getæl-cræft

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Hana Videen

getæl-cræft, m.n: arithmetic (literally ‘number-craft’ or ‘computation-craft’). (yeh-TAL-KRAFT / jɛ-ˈtæl-ˌkræft)

Medieval manuscript page with a series of shapes (triangles, squares, pentagons and hexagons) with Roman numerals marked on different parts of the shapes; below is writing in Latin. — Boethius’ De institutione arithmetica; France, mid 9th-early 10th century; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Latin 10251, f. 41r. [gallica.bnf.fr]

þingung

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Hana Videen

þingung, f.n: intercession, intervention, mediation. (THING-gung / ˈθɪŋ-gʌŋ)

ān-wīg

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Hana Videen

ān-wīg, n.n: single combat, duel. (AHN-wee / ˈaːn-wiːj)

Medieval manuscript image of two foxes dressed as knights fighting on horseback; the sword of the one on the left pierces the chest of the one on the right. — Roman de Renart; France, 13th century; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 1581, f. 6v. [gallica.bnf.fr]

heofon-fȳr

Posted on January 14, 2023 by Hana Videen

heofon-fȳr, n.n: lightning. (HEH-ov-on-FUER / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌfyːr)

nīd-behēfe

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Hana Videen

nīd-behēfe, adj: necessary, needful. (NEED-beh-HAY-vuh / ˈniːd-bɛ-ˌheː-və)

a-brecan

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Hana Videen

a-brecan, str.v: to break, vanquish, to take by storm, to assault, destroy. (ah-BREH-kahn / a-ˈbrɛ-kan)

Medieval manuscript image of an army on horses and a foot soldier catapulting stones at a castle; soldiers are looking on from the castle turret and the windows. — Siege of Rochelle in Les Grandes chroniques de France; France (Paris), 14th century; British Library, Royal 16 G VI, f. 388r. [bl.uk]

æl

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Hana Videen

æl, m.n: oil. (AL / ˈæl)

In this week’s Wordhord Wednesday post, I try to determine if all leaders were once wise. I also give the answers to last week’s quiz. Read the post on Patreon.

swimmend-līc

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Hana Videen

swimmend-līc, adj: able to swim. (SWIM-mend-leech / ˈswɪm-mɛnd-liːtʃ)

Medieval manuscript image of an orange and blue fish leaping out of the water and bending around to grasp its tail in its mouth. — A salmon in Gerald of Wales’s Topographia Hibernica; England (Lincoln?), c. 1196-1223; British Library, Royal MS 13 B VIII, f. 23r. [bl.uk]

weorold-gesǣlig

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Hana Videen

weorold-gesǣlig, adj: blessed with worldly goods, prosperous. (WEH-oh-rold-yeh-SAL-ih / ˈwɛɔ-rɔld-jɛ-ˌsæː-lɪj)

ears-endu

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Hana Videen

ears-endu, m.n: buttocks. (AY-arz-EN-duh / ˈɛarz-ˌɛn-dʌ)

Medieval manuscript image of a rather surprised looking lion with its tail in the air that has a large magpie pecking at its rear end. — Jacobus de Voragine’s Legenda Aurea; France, 14th century; Angers, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 808, f. 88v. [bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr]

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