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Category Archives: people

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disc-berend

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Hana Videen

disc-berend, m.n: dish-bearer, seneschal, steward. (DISH-BEH-rend / ˈdɪʃ-ˌbɛ-rɛnd)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two servants carrying dishes to a long table, where a king sits with three other people and an assortment of dishes.
Smithfield Decretals; France, illuminated in England, 1330-1340; British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 263r. [blogs.bl.uk]

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hālig-wæcca

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Hana Videen

hālig-wæcca, m.n: one who observes vigils. (HA-lih-WACK-ah / ˈhaː-lɪj-ˌwæk-ah)

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wan-hoga

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Hana Videen

wan-hoga, m.n: one who is wanting in understanding, a foolish, imprudent person. (WAHN-HOG-ah / ˈwan-ˌhɔ-ga)

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mǣden

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Hana Videen

mǣden, n.n: virgin, maiden. (MADD-en / ˈmæː-dɛn)

Medieval manuscript illustration of an angel standing before a woman seated in a fancy a domed structure with a book in her right hand.
The Annunciation in the Benedictional of St Æthelwold; England, 10th century; British Library, Add MS 49598, f. 5v. [aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com]
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slæpere

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Hana Videen

slæpere, m.n: a sleeper. (SLAP-eh-ruh / ˈslæ-pɛ-rə)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a bearded, haloed man sleeping, his arms folded across his chest.
St Patrick asleep; France, 13th century; British Library, MS Royal 20 D VI, f. 213v. [blogs.bl.uk]
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ealde-mōder

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Hana Videen

ealde-mōder, f.n: grandmother. (EH-al-duh-MO-der / ˈɛal-də-ˌmoː-dɛr)

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mægden-cild

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Hana Videen

mægden-cild, n.n: a female child. (MAEY-den-CHILLD / ˈmæj-dɛn-ˌtʃɪld)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a haloed woman holding a book open before her and a young haloed girl studying it carefully.
St Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read, from a Book of Hours; France or England, c. 1430-40; J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 5, f. 45v. [getty.edu]
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wer

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Hana Videen

wer, m.n: man, male. (WEHR / ˈwɛr)

Read this month’s Mōnaþ-spell (monthly update) on Patreon.

A naked man holding a stick rides on the back of a many-legged dragon in the margin of a medieval manuscript.
Rutland Psalter; England, c. 1260; British Library, Add MS 62925, f. 83r. [blogs.bl.uk]
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wēa-gesīþ

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Hana Videen

wēa-gesīþ, m.n: woe-companion, a companion in misery or wickedness. (WAY-ah-yeh-SEETH / ˈweːa-jɛ-ˌsiːθ)

In a medieval manuscript illustration, a group of men look upset, scratching their heads and gesturing to something unseen before them.
Lament over the fall of Babylon in the Douce Apocalypse; England (Westminster?), c. 1265-1270; Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 180, f. 50v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]
Posted in emotions, people Leave a comment

cǣg-bora

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Hana Videen

cǣg-bora, m.n: key-bearer. (KAEY-BO-ra / ˈkæːj-ˌbɔ-ra)

Medieval illustration of two haloed men standing within a letter S holding a giant key between them.
Historiated initial S with Christ giving St Peter a key in an Antiphonary; Germany (Regensburg), early 14th century; Walters Art Museum, Ms. W.754, f. W.754Br. [thedigitalwalters.org]
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