hlæfdige

Old English

Etymology

From hlāf (“bread”) + a second element representing Proto-Germanic *daigijǭ (“kneader”) (compare dāg (“dough”), cf. dæge). See also hlāford.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈxlæːfˌdiː.je/, [ˈl̥æːvˌdiː.je]

Noun

hlǣfdīġe f

a lady, the mistress of a household
noblewoman; queen
a form of courteous address; lady
the Virgin Mary

Usage notes

As feminine equivalents of æþeling, eorl, and þeġn never developed, this was generally the title given to every noblewoman from the rank of baroness to princess.

Declension

Declension of hlæfdige (weak)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	hlǣfdīġe	hlǣfdīġan
accusative	hlǣfdīġan	hlǣfdīġan
genitive	hlǣfdīġan	hlǣfdīġena
dative	hlǣfdīġan	hlǣfdīġum

Descendants

Middle English: lady, laddy, ladi, ladie, ladij, ladye, lavedi, lefdi, lefdy, levedi, levedy, lhevedi; lafdi, laffdiȝ, læfdi, lævedi, leafdi
- English: lady (see there for further descendants)
- Scots: lady, leddy
- Yola: laady

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