hand-cræft

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Hana Videen

hand-cræft, m.n: skill or power of the hand. (HOND-KRAFT / ˈhand-ˌkræft)

bēag-wīse

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Hana Videen

bēag-wīse, f.n: circular shape. (BAY-ahg-WEE-zuh / ˈbeːag-ˌwiː-zə)

A smiley face in a medieval manuscript appears to float up towards the text in a balloon. — Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas; France, main text 13th century, doodle 14th or 15th century; Conches-en-Ouche, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 7, f. 62r. [portail.biblissima.fr]

sēft-ēadig

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Hana Videen

sēft-ēadig, adj: in easy circumstances, free from hardships. (SAIFT-AY-ah-dih / ˈseːft-ˌeːa-dɪj)

ford

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Hana Videen

ford, m.n: ford; a shallow place, natural or artificial, across a stream, river or other water, by which a crossing can be made. (FORD / ˈfɔrd)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a woman standing on a grassy bank holding a child beside a river, in which floats a boat holding a man and child. — Smithfield Decretals; France, illuminated in England (London?), c. 1340; British Library, Royal 10 E IV, f. 122v. [thijsporck.com]

heofon-wuldor

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Hana Videen

heofon-wuldor, n.n: heavenly glory. (HEH-oh-von-WULL-dor / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌwʌl-dɔr)

scill

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Hana Videen

scill, f.n: a shell, shellfish; the shell of an egg, a scale of a fish, serpent, etc. (SHILL / ˈʃɪl)

A fairly unconvincing but amusing drawing of a mollusk poking its head out of its spiky shell. — A collection of medical texts including Tractatus de herbis; Italy, c. 1280-1350; British Library, Egerton MS 747, f. 18v. [iiif.bl.uk]

dēaw-driās

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Hana Videen

dēaw-driās, m.n: a fall of dew. (DAY-aw-DRI-ahs / ˈdeːa-ˌdrɪ-aːs)

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)

ymb-fæþmian

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Hana Videen

ymb-fæþmian, wk.v: to embrace, clasp. (umb-FATH-mi-ahn / ymb-ˈfæθ-mɪ-an)

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Happy Hug A Medievalist Day! St Mary embracing St Elisabeth in the Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine; France, c. 1185; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB 76 F 13, f. 15r. [commons.wikimedia.org]

cnep

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Hana Videen

cnep, m.n: a top, summit. (K’NEP / ˈknɛp)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a goat on the top of a grassy hill, watching the approach of a traveller. — A goat in a bestiary; England, 1275-1300; Cambridge, Trinity College Library, R.14.9, f. 91r. [bestiary.ca]