ymbe

Old English

Alternative forms

• ymb, embe, ymbi, imbe

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *umbi (“around, near”), akin to Old High German umbi (“around”), Latin ambi (“both, around”), Ancient Greek ἀμφί (amphí, “on both sides, around”), Old Irish imb, Old English bī (“near, by”). More at by.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈym.be/

Preposition

ymbe

1. around, about
   • Anglo-Saxon Version of The Holy Gospels

     And Iohannes wæs ġescryd mid oluendes hǣrum, and fellen gyrdel wæs ymbe his lendenu; and gærstapan, and wudu huniġ hē æt.

     John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

   • Anglo-Saxon Version of the The Holy Gospels

     And Hierusalem, and fram Idumea and beġeondan Iordane, and to him com mycel meneġeo, ymbe Tirum and Sidone, ġehyrende ða þing ðe he worhte.

     And Jerusalem, and from Idumæa and beyond Jordan, and to him came many people, around Tyre and Sidon, when they had heard about the things he did.

   • Anglo-Saxon Version of the The Holy Gospels

     And ða se Hælend eft on scype ferde ofer ðone muþan, him com to mycel meniġu, and wæs ymbe ða sæ.

     And Jesus entered into a ship and sat in the sea; and there a great multitude gathered unto him; and was around the sea.

2. near, along

Descendants

• Middle English: umbe, embe
  • English: umbe, umb, um, umben (obsolete)
  • Scots: umbe-