hyge-geōmor

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Hana Videen

hyge-geōmor, adj: sad in mind, sorrowful. (HUE-yuh-YEH-oh-mor / ˈhy-jə-ˌjɛoː-mɔr)

snel-scipe

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Hana Videen

snel-scipe, m.n: boldness, bravery. (SNELL-SHIP-uh / ˈsnɛl-ˌʃɪ-pə)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on cheeks and jowls. Read it on Patreon.

eald-writere

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Hana Videen

eald-writere, m.n: an antiquarian, one who writes about old or ancient matters. (EH-ald-WRIH-teh-ruh / ˈɛald-ˌwrɪ-tɛ-rə)

cēace

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Hana Videen

cēace, f.n: jaw, jawbone or mandible (frequently in the plural); perhaps also the jaw and the lower part of the face; upper part of the throat, cavity between the jaws. (CHAY-ah-chuh / ˈtʃeːa-tʃə)

Medieval manuscript image of naked humans sitting in flames in the sharp-toothed open jaws of a dark beast with red eyes. — Psalter; England (London), c. 1180; Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Latin 10433, f. 9r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

un-wine

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Hana Videen

un-wine, m.n: enemy (‘un-friend’). (UN-WIN-uh / ˈʌn-ˌwɪ-nə)

dēofol-dǣd

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Hana Videen

dēofol-dǣd, f.n: a devil-deed, diabolical deed. (DAY-ov-oll-DAD / ˈdeːɔ-vɔl-ˌdæːd)

Sequence of images in a medieval manuscript depicting an angel being unchained from a flame-filled prison, then flying up and out the gate to a garden where a serpent in a tree communicates with a naked woman, then a naked man and woman look at a tree together. — Satan’s messenger flying up from hell in the Junius manuscript; England, c. 1000; Bodleian Library, MS. Junius 11, p. 20. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

brycg-weard

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Hana Videen

brycg-weard, m.n: bridge-keeper, defender of a bridge. (BRUEJ-WEH-ard / ˈbrydʒ-ˌwɛard)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a man wearing a crown standing on a bridge with two companions; two entirely-gold naked humans meet them with hammers, one in the process of tumbling off the side of the bridge. — Alexander the Great encounters two golden knights guarding a bridge in India, from the Romance of Alexander; France, 14th century; Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264, f. 70v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

wiþerling

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Hana Videen

wiþerling, m.n: an adversary. (WITH-er-ling / ˈwɪ-θɛr-lɪŋ)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a hairy quadruped with a long tail, mane and rainbow stripes opening its mouth wide towards a two-legged, rainbow-winged dragon whose head is hidden in a hole in the dirt. — A panther scaring a dragon in a bestiary; France (Thérouanne?), c. 1270; J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig XV 3, f. 88r. [blogs.getty.edu]

sǣ-ǣl

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Hana Videen

sǣ-ǣl, m.n: sea-eel. (SAE-AEL / ˈsæː-ˌæːl)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on listening. Read it on Patreon.

frēond

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Hana Videen

frēond, m.n: friend. (FRAY-ond / ˈfreːɔnd)

Medieval manuscript image of two bird-like heads with long beaks; one head is at the end of a long narrow neck which joins a pair of hairy animal legs, the haunch of which is actually the other head. — Romans arthuriens; N France, 1270-90; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Français 95, f. 318r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

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