godes gāst

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Hana Videen

godes gāst, n: God’s Spirit (Holy Spirit). (GOD-ess GAHST / ˈgɔd-ɛs ˈgaːst)

Medieval manuscript image of a dove descending with what appears to be a bleeding heart above a naked haloed man, who is being blessed by a haloed bearded man in a hairy robe. — Baptism of Christ in Evangeliarium; France (Paris), 12th century; Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms-206, f. 9r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

gebed-mann

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Hana Videen

gebed-mann, m.n: one who prays; (specifically) cleric. (yeh-BED-MAHN / jɛ-ˈbɛd-ˌman)

Medieval manuscript image of two angels sitting piggyback on the shoulders of two monks. — Bible moralisée; France, 14th century; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Français 167, f. 302r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

cyric-belle

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Hana Videen

cyric-belle, f.n: church-bell, i.e., hand-bell used in church. (CHUE-rich-BELL-luh / ˈtʃy-rɪtʃ-ˌbɛl-lə)

heofon-weard

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Hana Videen

heofon-weard, m.n: guardian of heaven, God. (HEH-o-von-WEH-ard / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌwɛard)

brȳd-būr

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Hana Videen

brȳd-būr, m.n: marriage chamber, bridal chamber; the Virgin’s womb (referring to Christ’s advent); (mystically) the heavenly marriage, the nuptial union of the bridegroom Christ and his bride (an individual or the Church). (BRUED-BOOR / ˈbryːd-ˌbuːr)

Medieval manuscript image of a haloed man embracing and holding the hand of a crowned and haloed woman. — Christ and Ecclesia as bride and bridegroom; Germany (Eberbach), 1190-1200; Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 150, f. 3r. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

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]

biscop-seðel

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Hana Videen

biscop-seðel, n.n: a bishop’s seat or residence. (BIH-shop-SEH-thell / ˈbɪ-ʃɔp-ˌsɛ-θɛl)

hālig-rift

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Hana Videen

hālig-rift, f.n: a holy garment, veil. (HA-lih-RIFT / ˈhaː-lɪj-ˌrɪft)

Medieval illustration of a large veil that holds two bearded haloed young men, who reach their arms up to touch the wings of the haloed dove that holds the veil aloft in its beak. — The veil forms a hammock in which the Trinity rests, partially covered, in the Rothschild Canticles; Flanders or the Rhineland, c. 1300; Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Beinecke MS 404, f. 75r. [collections.library.yale.edu]

ǣfen-lāc

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Hana Videen

ǣfen-lāc, n.n: evening offering. (AV-en-LAHK / ˈæː-vɛn-ˌlaːc)

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)