earfoþe

Senses

1. hard, difficult

   Iohannes þa gegaderode ðæra gymstana bricas, and beseah to heofonum, þus cweðende, "Drihten Hælend, nis ðe nan ðing earfoðe; þu ge-edstaðelodest ðisne tobrocenan middangeard on þinum geleaffullum, þurh tácen þære halgan rode; ge-edstaðela nu þas deorwurðan gymstanas, ðurh ðinra engla handa, þæt ðas nytenan menn þine mihta oncnāwon, and on þe

   John then gathered the fragments of the jewels, and looked to heaven, thus saying, "Lord Jesus, to thee nothing is difficult; thou didst restore this crushed world for thy faithful, through sign of the holy rood; restore now these precious gems, by thy angels' hands, that these ignorant men may acknowledge thy powers, and in thee believe."

   c. 992, Ælfric, "The Assumption of St. John the Apostle"

Declension

Senses

1. work; labour

2. suffering; hardship

   wrāþra wælsleahta, · winemǣga hryre:

   So said an earth-stepper, mindful of hardships, of wrathful slaughters, of kinsmen fall:

   Swā cwæð eardstapa, · earfeþa ġemyndiġ,

3. labour; pains; trouble; childbirth

4. disease

Declension · strong ja-stem