stæf

Meaning

1. staff

   c. 899, Alfred the Great, Psalm 23

   Your rod and your staff comfort me.

2. letter, written character

   On ōðre wīsan wē sċēawiaþ mētinge and on ōðre wīsan stafas. Ne gǣþ nā māre tō mētinge būtan þæt þū hit ġesēo and herie. Nis nā ġenōg þæt þū stafas sċēawiġe būtan þū hīe ēac rǣde and þæt andġiet understande.

   We look at pictures in one way and letters in another. You don't do anything with a painting except see it and praise it. Looking at letters is not enough unless you also read them and understand the meaning.

   c. 992, Ælfric, "Midlent Sunday"

Declension