Old English Wordhord

Old English Word of the Day

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Hātabaðan

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Hana Videen

Hātabaðan, n: Bath (place name). (HA-ta-BA-thon / ˈhaː-ta-ˌba-θan)

The city of Bath used to be called Hot Baths.

Medieval marginalia depicting a person bathing in a barrel-like tub, with a large bird perched above them and a dragon-like creature lurking below.
Book of Hours; St Omer or Théouranne, c. 1320; British Library, Add MS 36684, f. 7v. [blogs.bl.uk]
Posted in places Leave a comment

drohtnian

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Hana Videen

drohtnian, wk.v: to converse, dwell or keep company with, pass life, live. (DRO’HT-ni-ahn / ˈdrɔxt-nɪ-an)

Posted in communication Leave a comment

secgan

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Hana Videen

secgan, wk.v: to say words, tell. (SEDG-ahn / ˈsɛdʒ-an)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two men having a conversation, their dialogue depicted in Latin text that extends to their mouths like speech bubbles; a pile of books lies between them.
Raymond Lull conversing with Thomas Méysier, his student and disciple; N France, 14th century; Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, St Peter Perg. 92, f. 11v. [digital.blb-karlsruhe.de]
Posted in communication, deorhord book Leave a comment

pæþ

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Hana Videen

pæþ, m/f.n: path, track. (PATH / ˈpæθ)

Posted in deorhord book, travel + trade Leave a comment

hrōf-wyrhta

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Hana Videen

hrōf-wyrhta, m.n: a worker who works at roofs, a builder. (HROAF-WUER’H-ta / ˈhroːf-ˌwyrx-ta)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two people on tall ladders working on the roof of a church, one of whom is wearing monastic garb; some roof tiles are falling to the ground.
Rothschild Canticles; Flanders, c. 1300; Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, MS 404, f. 121v. [collections.library.yale.edu]
Posted in people Leave a comment

sand-land

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Hana Videen

sand-land, n.n: the sea-shore. (SAWND-LAWND / ˈsand-ˌland)

Posted in places Leave a comment

grymettan

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Hana Videen

grymettan, wk.v: to roar, bellow; to cry out, howl. (GRUE-met-tahn / ˈgry-mɛt-tan)

Marginal lion in the Rothschild Canticles; Flanders, c. 1300; Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, MS 404, f. 115v. [collections.library.yale.edu]
Posted in deorhord book, sounds + music Leave a comment

dēoren

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Hana Videen

dēoren, adj: of or like a wild animal. (DAY-o-ren / ˈdeːɔ-rɛn)

A stack of THE DEORHORD: AN OLD ENGLISH BESTIARY, including two paperbacks and two hardcovers. The books are on a wooden staircase and beside them is a brown and white cat sniffing at a treat.
It’s World Animal Day (Dēores Dæg… it sounds better in Old English). Learn all about Old English animals in The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary.
Posted in animals Leave a comment

þole-byrde

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Hana Videen

þole-byrde, adj: bearing patiently, patient, long-suffering. (THOLL-uh-BUER-duh / ˈθɔ-lə-ˌbyr-də)

Posted in etc Leave a comment

a-sēon

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Hana Videen

a-sēon, str.v: to look at or upon, set eyes on (something). (ah-SAY-on / a-ˈseːɔn)

Medieval manuscript image of a grey cat curiously gazing down its nose, giving it a cross-eyed appearance.
Peterborough Bestiary; England (Peterborough), c. 1300-1310; Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 53, f. 197v. [parker.stanford.edu]

Posted in etc Leave a comment

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