lyt

Norwegian Nynorsk

Verb

lyt

1. present tense of lyta

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic [Term?].

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lyːt/

Adverb

lȳt

1. little, few

   lyttucc ― particle, small piece

   lȳthwōn ― very little, very few

   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     oþþe mec frēondlēasne · frēfran wolde,
     wēman mid wynnum. · Wāt sē þe cunnað,
     hū slīþen bið · sorg tō ġefēran,
     þām þe him lȳt hafað · lēofra ġeholena.

     or friendless me would soothe,
     allure with glees. Knows the one who undergoes,
     how tough is sorrow as a companion,
     to whom little has dear confidants for himself.

2. (in compounds) inferior, subordinate

   lȳtle ― female slave

Derived terms

• lȳthwōn

Noun

lȳt ? (indeclinable)

1. little, few, a few (substantive use of the adverb)

   Ðæra is nu to lyt ðe wile wel tæcan

   There are now too few that can teach well.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Preface"

     Ure Drihten bebead his discipulum þæt hí sceoldon læran and tæcan eallum þeodum ða ðing þe he sylf him tæhte; ac þæra is nu to lyt ðe wile wel tæcan and wel bysnian.

     Our Lord commanded his disciples that they should instruct and teach all people the things which he had himself taught to them; but of those there are too few who will well teach and well exemplify.