Ealuscerwen
An Old English hapax legomenon of disputed meaning in Beowulf.
Ealuscerwen is an Old English hapax legomenon appearing in Beowulf (verse 769). The compound consists of ealu, meaning 'ale', and the obscure element scerwen. The context indicates that experiencing ealuscerwen is an unpleasant state. Scholarly interpretations vary widely. Some readings take it as 'deprivation of ale', suggesting the Danes were as distressed by Grendel's attack as if they had run out of ale. Others propose 'pouring of ale' or 'ale-serving', linking the noise of the struggle to a drinking party. A connection has also been drawn to the similar compound meoduscerwen in the poem Andreas.
Quick Facts
- Poem
- Beowulf
- Verse
- 769
- Language
- Old English
- First element
- ealu (ale)
- Second element
- scerwen (obscure)
- Related compound
- meoduscerwen (in Andreas)
Facts from the source article.
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