The Infinitive in Anglo-Saxon (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Explore how the infinitive shaped Anglo-Saxon grammar and meaning. A rigorous, readable study examines how the infinitive functions in Anglo-Saxon, tracing its uses, origins, and the influence of Latin on early English syntax.

The book surveys grammatical behavior across verb classes, including commands, sense and mental perception, beginning and ending actions, and expressions of inclination and will. It compares uninflected and inflected forms, notes where Latin models appear, and links examples from poetry, chronicles, and later translations to bigger patterns in Germanic languages. The result is a clear, reference‑level guide to how Anglo‑Saxon speakers and writers used the infinitive in real texts.

Readers will gain a structured view of method and classification, supported by historical context and illustrative notes. This edition emphasizes the ways scholars analyze verb forms and their connections to Latin and other Germanic languages, helping students, researchers, and enthusiasts understand a key piece of medieval English grammar.

• Clear distinctions between infinitive uses: adverbial, adjectival, and substantival relations.


• Discussion of native versus Latin influence across verb groups such as commanding, sensing, and willing.


• comparative notes on how the infinitive operates in poetry, chronicles, and translations.

Ideal for readers of medieval linguistics, philology, and advanced studies in English history.

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