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Category Archives: hord highlights

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eorþ-nafela

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Hana Videen

eorþ-nafela, m.n: a plant, literally ‘earth-navel’, probably wild asparagus. (EH-orth-NAH-veh-la / ˈɛɔrθ-ˌna-vɛ-la)

Posted in hord highlights, trees + plants Leave a comment

hord-weard

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Hana Videen

hord-weard, m.n: hoard-guardian, guardian of treasure. (HORD-WEH-ard / ˈhɔrd-ˌwɛard)

Medieval manuscript image of a colourful two winged, two-legged dragon with a hairy face and a long tongue standing atop a mound of earth.
Bestiary; France (possibly Thérouanne), 13th century; Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig XV 3, f. 89r. [getty.edu]

Posted in deorhord book, hord highlights Leave a comment

niht-ēage

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Hana Videen

niht-ēage, adj: able to see at night (lit. ‘night-eye’). (NI’HT-AY-ah-yuh / ˈnɪxt-ˌeːa-jə)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a golden horned owl.
Aberdeen Bestiary; England, c. 1200; Aberdeen University Library, MS 24, f. 50r. [abdn.ac.uk]
Posted in hord highlights Leave a comment

sund-hwæt

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Hana Videen

sund-hwæt, adj: water-quick, active in swimming. (SUND-H’WAT / ˈsʌnd-ˌhwæt)

Medieval manuscript illustration of four deer moving through water towards a tree or plant.
Bestiary from a didactic miscellany; England, 1220-1240; Cambridge University Library, Kk.4.25, f. 62r. [cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk]
Posted in hord highlights, water Leave a comment

lēof-spell

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Hana Videen

lēof-spell, n.n: a pleasant message. (LAY-off-SPELL / ˈleːɔf-ˌspɛl)

A row of copies of the paperback book THE DEORHORD by Hana Videen, with one in the centre facing out so the front cover is visible, with images of a horse-like sea creature, a dragon, a griffin, an eagle and some ants.
The US/Canada paperback DEORHORD is out today! (The UK paperback is already out in the rest of the world.) See where to get it here.
Posted in communication, hord highlights Leave a comment

word-sāwere

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Hana Videen

word-sāwere, m.n: word-sower. (WORD-SAH-weh-ruh / ˈwɔrd-ˌsaː-wɛ-rə)

Posted in communication, hord highlights, people 2 Comments

seolh-bæþ

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Hana Videen

seolh-bæþ, n.n: seal-bath, a kenning for the sea. (SEH-ol’h-BATH / ˈsɛɔlx-ˌbæθ)

Medieval manuscript image of a swimming hairy fish-creature with the head of a calf.
Seal in Liber de natura rerum; France (Abbaye de Saint-Amand), 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 120r. [portail.biblissima.fr]
Posted in deorhord book, hord highlights, kennings, water Leave a comment

wundor-weorold

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Hana Videen

wundor-weorold, f.n: the wondrous world. (WUN-dor-WEH-o-rold / ˈwʌn-dɔr-ˌwɛɔ-rɔld)

A haloed man standing barefoot on the grass makes a gesture of blessing towards a globe in which are depicted trees and various animals; the globe is surrounded by a scroll with French writing.
Histoire ancienne, depuis la création; French, 15th century; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 250, f. 13r. [gallica.bnf.fr]
Posted in hord highlights Leave a comment

foxunga

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Hana Videen

foxunga, pl.n: foxlike wiles, tricks. (FAWK-sung-ga / ˈfɔk-sʌŋ-ga)

Marginal illustration in a medieval manuscript of a fox disguised in human clothing approaching a hare.
Ormesby Psalter; England (East Anglia), 1250-1330; Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, f. 89r. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]
Posted in animals, deorhord book, hord highlights Leave a comment

dēawig-feðere

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Hana Videen

dēawig-feðere, adj: dewy-feathered. (DAY-ah-wih-FETH-eh-ruh / ˈdeːa-wɪj-ˌfɛ-θɛ-rə)

A gull perched in the floral border of a medieval manuscript.
Gull in the Alphonso Psalter; England (London), 1284; British Library, Add MS 24686, f. 11r. [bestiary.ca]
Posted in animals, hord highlights Leave a comment

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