hefig

1. (chiefly Early Middle English) alternative form of hevy

• hæfiġ, hefeġ

From Proto-Germanic *habīgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“take, seize”). Germanic cognates include Old Saxon hevig, Dutch hevig, Old High German hebig, Old Norse hǫfigr. The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin capere, Old Irish cacht, Albanian kap (“grip”), Proto-Slavic *xopiti (Old Church Slavonic хапѭште (xapjǫšte), Russian ха́пать (xápatʹ)), Proto-Balto-Slavic *kap- (Lithuanian kàpteleti, Latvian kàmpt (“bite”)).

• IPA^(key): /ˈxe.fij/, [ˈhe.vij]

hefiġ (comparative hefiġra, superlative hefiġost or hefiġust or hefiġast)

1. heavy

   Eorþe is hefiġre ōðrum ġesceaftum ― earth is heavier than the other elements.

   • Exeter Book, riddle 40

     Hefiġere iċ eom micle þonne sē hāra stān
     oþþe unlȳtel lēades clympre,
     lēohtre iċ eom micle þonne þēs lȳtla wyrm
     þe hēr on flōde gǣð fōtum dryġe.

     I am much heavier than the gray stone
     or an un-little clump of lead,
     I am much lighter than this little bug
     that walks here on the water with dry feet

   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Þonne bēoð þȳ hefiġran · heortan benne,
     sāre æfter swǣsne. · Sorg bið ġenīwad,

     Then heart's wounds are heavier,
     painful after beloved. Sorrow is renewed

2. grievous, serious

   Hit is swīðe hefigu sċyld. ― It is a very serious crime.

3. important

• hefiġian
• hefiġlīċe
• hefiġnes

• habban
• hebban
• hæft

• Middle English: heviȝ, hevy
  • English: heavy
    • Sranan Tongo: hebi
  • Scots: hivie, hevy, havy