ǣwisc-fireniend

Posted on June 25, 2022 by Hana Videen

ǣwisc-fireniend, m.n: gloss for Latin ‘publicanus’ (publican, tax-collector), literally ‘one who commits shameful sin, shameless sinner’. (AE-wish-FIR-eh-ni-yend / ˈæː-wɪʃ-ˌfɪ-rɛ-nɪ-ɛnd)

webbestre

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Hana Videen

webbestre, f.n: weaver; (specifically) female weaver. (WEB-bes-truh / ˈwɛb-bɛs-trə)

Medieval manuscript image of a haloed, veiled woman sitting at a loom behind partially woven blue cloth that matches her dress; her hands hold four cards through which the warp threads pass, and to her right is a beater amid the warp threads. — Virgin Mary in Book of Hours; France (Paris), 1430-5; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.359, f. 26v. [ica.themorgan.org]

eald-writere

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Hana Videen

eald-writere, m.n: an antiquarian, one who writes about old or ancient matters. (EH-ald-WRIH-teh-ruh / ˈɛald-ˌwrɪ-tɛ-rə)

un-wine

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Hana Videen

un-wine, m.n: enemy (‘un-friend’). (UN-WIN-uh / ˈʌn-ˌwɪ-nə)

brycg-weard

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Hana Videen

brycg-weard, m.n: bridge-keeper, defender of a bridge. (BRUEJ-WEH-ard / ˈbrydʒ-ˌwɛard)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a man wearing a crown standing on a bridge with two companions; two entirely-gold naked humans meet them with hammers, one in the process of tumbling off the side of the bridge. — Alexander the Great encounters two golden knights guarding a bridge in India, from the Romance of Alexander; France, 14th century; Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 264, f. 70v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

wiþerling

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Hana Videen

wiþerling, m.n: an adversary. (WITH-er-ling / ˈwɪ-θɛr-lɪŋ)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a hairy quadruped with a long tail, mane and rainbow stripes opening its mouth wide towards a two-legged, rainbow-winged dragon whose head is hidden in a hole in the dirt. — A panther scaring a dragon in a bestiary; France (Thérouanne?), c. 1270; J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig XV 3, f. 88r. [blogs.getty.edu]

frēond

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Hana Videen

frēond, m.n: friend. (FRAY-ond / ˈfreːɔnd)

Medieval manuscript image of two bird-like heads with long beaks; one head is at the end of a long narrow neck which joins a pair of hairy animal legs, the haunch of which is actually the other head. — Romans arthuriens; N France, 1270-90; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Français 95, f. 318r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

ge-wrītere

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Hana Videen

ge-wrītere, m.n: a writer. (yeh-WREE-teh-ruh / jɛ-ˈwriː-tɛ-rə)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on the third day. Read and hear it on Patreon.

Medieval manuscript image of a woman sitting on a bench at a small desk; she uses a quill pen and pen knife to write in the open book in front of her. — Marie de France; France, c. 1285-1292; Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms. 3142, f. 256r. [expositions.bnf.fr]

ēorod-man

Posted on April 23, 2022 by Hana Videen

ēorod-man, m.n: a horseman, equestrian. (AY-oh-rod-MAHN / ˈeːɔ-rɔd-ˌman)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a woman standing before a knight on a white horse; the knight spears a rather small and harmless looking dragon on the ground. — St George in the Legenda Aurea; France (Paris), 1382; British Library, MS Royal 19 B XVII, f. 109r. [bl.uk]

reord-berend

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Hana Videen

reord-berend, m.n: speech-bearer, human. (REH-ord-BEH-rend / ˈrɛɔrd-ˌbɛ-rɛnd)

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