geflit

Noun

 * 1) argument, fight
 * 2) arguing, fighting
 * 3) contest, competition

Usage notes

 * Ġeflit means an argument as in "a debate, dispute, quarrel." For the sense "line of reasoning," is used.
 * Most often, ġeflit denotes verbal fighting and physical fighting, though this is only a generalization.
 * The plural ending -u, attested in Alfred, Ælfric, and the translator of, shows that the /i/ in this word is short, cf. pairs such as and  (“writing,” →  ). Bede's translator even spells the plural ⟨gefleoto⟩, showing back umlaut, which only occurs to short vowels. This means at least a form of the word must have had short /i/ at least since around 700, when back umlaut took place. Thus, the /aɪ/ of the modern noun  must be from the verb.