Obs. Forms: 1 balu, bealu, def. balewe, bealwe, 2–3 bali, 3 balu, beali, bæl, 3–5 bale. [Common Teut.; = Goth. balws (in compds., as balwa-wesei wickedness, balwjan to plague, torment, balweins torment):—OTeut. *balw-oz.]
1. Actively evil, deadly, dire, pernicious, destructive, fatal, cruel, tormenting.
Beowulf, 1958. Nearwe befongen balwon bendum.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Satan (Gr.), 494. Swá inc se balewa hét.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 281. Þa buffetes and ta bali duntes þat tu þoledest.
c. 1205. Lay., 5943. To-brokene mid þeon balu fehte.
c. 1220. St. Marher., 13. Tu … me wið bale bondes bitterliche bindest.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1243. So biten with þe bale hunger.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, IV. 1388. Bannet worthe the bale tyme þat ho borne was.
2. subjectively, Sorrowing, mournful, woful.
c. 1220. Leg. St. Kath., 2367. Nalde ȝe nawt bringe me forð toward blisse wið se bale bere.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, VI. 2681. Ho brast out with a birre from hir bale hert.
