Old English Beowulf Vocabulary

Invidious

(Of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others

Fetters

A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles

Kenning

A compound expression in Old English and Old Norse with metaphorical meaning

Fealty

A feudal tenant or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord

Atheling

A prince or Lord in Anglo-saxon England

Hoard

A stack or store of money or valued objects; typically one that is secret or carefully guarded

Harrowing

Acutely distressing

Accoutrement

Additional items of dress or equipment,or other items carried or worn by a person

Mead

An alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water

Calamitous

Catastrophic; disastrous

Wyrd

Fate personified; any one of the three Weird Sisters

Wield

Hold and use (a weapon or tool)

Blight

Infect(plants or a planted area)

Reconnoiter

Make a military observation of (a region)

Pliant

Pliable

Undemur

Raise doubts or objection; showing reluctance

Bower

Shade or enclose (a place or person)

Affliction

Something that causes pain or suffering

Bolster

Support or strengthen; prop up

Lamentation

The passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping

Prow

The portion of the ship's bow above water

Intransigent

Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something