wæstm

Meaning

1. fruit

   Hit is weliġ þis ēalond on wæstmum ⁊ on trēowum misenlīcra cynna; ⁊ hit is ġesċræpe on lǣwe sċēapa ⁊ nēata; ⁊ on sumum stōwum wīnġeardas grōwaþ.

   This island is rich in fruits and trees of various kinds; and it is suitable for the pasture of sheep and cattle; and in some places vineyards grow.

   late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

2. growth; increase

   Witodlīċe ūres andġites meriġen is ūre ċildhād, ūre cnihthād swylċe underntīd, on þām astihð ūre ġeogoð, swā swā sēo sunne deð ymbe þǣre ðriddan tīde; ūre fulfremeda wæstm swā swā middæġ, forðan ðe on midne dæġ bið sēo sunne on ðām ufemestum ryne stiġende, swā swā sē fulfremeda wæstm bið on fulre strencðe þēonde. Sēo nōntīd bīð ūre yld, forðan ðe on nōntīde asihð

   Truly, the morning of our cognizance is our childhood, our youth is like the underntide, when our youth rises, just as the sun does around the third hour; our complete growth is like midday, since in the middle of the day the sun rises to the highest point in its course, just as our complete growth is flourishing in full strength. The noontide is our age, for at noontide the sun starts to go down,

   Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church

3. product; result

4. benefit

5. stature, height

   "Zachéus wæs sum rice mann, and cepte þæs Hælendes fær, and wolde geseon hwilc hé wære; ac he ne mihte for ðære menigu ðe him mid ferde, forðan ðe hé wæs scort on wæstme. "Zacchæus was a rich man, and had observed the Saviour's course, and would see who he was; but he could not for the many that went with him, because he was short of stature

   c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Andrew the Apostle"

Declension