geond-lēohtend

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Hana Videen

geond-lēohtend, m.n: one who illuminates throughout or entirely; a hapax that mistakenly renders Latin perlustrator (one who examines entirely, surveyor) as if ‘illuminator of all’. (YEH-ond-LAY-o-h’tend / ˈjɛɔnd-ˌleːɔx-tɛnd)

wīsdōm

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Hana Videen

wīsdōm, m.n: wisdom, knowledge, learning, philosophy. (WEEZ-doam / ˈwiːz-doːm)

Medieval manuscript image of a prison in which a man writes in a codex, resting his left hand on his chin as if in thought; a woman sits and observes, gesturing with her hands. — Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy; Austria (Salzburg), c. 1000; Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 15825, f. 1v. [digitale-sammlungen.de]

land-riht

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Hana Videen

land-riht, n.n: the law (or body of laws) associated with an estate or district; the (collective) rights and privileges due to the owner of an estate or land. (LOND-RI’HT / ˈland-ˌrɪxt)

anxsumnes

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Hana Videen

anxsumnes, f.n: anxiety. (ONKS-sum-ness / ˈanks-sʌm-nɛs)

cæppe

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Hana Videen

cæppe, f.n: cloak, cape, usually hooded, especially an ecclesiastic’s cloak; chasuble; hood, cap. (KAP-puh / ˈkæp-pə)

Medieval manuscript image of a bishop wearing mitre and chasuble gesturing with both hands and looking at an organ that hovers above steam rising from cauldron on a stand over a fire. — Sylvester II making an organ play by steam; France (Amiens?), 1300-1310; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.751, f. 100r. [ica.themorgan.org]

for-dwīnan

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Hana Videen

for-dwīnan, str.v: to dwindle away, vanish. (for-DWEE-nahn / fɔr-ˈdwiː-nan)

hege

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Hana Videen

hege, m.n: hedge, fence; boundary wall. (HEH-yuh / ˈhɛ-jə)

samod-wyrcende

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Hana Videen

samod-wyrcende, adj: cooperating, working together. (SAH-mod-WUER-chen-duh / ˈsa-mɔd-ˌwyr-tʃɛn-də)

Medieval manuscript image of women working together to reap grain with sickles; two are on their knees at work while a third stands taking a break. — Luttrell Psalter; N England (Lincolnshire), 1325-1340; British Library, Add MS 42130, f. 172v. [artfund.org]

meagol

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Hana Videen

meagol, adj: earnest, strenuous, firm. (MEH-ah-goll / ˈmɛa-gɔl)

hēafod

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Hana Videen

hēafod, n.n: head. (HAY-ah-vod / ˈheːa-vɔd)

Medieval manuscript image of a creature with a bird body and legs and an enormous human female head. — Catoblepas (a beast famous for its heavy head) in Jacob van Maerlant’s Der Naturen Bloeme; Netherlands, 14th century; Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 13440, f. 4r. [viewer.onb.ac.at]