slege

Meaning

1. hit: strike, blow, punch

   early 11th century, anonymous gloss of Ælfric's Latin Colloquy (c. 995) (edited into idiomatic prose)

   I'd rather catch a fish I can kill than a fish that can sink or kill not only me, but also my fishing partners in one blow. [Speaking of a whale.]

2. killing, murder

   Hēo þā (sēo cwēn Dameris) mid miċelre gnornunge ymb þæs cyninges sleġe (hire suna) þenċende wæs, hū hēo hit ġewrecan meahte.

   Meanwhile, Queen Tomyris was grieving over the king (her son's) murder, plotting her revenge.

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

3. slaughter (of an animal)

   Hē is ġelǣded tō sleġe swā swā sċēap.

   He's led like a sheep to the slaughter.

   c. 996, Ælfric, "The Nativity of the Lord"

4. a defeat

Declension