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Category Archives: body + health

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ōhsta

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Hana Videen

ōhsta, m.n: armpit. (O-hsta / ˈoːx-sta)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a naked person’s arm, bent at the elbow and hand in the air, the armpit slightly exposed; the image is cropped but there appear to be a couple of knives stuck into the person.
Wound Man; S Germany, c. 1485; Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cgm 597, f. 244r. [daten.sammlungen-digitale.de]
Posted in body + health 2 Comments

ge-sīclian

Posted on January 17, 2026 by Hana Videen

ge-sīclian, wk.v: to be taken sick or ill, to be infirm. (yeh-SEEK-li-ahn / jɛ-ˈsiːk-lɪ-an)

Medieval manuscript image of a bearded man lying in bed beneath a bird-patterned blanket, upper torso naked and exposed; an angel hovers above holding a scroll with Latin text.
Sherborne Missal; England, early 15th century; British Library, Add MS 74236, p. 30. [iiif.bl.uk]
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hand-cræft

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Hana Videen

hand-cræft, m.n: skill or power of the hand. (HOND-KRAFT / ˈhand-ˌkræft)

In the margin of a medieval manuscript, a crowned man with a long beard and fancy robes points to his outstretched left hand.
Historia regum Britanniae; France (Normandy), 1150-1200; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Latin 8501A, f. 108v. [manuscrits-france-angleterre.org]
Posted in arts + crafts, body + health Leave a comment

ēag-sealf

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Hana Videen

ēag-sealf, f.n: eye salve, ointment for the eye. (AY-ah-SEH-alf / ˈeːaj-ˌsɛalf)

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blind

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Hana Videen

blind, adj: blind, lacking or deprived of sight. (BLINND / ˈblɪnd)

Medieval manuscript of a beggar in patched clothing holding a walking stick in his left hand and the leash of a dog in the right; the dog appears to be leading him forward.
Decretals of Gregory IX (Smithfield Decretals); France (illuminated in England), 1330-1340; British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 110r. [picryl.com]
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manu

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Hana Videen

manu, f.n: mane. (MA-nuh / ˈma-nʌ)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a horse drinking from a stream.
Liber de natura rerum; France (Abbaye de Saint-Amand), 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 61v. [portail.biblissima.fr]
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nīd-gedāl

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Hana Videen

nīd-gedāl, n.n: an inevitable parting, the parting of body and soul. (NEED-yeh-DAHL / ˈniːd-jɛ-ˌdaːl)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a naked human body with no visible sexual organs rising up from a grave containing a skeleton that extends its arms; a winged and haloed figure hovers above.
Miscellany; N England, mid 15th century; British Library, Additional 37049, f. 81v. [medievalkarl.com]
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hēafod-bān

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Hana Videen

hēafod-bān, n: skull. (HAY-ah-vod-BAHN / ˈheːa-vɔd-ˌbaːn)

Read my Mōnaþ-spell (monthly update) on Patreon.

Medieval manuscript image of a fish swimming over a grinning skull.
Hours of Saint-Omer; France, c. 1320; British Library, Add 36684, f. 88r. [discardingimages.tumblr.com]
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heoru-drēor

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Hana Videen

heoru-drēor, m.n: blood, gore (caused by a battle). (HEH-or-ruh-DRAY-or / ˈhɛɔ-rʌ-ˌdreːɔr)

Posted in body + health, deorhord book Leave a comment

hornede

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Hana Videen

hornede, adj: horned. (HORN-eh-duh / ˈhɔr-nɛ-də)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a goat-like creature with extremely long, sharp horns, surrounded by floating gold circles.
A creature called a demma in the Liber de natura rerum; France (Abbaye de Saint-Amand), 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 58v. [patrimoine-numerique.ville-valenciennes.fr]
Posted in body + health, deorhord book Leave a comment

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