word-hord

word-hord, n.n: a word-hoard, a store of words. (WORD-HORD / ˈwɔɹd-ˌhɔɹd)

Today is a word-of-the-day redux from 2,731 days (and words) ago. I try not to repeat words, but I’m making an exception today because of a special announcement.

My book The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English will be published exactly six months from today!

Find out more and pre-order at oldenglishwordhord.com/book.

The Wordhord will be published in the UK by Profile Books on 4 November 2021.

Ever been to neorxnawang (paradise)? Or heard of a gafol-fisc (tax-fish)? Or spoken a word (word)? Discover the magic of Old English... coming November 2021.

heorþ-fæst

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Hana Videen

heorþ-fæst, adj: having a house of one’s own. (HEH-orth-FAST / ˈhɛɔrθ-ˌfæst)

on-fōn

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Hana Videen

on-fōn, str.v: to take; to receive; to accept. (on-PHONE / ɔn-ˈfoːn)

Medieval manuscript image of an arm reaching to the left and grasping the fleur-de-lis shaped marginal decoration. — Rutland Psalter; England, c. 1260; British Library, Add MS 62925, f. 40r. [bl.uk]

Experience the Wordhord in a whole new way…

iPad and iPhone, each showing the Wordhord App cover with hwæt as the word of the day.

blēo-cræft

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Hana Videen

blēo-cræft, m.n: the art of embroidering (‘colour-craft’). (BLAY-oh-KRAFT / ˈbleːɔ-ˌkræft)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on Middle English-y Old English and a neglected princess. Read it on Patreon.

blēo

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Hana Videen

blēo, n.n: a colour, hue, complexion. (BLAY-oh / ˈbleːɔ)

Historiated initial C in a medieval manuscript in which a man sits at a desk and mixes colours, a selection of 8 pigments before him. — James le Palmer’s Omne Bonum; England (London), c. 1360-75; British Library, Royal 6 E vi, f. 329r. [blogs.bl.uk]

wilsumness

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Hana Videen

wilsumness, f.n: devotion, devoutness. (WILL-sum-ness / ˈwɪl-sʌm-nɛs)

ebur-þring

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Hana Videen

ebur-þring, m.n: the celestial sign Orion. (EH-bur-THRING / ˈɛ-bʌr-ˌθrɪŋ)

Medieval manuscript image of a man with a sword dotted with red circles to represent the shape of the constellation Orion; the man stands inside blocks of text that are shaped like a house. — De duodecim signis (astronomical treatise); England (Peterborough), 1120-1135; British Library, Cotton MS Tiberius C I, f. 27v. [bl.uk]

hold

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Hana Videen

hold, adj: kind, friendly, pleasant, favourable, gracious (of a prince to his subject), faithful, loyal, devoted (of a subject to his prince). (HOLD / ˈhɔld)