fela

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Hana Videen

fela, adj/adv: much, a great number, many. (FELL-ah / ˈfɛ-la)

Medieval manuscript image of five of six birds flying toward a bird walking on the ground; the sixth bird flies away from the others. — Partridges in a bestiary; N Italy, c. 1290; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.459, f. 18v. [ica.themorgan.org]

gemet-fæt

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Hana Videen

gemet-fæt, n.n: a measuring-vessel, a measure. (yeh-MET-FAT / jɛ-ˈmɛt-ˌfæt)

healf

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Hana Videen

healf, adj: half. (HEH-alf / ˈhɛalf)

or-mǣte

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Hana Videen

or-mǣte, adj: immense. (OR-MAT-uh / ˈɔr-ˌmæː-tə)

A fairly accurate drawing of an elephant in a medieval manuscript, only its tail is far too long. — Physiologus; France, c. 1240; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 101, f. 195v. [arca.irht.cnrs.fr]

fēower

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Hana Videen

fēower, n/numeral/adj: four. (FAY-oh-wer / ˈfeːɔ-wɛr)

Medieval manuscript image of Christ flanked by two angels and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists: a winged man, an eagle, a winged lion, and a winged cow, each of whom holds a book. — Symbols of the Four Evangelists in Tyniec Sacramentary; Germany (probably near Cologne), c. 1072-1075; National Library of Poland, Rps BOZ 8, p. 32. [polona.pl]

swīþ-snel

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Hana Videen

swīþ-snel, adj: very quick. (SWEETH-SNELL / ˈswiːθ-ˌsnɛl)

twelf

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Hana Videen

twelf, n/numeral/adj: twelve (12). (TWELF / ˈtwɛlf)

A commemorative wooden plaque with a tweet from @OEWordhord from 11 November 2013; it says hashtag Old English Word of the Day, hashtag word-hord, n, a word hoard, a store of words. — Today marks **12 years** of the Old English Wordhord! What’s your favourite Old English word?

Ic ēow þancie, everyone who shared their favourite Old English word(s) for Old English Wordhord’s 12th birthday. May your hoards of words grow ever more wondrous. For my personal favourites, see the “hord highlights” category on this blog or on the Old English Wordhord App.