ge-byrd-wītega

Posted on January 2, 2022 by Hana Videen

ge-byrd-wītega, m.n: birth-prophet, astrologer. (yeh-BUERD-WEE-teh-ga / jɛ-ˈbyrd-ˌwiː-tɛ-ga)

Medieval manuscript image of a blue sphere with a red border, inside of which celestial bodies are depicted in gold: a crescent moon, a sun with nine curving rays, and round stars. — Northern French Miscellany; N France, 1277-1286; British Library, Additional 11639, f. 517r. [bl.uk]

nīwe

Posted on January 1, 2022 by Hana Videen

nīwe, adj: new. (NEE-wuh / ˈniː-wə)

Gesǣlig nīwe gēar! (yeh-SAE-lih NEE-wuh YAY-ar)

scencan

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Hana Videen

scencan, wk.v: to pour out liquor for drinking; to give to drink. (SHENK-an / ˈʃɛn-kan)

Medieval manuscript image of a tavern: a cellarer standing amidst large barrels passes drinks up to a group of men above, who are tossing back large bottles and cups of drink. — Cocharelli, Treatise on the Vices & Virtues; N Italy (Genoa), c. 1330-1340; British Library, Add MS 27695, f. 14r. [bl.uk]

ælmes-georn

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Hana Videen

ælmes-georn, adj: diligent in giving alms, benevolent. (AL-mez-YEH-orn / ˈæl-mɛz-ˌjɛɔrn)

The letter D in a medieval manuscript, inside of which is a scene: a man raises hands towards a round loaf in raised right hand of man with left hand holding fold of garment containing loaves; to the right, a man stands with hands on man with left hand raised, seated on a chair on high podium. — Cuerden Psalter; England (Oxford), c. 1270; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.756, f. 104r. [ica.themorgan.org]

be-prīwan

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Hana Videen

be-prīwan, wk.v: to wink. (beh-PREE-wahn / bɛ-ˈpriː-wan)

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

hām-sīþ

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Hana Videen

hām-sīþ, m.n: journey home. (HAHM-SEETH / ˈhaːm-ˌsiːθ)

snās

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Hana Videen

snās, f.n: a spit, skewer. (SNAHS / ˈsnaːs)

Medieval manuscript image of a brown striped ape sitting beside a fire, turning a spit over it to cook meat. — The Maastricht Hours; S Netherlands (Liège), 1st quarter of 14th century; British Library, Stowe 17, f. 176r. [bl.uk]

fyllan

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Hana Videen

fyllan, wk.v: to make full, fill; to furnish with an abundance of, cause to abound in (something); to fill throughout, pervade, permeate, saturate; to make full, satisfied, sated, replete; to satisfy (a desire, craving, etc.). (FUL-lahn / ˈfyl-lan)

hālig

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Hana Videen

hālig, adj: holy. (HALL-ih / ˈhaː-lɪj)

Medieval manuscript image of a reclining haloed woman gesturing towards a baby in a manger; a cow and a donkey lean over the baby with their tongues sticking out, as if to lick him; an eight-pointed star shape hovers above the baby, and above the star shape is an angel with hands outstretched. — St Albans Psalter; England (St Albans), 1130; Hildesheim, Dombibliothek, MS St Godehard 1, p. 21. [albani-psalter.de]

heofonlīce

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Hana Videen

heofonlīce, adv: from heaven. (HEH-oh-von-LEE-chuh / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌliː-tʃə)

Medieval illuminated initial C containing an angel speaking to three shepherds while three other angels watch from a cloud above them; the shepherds have unusually small sheep around their feet and a very small dog. — Annunciation to the shepherds in a psalter; E England (East Anglia?), 1st quarter of 13th century; British Library, Lansdowne MS 431, f. 74v. [bl.uk]

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