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sweor

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Hana Videen

sweor, m.n: a column, pillar (lit. or fig.), that which is shaped like a pillar. (SWEH-or / ˈswɛɔr)

Purple dyed page from a medieval manuscript with text written in gold and silver script divided between two larger columns, each containing four smaller columns.
Stockholm Codex Aureus; England (probably Canterbury), c. 750; Kungliga Biblioteket (National Library of Sweden), MS. A 135, p. 45. [commons.wikimedia.org]

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holh

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Hana Videen

holh, n.n: a hollow, cavity, hole. (HOL’H / ˈhɔlx)

Medieval manuscript containing a large circular hole around which the hands of a clock have been drawn; a man holds a long narrow cylinder to his eye which connects with what would be 7:30 on the clock although there aren’t any numbers.
A drawing of Pacificus of Verona’s star clock; Switzerland (St Gallen), c. 1000; St Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 18, p. 43. [e-codices.unifr.ch]
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ge-hæp

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Hana Videen

ge-hæp, adj: fit, suitable. (yeh-HAP / jɛ-ˈhæp)

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mid-siðian

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Hana Videen

mid-siðian, wk.v: to accompany. (MID-SITH-i-ahn / ˈmɪd-ˌsɪ-θɪ-an)

Medieval manuscript image of two men gesturing and possibly speaking to someone in front of them (not pictured), accompanied by three other men who stand in the background.
The Morgan Picture Bible; France (Paris), 1240s; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.638, f. 32v. [themorgan.org]
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ge-endebyrdan

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Hana Videen

ge-endebyrdan, wk.v: to set in order, arrange, dispose. (yeh-EN-duh-BUER-dahn / jɛ-ˈɛn-də-ˌbyr-dan)

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bisig

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Hana Videen

bisig, adj: busy, occupied. (BIH-zih / ˈbɪ-zɪj)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a man using an axe to chop branches from leafless tree or bush; a goat-snail hybrid creature watches him from beside a fire.
Calendar page for December in the Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg; France (Paris), before 1349; The Met Cloisters, object 69.86. [metmuseum.org]
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fen-līc

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Hana Videen

fen-līc, adj: fenlike, marshy. (FEN-leech / ˈfɛn-liːtʃ)

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brǣdan

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Hana Videen

brǣdan, wk.v: to cook (food); (specifically) to roast or grill as opposed to boil. (BRAD-ahn / ˈbræː-dan)

Medieval manuscript marginalia of a man and woman cooking some sort of poultry over a fire; the woman without legs turns the long spit and the man with hooves and a long tail holds a large pair of tongs.
Book of Hours; Flanders, 14th century; Walters Art Museum, W.88, f. 129r. [thedigitalwalters.org]
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gamenian

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Hana Videen

gamenian, wk.v: to play; to jest. (GA-men-i-ahn / ˈga-mɛn-ɪ-an)

Medieval manuscript image of possibly two people in a blue deer costume (the face of one is visible and its chest and there are two pairs of shoes) and a musician playing a flute or whistle with a drum on their back.
Book of Hours; Flanders, 14th century; Walters Art Museum, W.88, f. 115v. [discardingimages.tumblr.com]
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samod-fæst

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Hana Videen

samod-fæst, adj: fast joined together. (SAH-mod-FAST / ˈsa-mɔd-ˌfæst)

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