Welcome to our comprehensive Old English Word List. This interactive resource allows you to explore a vast collection of Old English vocabulary. You can easily navigate through the list using our alphabetical filter, which includes special characters like 'æ' and 'þ'. Additionally, you can refine your search by word type, such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives. Whether you're a student, researcher, or language enthusiast, this tool is designed to enhance your understanding of Old English and its rich linguistic heritage. Jump to Old English Words Starting With: Filter Old English Words By Type: All types of words are visible by default. Click on a type to hide or show words of that type. Full List of All Old English Words abutan , adv. , about, around ac , conj. , but, however acennan , verb , bring forth, give birth to acwellan , verb , to kill adl , noun, f. , sickness, disease agen , adj. , own aglæca , noun, m. , monster, combatant, the terrible one ahwær , adv. , anywhere alimpan , verb , befall, come to pass alyfan , verb , to permit, allow amyrran , verb , to wound an , numeral , a, an, one and , conj. , and anda , noun, m. , malice, hostility andgit , noun, n. , meaning, sense andsaca , noun, m. , enemy, adversary andswarian , verb , to answer andweard , adj. , present andwlita , noun, m. , face andwyrdan , verb , to answer anfeald , adj. , simple, onefold anfloga , noun, m. , solitary flier angel , noun, m. , hook anginn , noun, n. , beginning anhaga , noun, m. , solitary one, one who dwells alone anlicnes , noun, f. , image anræd , adj. , resolute anwealda , noun, m. , ruler, Lord ar , noun, f. , oar ar , noun, f , honour, mercy, favour, prosperity ar , noun, n. , copper ariht , adv. , properly arisan , verb , to arise arleas , adj. , dishonourable arlice , adv , honourably, kindly arod , adj. , bold arweorþe , adj. , honourable asecgan , verb , to say, tell astyrian , verb , to remove, to move atelic , adj. , horrible, dreadful ateon , verb , to draw, unsheathe atol , adj. , terrible, hateful attor , noun, n. , venom awiht , noun, n. , anything axian , verb , to ask aþ , noun, m. , oath æ , noun, f. , law æcer , noun, m. , cultivated field æfæst , adj. , pious æfen , noun, m. , evening æfre , adv. , forever, always, ever æfter , prep. , after æfterfylgan , verb , to follow, to come after æghwa , pron. , everyone, everything æghwær , adv. , everywhere ægþer , pron. , each, both, either æht , noun, f. , possessions, property æl , noun, m. , eel ælc , pron. and adj. , each, every ælfscyne , adj. , beautiful as a fairy ælmihtig , adj. , almighty æmettig , adj. , empty ænig , adj. , any ær , adv. , before, previously ærende , noun, n. , message ærest , adj. , first ærgewinn , noun, n. , ancient hostility ærgod , adj. , good from old times ærnan , verb , to run æsc , noun, m. , ash tree, spear æscplega , noun, m. , spear-fight, battle æscrof , adj. , brave in battle æstel , noun, m. , ?pointer used to keep one’s place as one reads æt , prep. , at ætgædere , adv. , together ætsomne , adv. , together ætywan , verb , to appear, to show æþele , adj. , noble æþeling , noun, m. , prince, atheling æþelo , noun, n. pl. , origin, descent, noble lineage bæc , noun, n. , back bæcere , noun, m. , baker bæl , noun, n. , fire, funeral pyre bærnan , verb , to burn bæþ , noun, n. , bath baldlice , adv. , boldly bana , noun, m. , slayer banhus , noun, n. , body banloca , noun, m. , ‘bone-enclosure’, ?muscles, ?body bar , noun, m. , boar bat , noun, m. , boat baþian , verb , to bathe be , prep. , about, concerning beacen , noun, n. , beacon, sign beadu , noun, m. , battle beadurinc , noun, m. , warrior beadurof , adj. , bold in battle beag , noun, m. , circular ornament beaggyfa , noun, m. , ring-giver, lord beaggyfu , noun, f. , ring-giving, generosity beaghord , noun, n. , ring-hoard, treasure bealdor , noun, m. , lord bealu , noun, n. , misery, harm, injury, enmity bealuhygdig , adj. , intending evil, hostile bealusiþ , noun, m. , painful journey, bitter experience beam , noun, m. , tree, cross bearm , noun, m. , bosom, lap bearn , noun, n. , child, son bearu , noun, m. , grove bebeodan , verb , to command bedælan , verb , to deprive begen , adj. and pron. , both begeondan , prep. , beyond begietan , verb , to get, to acquire beginnan , verb , to begin begnornian , verb , to lament beheafdian , verb , to behead, decapitate behreowsian , verb , to repent benc , noun, f. , bench benn , noun, f. , wound beon , verb , to be beor , noun, n. , beer beorg , noun, m. , hill, mound, mountain ) beorgan , verb , to save, protect beorht , adj. , bright beorn , noun, m. , man, warrior beot , noun, n. , vow, boast beran , verb , to carry, bear berstan , verb , to burst beswican , verb , to deceive, ensnare bet , adv. , better betweonan , prep. , between betweox , prep. , between bidan , verb , to await, experience biddan , verb , to ask, bid bifian , verb , to shake bigong , noun, m. , worship bill , noun, n. , sword bisgu , noun, f. , occupation bitan , verb , to bite blac , adj. , pale blæc , adj. , black blæd , noun, m. , glory blawan , verb , to blow bletsian , verb , to bless blod , noun, n. , blood boc , noun, f. , book bodian , verb , to preach bolster , noun, n. , pillow bricg , noun, f. , bridge brim , noun, n. , sea broga , noun, m. , terror, danger broþor , noun, m. , brother brucan , verb , to use, enjoy, benefit from brun , adj. , brown, black, purple, red brytta , noun, m. , distributor, one who hands out burh , noun, f. , stronghold, enclosure butan , prep. , without, except, but byrgan , verb , to bury bysig , adj. , busy bysmor , noun, m. , disgrace, mockery beorgan , verb , to save, protect beorht , adj. , bright beorn , noun, m. , man, warrior beot , noun, n. , vow, boast beran , verb , to carry, bear berstan , verb , to burst beswican , verb , to deceive, ensnare bet , adv. , better betweonan , prep. , between betweox , prep. , between bidan , verb , to await, experience biddan , verb , to ask, bid bifian , verb , to shake bigong , noun, m. , worship bill , noun, n. , sword bisgu , noun, f. , occupation bitan , verb , to bite blac , adj. , pale blæc , adj. , black blæd , noun, m. , glory blawan , verb , to blow bletsian , verb , to bless blod , noun, n. , blood boc , noun, f. , book bodian , verb , to preach bolster , noun, n. , pillow bricg , noun, f. , bridge brim , noun, n. , sea broga , noun, m. , terror, danger broþor , noun, m. , brother brucan , verb , to use, enjoy, benefit from brun , adj. , brown, black, purple, red brytta , noun, m. , distributor, one who hands out burh , noun, f. , stronghold, enclosure butan , prep. , without, except, but byrgan , verb , to bury bysig , adj. , busy bysmor , noun, m. , disgrace, mockery casere , noun, m. , emperor ceald , adj. , cold ceaster , noun, f. , town cempa , noun, m. , warrior cicen , noun, n. , chicken cirice , noun, f. , church clipian , verb , to call clyppan , verb , to embrace cniht , noun, m. , boy, youth cringan , verb , to fall, perish cuman , verb , to come cunnan , verb , to know cunnian , verb , to find out cwellan , verb , to kill cwen , noun, f. , woman, queen cwic , adj. , alive cyning , noun, m. , king cyse , noun, m. , cheese cyþan , verb , to make known, inform, reveal dæd , noun, f. , deed dæg , noun,m. , day dæl , noun, m. , part, portion dema , noun, m. , judge deofol , noun, m. or n. , devil deop , adj. , deep deor , noun, n. , wild animal deorc , adj. , dark digol , adj. , secret dom , noun, m. , judgement don , verb , to do dream , noun, m. , joy, delight dreogan , verb , to suffer dreor , noun, m. or n. , dripping blood drihten , noun, m. , lord dugan , verb , to be of use duguþ , noun, f. , troop of seasoned retainers, mature men durran , verb , to dare duru , noun, f. , door dyre , adj. , dear dyrne , adj. , secret dysig , adj. , foolish ea , noun, f. , river eac , adv. , also eadig , adj. , blessed, happy eald , adj. , old ealdor , noun, m. , leader, prince ealdor , noun, n. , life, age eallwealda , noun, m. , all-ruler, the Lord earfoþ , noun, n. , work, hardship earm , adj. , poor ece , adj. , eternal ecg , noun, f. , edge, sword eft , adv. , again ege , noun, m. , fear ellen , noun, n. , courage, strength engel , noun, m. , angel ent , noun, m. , giant eorl , noun, m. , nobleman fæder , noun, m. , father fæger , adj. , beautiful, pleasant fæmne , noun, f. , virgin, woman faran , verb , to go, travel feax , noun, n. , hair fela , pron. , many feond , noun, m. , enemy feor , adj. , far feorh , noun, n. , life ferhþ , noun, m. , spirit, mind fleogan , verb , to fly folde , noun, f. , earth, ground folme , noun, f. , hand fon , verb , to catch, seize forhtian , verb , to fear forlætan , verb , to abandon, let go, neglect forma , adj. , first forst , noun, m. , frost frætwe , noun, f. pl. , ornaments frea , noun, m. , lord fremde , adj. , strange fremman , verb , to do, perpetrate friþ , noun, m. , peace frod , adj. , old, wise frofor , noun, f. , consolation fruma , noun, m. , beginning fugol , noun, m. , bird fultum , noun, m. , help, support fus , adj. , eager fyr , noun, n. , fire fyren , noun, f. , crime, wickedness galan , verb , to sing gamol , adj. , old, ancient gan , verb , to go gar , noun, m. , spear gast , noun, m. , spirit, soul, angel, ghost gear , noun, n. , year geard , noun, m. , yard, enclosure gebed , noun, n. , prayer gebeorscipe , noun, m. , beer party gebetan , verb , to improve, remedy gebiddan , verb , to pray geceapian , verb , to buy gecnawan , verb , to recognise, perceive, understand gedwyld , noun, n. , heresy, error gemynd , noun, n. , mind, remembrance genog , adj. , enough geomor , adj. , sad geond , prep. , through, throughout geong , adj. , young georn , adj. , eager

gereord , noun, n. , speech, voice gesib , adj. , related gesund , adj. , unharmed, whole, uncorrupted gewinn , noun, n. , war, battle, strife gewinnan , verb , to conquer, win geþeode , noun, n. , language giedd , noun, n. , word, speech, riddle giefu , noun, f. , gift giet , adv., yet , still gif , conj. , if gioguþ , noun, f. , youth, young people gnornian , verb , to mourn god , adj. , good god , noun, m. , God grædig , adj. , greedy griþ , noun, n. , truce guma , noun, m. , man guþ , noun, f. , battle, war gylp , noun, m. , boast, pride gyse , adv. , yes gewinn , noun, n. , war, battle, strife gewinnan , verb , to conquer, win geþeode , noun, n. , language giedd , noun, n. , word, speech, riddle giefu , noun, f. , gift giet , adv., yet , still gif , conj. , if gioguþ , noun, f. , youth, young people gnornian , verb , to mourn god , adj. , good god , noun, m. , God grædig , adj. , greedy griþ , noun, n. , truce guma , noun, m. , man guþ , noun, f. , battle, war gylp , noun, m. , boast, pride gyse , adv. , yes grædig , adj. , greedy griþ , noun, n. , truce guma , noun, m. , man guþ , noun, f. , battle, war gylp , noun, m. , boast, pride gyse , adv. , yes habban , verb , to have hælan , verb , to heal hælend , noun, m. , saviour hæleþ , noun, m. , hero hæþen , adj. , heathen hal , adj. , safe, unhurt halig , adj. , holy ham , noun, m. , home hat , adj. , hot hatan , verb , to command, order, call, name heafod , noun, n. , head heah , adj. , high hearh , noun, m. , heathen shrine heaþorinc , noun, m. , warrior helm , noun, m. , protection, cover, helmet heofon , noun, m. , heaven heorot , noun, m. , deer, stag here , noun, m. , army hergian , verb , to ravage hild , noun, f. , battle hlæw , noun, m. , mound, barrow hlaf , noun, m. , bread hlaford , noun, m. , lord hleo , noun, n. , protection, shelter holt , noun, n. , wood, forest hord , noun, n. , hoard hu , adv. , how hund , noun, m. , dog hus , noun, n. , house hwa , pron. , who hwær , adv. , where hwæt , pron. , what hwæþer , conj. , whether hwelc , pron. and adj. , which hwil , noun, f. , while hycgan , verb , to think, plan hyge , noun, m. , mind, heart, courage hyht , noun, m., joy , bliss, hope hyrde , noun, m. , guardian, keeper hyse , noun, m. , warrior hycgan , verb , to think, plan hyge , noun, m. , mind, heart, courage hyht , noun, m., joy , bliss, hope hyrde , noun, m. , guardian, keeper hyse , noun, m. , warrior ides , noun, f. , lady ilca , adj. and pron. , same isen , noun, n. , iron lac , noun, n. , play, sacrifice, offering læne , adj. , temporary, transitory, granted, lent laf , noun, f. , remnant, what is left lagu , noun, f. , law lar , noun, f. , teaching laþ , adj. , hateful, hostile leas , adj. , devoid of leax , noun, m. , salmon leode , noun, pl. , people leof , adj. , beloved, dear leoht , noun, n. , light leoþ , noun, n. , song, poem, poetry lic , noun, n. , body lichama , noun, m. , body lif , noun, n. , life lind , noun, f. , shield lof , noun, n. , praise lofgeorn , adj. , eager for praise lufu , noun, f. , love lyft , noun, f. , air, sky, breeze mæg , noun, m. , kinsman mægen , noun, n. , strength, power, army mægþ , noun, f. , maiden mære , adj. , famous, glorious, notorious magan , verb , to be able, can, be competent man , noun, n. , crime manig , adj. , many mann , noun, n. , person, human being maþelian , verb , to speak maþm , noun, m. , treasure mearc , noun, f. , boundary, region, border mearh , noun, m. , horse mece , noun, m. , sword meodo , noun, m. , mead meotod , noun, m. , creator mere , noun, m. , pool, lake micel , adj. , great, large, much mid , prep. , with, amid, among middangeard , noun, m. , world, middle earth miht , noun, f. , might mod , noun, n. , spirit, courage, mind modig , adj. , brave, bold, arrogant modor , noun, f. , mother mona , noun, m. , moon morþor , noun, n. , crime, violence, torment motan , verb , to may, be allowed to mund , noun, f. , hand, protection mynster , noun, n. , monastery, church ] mann , noun, n. , person, human being maþelian , verb , to speak maþm , noun, m. , treasure mearc , noun, f. , boundary, region, border mearh , noun, m. , horse mece , noun, m. , sword meodo , noun, m. , mead meotod , noun, m. , creator mere , noun, m. , pool, lake micel , adj. , great, large, much mid , prep. , with, amid, among middangeard , noun, m. , world, middle earth miht , noun, f. , might mod , noun, n. , spirit, courage, mind modig , adj. , brave, bold, arrogant modor , noun, f. , mother mona , noun, m. , moon morþor , noun, n. , crime, violence, torment motan , verb , to may, be allowed to mund , noun, f. , hand, protection mynster , noun, n. , monastery, church ] nædre , noun, f. , snake, serpent næss , noun, m. , headland, bluff neah , adj. , near neorxnawang , noun, m. , Paradise niman , verb , to take niþ , noun, m. , hatred, malice, trouble nu , adv. , now nytt , noun, f. , use, utility ofer , prep. , over ofermod , noun, n. , pride, arrogance, overconfidence offrian , verb , to offer oft , adv. , often onfon , verb , to receive, accept, take up ongean , adv. , back, again ongietan , verb , to understand, perceive onginnan , verb , to begin ord , noun, m. , point, spear, vanguard oþ þæt , conj. , until oþer , adj. , other oþþe , conj. , or pæþ , noun, m. , path penig , noun, m. , penny preost , noun, m. , priest ræd , noun, m. , advice rædan , verb , to read, instruct, give counsel, rule rand , noun, m. , shield, shield-boss rice , adj. , powerful, great rice , noun, n. , kingdom rinc , noun, m. , man, warrior rod , noun, f. , rood, cross rodor , noun, m. , sky, heaven run , noun, f. , secret meditation sacu , noun, f. , battle sæ , noun, f. and m. , sea samod , adv. , together, too, at the same time sar , adj. , sore sarig , adj. , sorrowful sawol , noun, f. , soul sceadu , noun, f. , shadow scealc , noun, m. , man, warrior sceat , noun, m. , surface, region sceatt , noun, m. , money, payment sceawian , verb , to see, look at sceþþan , verb , to injure scieppan , verb , to create sculan , verb , to must, have to se , seo, þæt, pron. , the secan , verb , to seek secg , noun, m. , man, warrior secgan , verb , to say sefa , noun, m. , heart sele , noun, m. , hall, house sellan , verb , to give, sell sendan , verb , to send, throw, hurl, cause to go seon , verb , to see sibb , noun, f. , peace sige , noun, m. , victory simle , adv. , always sinc , noun, n. , treasure singal , adj. , perpetual siþ , noun, m. , journey, fate, lot, venture siþþan , adv. , since, afterwards, later slean , verb , to strike, beat smeagan , verb , to think, examine snottor , adj. , wise sona , adv. , immediately, soon sorg , noun, f. , sorrow, grief, trouble soþ , adj. , true sped , noun, f. , success, quickness spell , noun, n. , story, message sprecan , verb , to speak stan , noun, m. , stone stefn , noun, f. , voice stow , noun, f. , place stræl , noun, m. or f. , arrow sum , adj. and pron. , a, a certain, some sunne , noun, f. , sun sunu , noun, m. , son swa , adv. , so, thus sweart , adj. , dark, black swefn , noun, n. , dream swelc , adj. , such sweord , noun, n. , sword sweostor , noun, f. , sister sweotol , adj. , clear, manifest swincan , verb , labour, toil, struggle swiþe , adv. , very, greatly symbel , noun, n. , feast syn , noun, f. , crime, sin teon , verb , to draw, drag tid , noun, f. , time til , adj. , good tir , noun, m. , glory torht , adj. , bright treow , noun, f. , faith, trust, loyalty treow , noun, n. , tree tun , noun, m. , town, village tungol , noun, n. , star twegen , numeral , two tweo , noun, m. , doubt, uncertainty uhta , noun, m. or f. , period just before dawn uncuþ , adj. , unknown, strange ut , adv. , out wæl , noun, n. , slaughter, carnage wæstm , noun, m. , fruit wealdan , verb , wield, control wealdend , noun, m. , ruler, Lord weard , noun, m. , guardian weaxan , verb , to grow wen , noun, f. , expectation, hope wendan , verb , to go, turn, translate, change weorþan , verb , to become, happen wer , noun, m. , man werod , noun, n. , troop, company wic , noun, n. , abode wif , noun, n. , woman, wife wig , noun, n. , war, battle wiga , noun, m. , warrior wiht , noun, f. and n. , creature, being willan , verb , to want wine , noun, m. , friend, lord winnan , verb , to struggle, fight wita , noun, m. , wise man, counsellor witan , verb , to know wite , noun, n. , punishment wiþ , prep. , against, from, with wlanc , adj. , proud wolcen , noun, n. or m. , cloud, sky woruld , noun, f. , world wræcca , noun, m. , wanderer, exile wraþ , adj. , hostile wrecan , verb , to avenge writan , verb , to write wudu , noun, m. , wood, forest, tree wuldor , noun, n. , glory wundor , noun, n. , wonder, miracle wunian , verb , to dwell wynn , noun, f. , joy wyrcan , verb , to make, form, produce wyrd , noun, f. , fate, event wyrm , noun, m. , worm, serpent wyrt , noun, f. , herb, plant, vegetable yfel , adj. , evil ymb , prep. , about, concerning yrmþu , noun, f. , hardship yrre , noun, n. , anger yþ , noun, f. , wave þa , adv. and conj. , then, when þær , adv. and conj. , there, where þeah , adv. , though þeaw , noun, m. , custom, practice þegn , noun, m. , thane, nobleman, retainer, warrior þeod , noun, f. , people, nation þeoden , noun, m. , prince, lord þeow , noun, m. , slave, servant þolian , verb , to suffer þonne , adv. , then þrowian , verb , to suffer þrym , noun, m. , glory þurfan , verb , to need þurh , prep. , through This page wouldn't have been possible without the work of St Andrews University's comprehensive list of Old English Words, see here . Written by Richard Barker Richard is an English teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has dedicated his life and career to his passion for English, literature, and pedagogy, guiding multiple generations of students on their journey to discovery.