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stæf-rǣw

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Hana Videen

stæf-rǣw, f.n: a letter-row, an alphabet. (STAFF-RAEW / ˈstæf-ˌræːw)

Medieval manuscript image of a haloed woman holding her cloak out around a small girl who holds a hornbook.
St Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read from a hornbook; England, 14th century; Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 231, f. 3r. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]
Posted in communication, education + knowledge Leave a comment

ge-tremman

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Hana Videen

ge-tremman, wk.v: to strengthen, establish, confirm. (yeh-TREM-mahn / jɛ-ˈtrɛm-man)

Posted in etc Leave a comment

hand-cræft

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Hana Videen

hand-cræft, m.n: skill or power of the hand. (HOND-KRAFT / ˈhand-ˌkræft)

In the margin of a medieval manuscript, a crowned man with a long beard and fancy robes points to his outstretched left hand.
Historia regum Britanniae; France (Normandy), 1150-1200; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Latin 8501A, f. 108v. [manuscrits-france-angleterre.org]
Posted in arts + crafts, body + health Leave a comment

eald-gesegen

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Hana Videen

eald-gesegen, f.n: an old saga. (EH-ald-yeh-ZEH-yen / ˈɛald-jɛ-ˌzɛ-jɛn)

Posted in communication Leave a comment

healf-hundisc

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Hana Videen

healf-hundisc, adj: half-canine. (HEH-alf-HUN-dish / ˈhɛalf-ˌhʌn-dɪʃ)

Medieval manuscript initial C decorated with a cynocephalus (dog-headed man).
Expositio in psalmos; N Italy, first half of 12th century; Morgan Library & Museum, MS G.51, f. 23v. [sites.nd.edu]
Posted in deorhord book, monsters Leave a comment

ēag-sealf

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Hana Videen

ēag-sealf, f.n: eye salve, ointment for the eye. (AY-ah-SEH-alf / ˈeːaj-ˌsɛalf)

Posted in body + health, wordhord book Leave a comment

wrāþ

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Hana Videen

wrāþ, adj: angry, wrathful, incensed. (WRAWTH / ˈwraːθ)

Medieval manuscript illustration of an angry-looking deer head on a large fish’s body swallowing a fish.
Sea-stag from the Liber de natura rerum; France (Abbaye de Saint-Amand), 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 113r. [portail.biblissima.fr]
Posted in deorhord book, emotions Leave a comment

sōfte

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Hana Videen

sōfte, adv: softly, without disturbance; at ease, without trouble; gently; without discord; easily, without opposition. (SOAF-tuh / ˈsoːf-tə)

Posted in deorhord book Leave a comment

hlēapende

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Hana Videen

hlēapende, str.v: leaping, jumping, running. (H’LAY-ah-pen-duh / ˈhleːa-pɛn-də)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a fox leaping toward a bird whose swings are raised, beak open, with three chicks in the foreground.
Bestiaire d’Amour; N Italy, c. 1290; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.459, f. 23r. [ica.themorgan.org]

Posted in deorhord book Leave a comment

nēðing

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Hana Videen

nēðing, f.n: audacity, daring. (NAY-thing / ˈneː-θɪŋ)

Posted in etc Leave a comment

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