isern

Senses

1. consisting or made of iron

   ⁊ hæfdon ġeleornad mā cræfta hū hīe þā elpendas beswīcan mehton, mid þǣm þæt hīe nāmon trēowu, ⁊ slōgon on oþerne ende moniġe sċearpe īsene næġlas, ⁊ hīe mid flexe bewundon, ⁊ onbǣrndon hit, ⁊ beþyddan hit þonne on þone elpend hindan...

   And they had learned more tricks through which they could ensnare the elephants; they took stakes and drove into the other end many sharp iron nails, and wrapped them in flax, and set them on fire, and then thrust them into the elephant from behind...

   late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

Declension

Senses

1. the metal iron

   Sē wōda ðā āwende āweġ his ċeaflas fram ðǣre hālgan handa, swilċe fram hātum īsene, and sē āwyrġeda gāst ġewāt of ðām men ūt ðurh his ġesċēapu, mid sċēandlīcum flēame.

   The madman then turned his cheeks away from the holy man's hands as if from hot iron, and the accursed spirit departed the man through his genitals with shameful flight.

   Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church

2. an instrument or tool made from iron, especially an iron sword

   Iċ eom ānhaga īserne wund, bille ġebennod, beadoweorca sæd, eċġum wēriġ.

   I am a lone one wounded with iron, wounded by sword, sated of battle-works, weary by edges.

   10th century, Exeter Book Riddle 5:

3. an iron shackle or fetter

Declension · strong a-stem