The definite article is omitted as in Modern English before names such as
_God_, and also before _Dryhten_ (the Lord), _D[=e]ofol_ (the Devil),
although _se D[=e]ofol_ also occurs, and names of nations:--_Bretta cyning_
(king of the Britons).
It is omitted in many prepositional combinations, not only in those where
it is omitted in Modern English also, as in _si[.g]efaest on s[=ae] and on
lande_ (victorious on sea and on land), but also in many others:
_[.g]ew[e,]nde t[=o] wuda on.[.g][=e]an_ (went back to the wood); _se
floth[e,]re f[=e]rde eft t[=o] s[.c]ipe_ (the army of pirates went back to
their ships); _h[=e] f[=e]ng t[=o] r[=i][.c]e_ (he took the
government--came to the throne).
The definite article is, on the other hand, sometimes used where it would
not be in Modern E., as in _se mann_ = 'man' (men in general).
The indefinite article is often not expressed at all:--_thaet dyde unhold
mann_ (an enemy did that); _h[=e] be.stealcode on land sw[=a] sw[=a] wulf_
(he stole to land like a wolf). Or it is expressed by _sum_: _on th[=ae]m
lande waes sum mann, L[=e]ofr[=i][.c] [.g]e.h[=a]ten_ (in that country was
a man called L.). Or by _[=a]n_, as in Modern English_:--[=a]n wulf wearth
[=a].s[e,]nd t[=o] be.w[e,]rienne thaet h[=e]afod with th[=a] [=o]thru
d[=e]or_ (a wolf was sent to protect the head against the other wild
beasts).