bȳdel

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Hana Videen

bȳdel, m.n: proclaimer, herald, messenger; preacher, minister of the Gospel. (BUE-dell / ˈbyː-dɛl)

Medieval manuscript image of a haloed man holding a book, towards which an angel gestures; beside them is an altar framed by decorative architecture, with the Latin word ‘efeso’. — Silos Apocalypse, Revelation 2:1-7; N Spain, 1091-1109; British Library, Additional 11695, f. 52r. [bl.uk]

heofon-wlitig

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Hana Videen

heofon-wlitig, adj: of heavenly beauty, divinely beautiful. (HEH-oh-von-WLIH-tih / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌwlɪ-tɪj)

sāwel

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Hana Videen

sāwel, f.n: the soul. (SAH-well / ˈsaː-wɛl)

heolstor-hof

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Hana Videen

heolstor-hof, n.n: a dark dwelling, hell. (HEH-ol-stor-HOFF / ˈhɛɔl-stɔr-ˌhɔf)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on St Helena’s discovery of the True Cross. Read it on Patreon.

Medieval manuscript illustration of a haloed, bleeding, cross-bearing Christ guiding naked men out of a gaping, toothy animal mouth; a couple of hairy demons watch. — Carrow Psalter; England (East Anglia), c. 1250; Walters Art Museum, W. 34, f. 28v. [art.thewalters.org]

fēond

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Hana Videen

fēond, m.n: enemy, foe; fiend, the Devil. (FAY-ond / ˈfeːɔnd)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a haloed man sitting on a hillock with a tall, four-winged, long tailed, talon-toed devil before him; the holy man extends one hand to the devil, the other holding a scroll with Latin writing. — Psalter; England (Oxford), c. 1200-1225; British Library, Arundel MS 157, f. 5v. [bl.uk]

hell

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Hana Videen

hell, f.n: the abode of the dead, underworld in which the spirits of the departed dwell; the hell of the damned, place of eternal punishment for evil human beings and angels. (HELL / ˈhɛl)

Illustration in a circular frame: St Bartholomew hands a scourge to St Guthlac, who is being dragged into a monstrous hell mouth by winged and horned demons; other people are already being tortured by demons inside the hell mouth. — Guthlac Roll; England (Crowland, Lincolnshire), 1175-1215; British Library, Harley Y 6, f. 8r. [bl.uk]

prāfost

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Hana Videen

prāfost, m.n: an officer; an officer of a monastery. (PRAH-vost / ˈpraː-vɔst)

Medieval manuscript image of a small boy being received into a monastery; he faces two tonsured monks who have come out of a church, while two laypeople stand behind him and hold out a bag. — Gratian’s Decretum; France, 13th century; British Library, Royal 10 D VIII, f. 82v. [bl.uk]

heofon-hām

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Hana Videen

heofon-hām, m.n: heavenly home, heaven. (HEH-oh-von-HAHM / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌhaːm)

Medieval manuscript image of four angels hovering in the air, two of whom carry a golden mandorla, inside of which sits Christ making a gesture of blessing. — Refoundation charter of the New Minster, Winchester; England (Benedictine abbey of New Minster), c. 966; British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian A VIII, f. 2v. [bl.uk]

cȳðere

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Hana Videen

cȳðere, m.n: a witness; a martyr, one who bears witness by his death. (KUE-theh-ruh / ˈkyː-θɛ-rə)

Medieval manuscript image of archers shooting arrows into a man bound to a tree; the man gazes up at the clouds from which a hand is shown giving a gesture of blessing. — Life & Miracles of St Edmund; England (Bury St Edmunds), c. 1130; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.736, f. 14r. [themorgan.org]

ōs

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Hana Videen

ōs, m.n: a divinity, god; name of the O-rune ᚩ. (OHS / ˈoːs)

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