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]

mægen

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Hana Videen

mægen, n.n: force, might, strength, power; an exercise of power, effort, a mighty work, miracle; a force, military force. (MAE-yen / ˈmæ-jɛn)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is about the second day of the world. Read it on Patreon.

feorh-ben

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Hana Videen

feorh-ben, f.n: a life-wound, mortal wound. (FEH-or’h-BEN / ˈfɛɔrx-ˌbɛn)

Medieval manuscript image of a haloed, kneeling man being struck on the head by the sword of a knight, blood gushing out; three other knights brandish swords and a robed figure stands in the background with a cross. — Thomas Becket murdered by a group of knights in the Huth Psalter; England (Lincoln or York?), late 13th century; British Library, Add MS 38116, f. 13r. [blogs.bl.uk]

heard-hīþende

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Hana Videen

heard-hīþende, adj: cruelly ravaging, violently attacking. (HEH-ard-HEE-then-duh / ˈhɛard-ˌhiː-θɛn-də)

Medieval manuscript illustration of soldiers beside a body of water in which there are giant hairy long-toothed creatures; some of the soldiers are already in the water and are being consumed by the creatures. — Romance of Alexander; Belgium (Tournai), 1338-1410; Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264, f. 54v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

bealo-nīþ

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Hana Videen

bealo-nīþ, m.n: violent enmity, pernicious evil, wickedness. (BEH-ah-loh-NEETH / ˈbɛa-lɔ-ˌniːθ)

Medieval manuscript image of a surprised-looking giant snail sitting on a hillock, watching as a warrior approaches with sword and shield at the ready. — Genealogical Chronicle of English Kings; England, 4th quarter of 13th century; British Library, Royal MS 14 B V, membrane 3. [bl.uk]

bord-hrēoþa

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Hana Videen

bord-hrēoþa, n: cover or protection of the shield, used as a general term for shield or phalanx; perhaps a shield ornament. (BORD-H’RAY-o-tha / ˈbɔrd-ˌhreːɔ-θa)

hilde-hlemm

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Hana Videen

hilde-hlemm, m.n: clash of battle, tumult of war. (HILL-duh-HLEMM / ˈhɪl-də-ˌhlɛm)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two armies fighting each other with swords on horseback; in the foreground are two kings on horseback, one of whom has received a bloody wound in his chest. — Les roys de Engeltere; England, c.1280-c. 1300; British Library, Cotton MS Vitellius A XIII/1, f. 3v. [bl.uk]

wīg-cirm

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Hana Videen

wīg-cirm, m.n: the din of battle. (WEE-CHIRM / ˈwiː-ˌtʃɪrm)

Medieval manuscript image of angels in heaven hurling spears and axes and shooting arrows down at a group of soldiers below; God points to the angels, as if directing them, and another group of men marches towards the battle with spears. — Eadwine Psalter; England (Canterbury), c. 1150; Trinity College Cambridge, MS R.17.1, f. 6v. [mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk]

sweord-geswing

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Hana Videen

sweord-geswing, n.n: striking with swords, an attack with swords. (SWEH-ord-yeh-SWING / ˈswɛɔrd-jɛ-ˌswɪŋ)

Medieval manuscript image of two men fighting with swords and shields. — Biblia Porta; Switzerland (Lausanne), 13th century; Lausanne, Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire, U 964, f. 350v. [e-codices.unifr.ch]

ge-sacu

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Hana Videen

ge-sacu, f.n: contention, hostility. (yeh-SAH-kuh / jɛ-ˈsa-kʌ)

Medieval manuscript image of a king watching a soldier stab another soldier with his sword, and a man with a halo being speared by another man, all depicted within a letter C. — Nestor slaying Lyaeus in a 12th-century English lectionary; British Library, Arundel MS 91, f. 107r. [bl.uk]

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