Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
A ruler or chieftain who distributed rings or other valuable gifts to loyal warriors, thanes, or retainers as a means of rewarding service and reinforcing bonds of allegiance and mutual obligation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Old-English, historical
Topics: literature, media, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Literary calque of Old English bēagġiefa, from bēag (“ring”) + ġiefa (“giver”).
