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Category Archives: people

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swān-gerēfa

Posted on July 4, 2026 by Hana Videen

swān-gerēfa, m.n: an officer whose manages forests for the pasturing of swine and the use of wood. (SWAHN-yeh-RAY-vah / ˈswaːn-jɛ-ˌreː-va)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a man striking a tree to make the nuts fall to the ground where three pigs are eating them.
Breviary; France (Metz), 1302/1303; British Library, Yates Thompson 8, f. 6r. [mdpi.com]
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afȳrida

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Hana Videen

afȳrida, m.n: a eunuch; a castrated animal; a castrated servant or courtier. (ah-FUE-rid-ah / a-ˈfyː-rɪ-da)

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fulwiht-fæder

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Hana Videen

fulwiht-fæder, m.n: a baptizer (lit. ‘baptism-father’). (FULL-wi’ht-FADD-er / ˈfʌl-wɪxt-ˌfæ-dɛr)

Medieval manuscript illustration of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus; a dove flies down to Jesus from heaven, and an angel stands beside him holding his robe.
Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine; France (Fécamp Abbey), c. 1185; The Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB 76 F 13, f. 19r. [galerij.kb.nl]

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niþer-stīgend

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Hana Videen

niþer-stīgend, m.n: one who descends. (NITH-er-STEE-yend / ˈnɪ-θɛr-ˌstiː-jɛnd)

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maðelere

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Hana Videen

maðelere, m.n: one who speaks or harangues. (MA-thuh-leh-ruh / ˈma-θə-lɛ-rə)

Posted in communication, people 3 Comments

sige-brōðor

Posted on May 30, 2026 by Hana Videen

sige-brōðor, m.n: a victorious brother. (SIH-yuh-BRO-thor / ˈsɪ-jə-ˌbroː-θɔr)

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cyric-weard

Posted on May 24, 2026 by Hana Videen

cyric-weard, m.n: custodian of a church, sacristan. (CHUE-rich-WEH-ard / ˈtʃy-rɪtʃ-ˌwɛard)

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ge-cennice

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Hana Videen

ge-cennice, f.n: mother. (yeh-KEN-nitch-uh / jɛ-ˈkɛn-nɪ-tʃə)

Medieval manuscript image of an angel making a sign of blessing towards the Virgin Mary, who appears to be receiving the angel’s message via red lines that go from his mouth towards her head.
The Annunciation, from a psalter; Germany (Würzburg), c. 1240-1250; Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig VIII 2, f. 10. [getty.edu]
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emne-cristen

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Hana Videen

emne-cristen, m.n: a fellow Christian. (EM-nuh-KRISS-ten / ˈɛm-nə-ˌkrɪs-tɛn)

Medieval manuscript image of six Cistercian monks singing at a lectern.
Cistercian Gradual; Netherlands or Germany, early 14th century; Victoria & Albert Museum 8990A. [collections.vam.ac.uk]
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ge-spelia

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Hana Videen

ge-spelia, m.n: a substitute, deputy, vicegerent (an administrative deputy of a king or magistrate). (yeh-SPEH-li-ah / jɛ-ˈspɛ-lɪ-a)

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