ymbe

1. prep w.a. around, about, by; (1) local, about, around, at, upon, near, along; (a) marking an object which forms a center for others; in combination with útan \ymbe about, by, around; (b) marking an object near to which are others; (b1) about a person, in attendance upon; (c) marking an object which is surrounded or enclosed; (d) marking an object along whose border others are placed; (e) marking an object throughout or along which there is position or movement; (f) marking an object round which anything moves; (2) temporal, (a) about, at; (b) after; ymb twá niht; (b1) where the point from which the time is measured is given by þǽs, (α) preceding; where the point from which time is measured is in the genitive; ymb fiftig wintra; (ß) following; (b2) of recurring periods; (c) of past time, before; ymb þréo niht com héo - three nights ago she came; (3) in figurative senses, causal, etc., about, in regard to, concerning, on account of, owing to; (a) marking approximation; (b) marking the object of speaking, inquiry, telling, etc.; he lǽrde ymb Godes word - he taught about God's word; (c) marking the object of thought, feeling, etc.; hé ne cearað ymb his líf - He cares not about his life; (d) marking the object with which an action is concerned; hí sendedon ǽrendracan ymb frið - they sent messengers about a truce; (e) marking the object in relation to which circumstances are related; ic cýðe þé hú hit wæs ymb þæt land - I tell you how it was about that land; 2. prep w.d. (1) local, about, around; him ymb fengon engla þréatas - Crowds of English encountered him; (2) temporal; (a) at; (b) after; (3) figurative; þæs \ymbe lítel soon after; \ymbe béon to set about a thing; 3. adv around, about, at, upon, near, along; 4. n (-es/-u) swarm of bees