of 'day' sound quite different from its modern descendant.
Examples in context
- On ðissum dæge ic eom ealdor.On this present day, I am the leader.
Example conversation
Mildryth and Æthelstan are talking about their plans.
- MildrythÆthelstan, cymst þū tō dæġe?Æthelstan, are you coming today?
- ÆthelstanGēa, ic cume nū.Yes, I am coming now.
- MildrythNim þone hlāf tō dæġe.Take the bread today.
- ÆthelstanIc hit nimme.I will take it.
