hæleþa bearn

Old English

Etymology

From genitive plural of hæleþ + plural of bearn. Has a parallel in Old Saxon helithō barn, possibly stemming from a Proto-West Germanic *haliþō barnu, with a possible analog in Old Norse hǫlda synir.

Noun

hæleþa bearn n pl (nominative plural hæleþa bearn)

1. (poetic) "sons of heroes"
   • w:Beowulf, verses 1188a-1190a:

     Hwearf þá bí bence þaér hyre byre waéron
     Hréðríc ond Hróðmund ond hæleþa bearn
     giogoð æt gædere

     Then she turned by the bench where were her sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund, and sons of heroes, youths all together.

Declension

Declension of bearn (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	—	bearn
accusative	—	bearn
genitive	—	bearna
dative	—	bearnum