1
Q
Scourge
A
A person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering
2
Q
Mead-benches
A
Benches in a mead hall where warriors sit and drink
3
Q
Hall-troops
A
The army or band of warriors in a mead hall
4
Q
Foundling
A
An abandoned infant cared for by others
5
Q
Whale-road
A
Ocean or sea (Old English kenning)
6
Q
Tholed
A
Endured or suffered hardship
7
Q
Bewailing
A
Expressing deep sorrow or grief
8
Q
Barbarous
A
Savagely cruel or brutal
9
Q
Marauding
A
Roaming in search of things to steal or attack
10
Q
Anathema
A
Something or someone intensely hated or cursed
11
Q
Harrowed
A
Caused distress or torment
12
Q
Din
A
Loud and unpleasant noise
13
Q
Bothies
A
Small, basic huts or shelters in remote areas
14
Q
Reaver
A
Raider or thief who plunders
15
Q
Treasure-seat
A
Throne or seat of wealth
16
Q
Lays
A
Short narrative poems meant to be sung
17
Q
Pagan
A
Someone with non-Christian or pre-Christian religious beliefs
18
Q
Heathenish
A
Uncivilized or irreligious; pagan-like
19
Q
Interlopers
A
Intruders or people who meddle in others’ affairs
20
Q
Word-hoard
A
Vocabulary; collection of words
21
Q
Mongering
A
Dealing or spreading something, often negative
22
Q
Respite
A
A short period of rest or relief
23
Q
Tar
A
Thick, dark, sticky liquid from wood or coal
24
Q
Venturesome
A
Willing to take risks or try new things
25
Retainers
Loyal followers or attendants of a lord
26
Four-square
Firmly built; solid or steady
27
Fells
Hills or high moorlands
28
Crags
Steep, rugged cliffs or rocks
29
Wood-wreathed
Covered or decorated with wood
30
War-gear
Armor and weapons
31
Wassail
Festive drinking or toasting celebration
32
Bane
A cause of death or destruction; slayer
33
Torques
Twisted metal neck rings symbolizing wealth or rank
34
Renege
Go back on a promise or agreement
35
Links
Rings of a chain; connections
36
Bolter
Maker of bolts (arrows or metal bars)
37
Moor-nest
Grendel’s lair; swamp dwelling
38
Breast-webbing
Chainmail armor
39
Wane
To decrease or fade in strength
40
Stalwart
Strong, loyal, and hardworking
41
Minstrel
Medieval singer or poet who performs heroic tales
42
Bronding
A person from Brännö (Swedish island)
43
Strongroom
Room for storing valuables safely
44
Bawn
Fortified yard or courtyard around a castle
45
Filigree
Delicate, ornamental wirework (usually gold or silver)
46
Pinioned
Tied or restrained
47
Swath
A wide strip or area of something
48
Headlands
Narrow pieces of land jutting into the sea
49
Buffet
To strike repeatedly and violently
50
Kith
Friends and acquaintances
51
Helm
Helmet or device used for steering
52
Mettle
Courage and spirit to face challenges
53
Bolster
To support or strengthen; also a long pillow
54
Shadow-bourne
Carried or moved in the shadows
55
Loping
Moving with long, bounding strides
56
Moor
Open, uncultivated land; swampy ground
57
Sheer
Steep; complete; absolute
58
Spurn
Reject with contempt
59
Baleful
Threatening harm or evil
60
Canny
Smart, careful, and showing good judgment
61
Bone Lappings
Tendons or ligaments
62
Quailed
Showed fear or shrank back
63
Hell-serf
Servant or slave of Hell
64
Keen
Sharp or intense; having strong perception
65
Manacled
Restrained with chains or shackles
66
Foremost
Most important or leading
67
Glut
To overfill or eat excessively
68
Whetted
Sharpened or stimulated
69
Vied
Competed or contended
70
Atrocity
Extreme cruelty or wicked act
71
Mizzle
Light rain or drizzle
72
Humiliate
To make someone feel ashamed
73
Reprisal
Revenge or retaliation for an injury
74
Reared
Brought up or raised
75
Sea-rovers
Seafarers or sea raiders
76
Buffeted
Struck repeatedly by blows or waves
77
Earl troop
Group of noble warriors; Beowulf’s companions
78
Sinew
Tough tissue connecting muscle to bone
79
Fen-banks
Edges of marshy or swampy land
80
Unremitting
Never relaxing; constant
81
Mere
A lake or body of water (Grendel’s mother’s home)
82
Fence
Barrier or defense; protection
83
Redress
To correct or make right
84
Gabled
Triangular section at the end of a pitched roof
85
Requite
To repay a favor or injury
86
Hapsed
Locked or fastened with a clasp
87
Hooped
Banded or encircled with rings
88
Hirpling
Limping or hobbling
89
Time-proofed
Made to last through time
90
Throng
Crowd or fill a space densely
91
Guilt-fouled
Morally stained or corrupted
92
Relish
Great enjoyment; to savor
93
Ridge
Long narrow hilltop or mountain range
94
Lapped
Overlapped or wrapped around
95
Bridle
Headgear used to control a horse
96
Sumptuous
Luxurious or rich in style
97
Battle-seat
Saddle; seat for a warrior
98
Coffer
Small chest for valuables
99
Chieftain
Tribal or clan leader
100
Fordoomed
Destined to fail or die
101
Spear-gored
Pierced by a spear
102
Waylay
To ambush or stop someone unexpectedly
103
Balk
To hesitate or refuse to proceed
104
Steward
One who manages food or property for others
105
Duly
Properly or appropriately
106
Open-handed
Generous and giving
107
Urbane
Polite and refined in manner
108
Claw-scale
Scale or claw of a creature
109
Welt
Raised mark on the skin, like from a whip
110
Wave-vat
The sea
111
Frothing
Bubbling or foaming
112
Renown
Fame or widespread honor
113
Sway
Rule or control over others
114
Brood
Think deeply, often about something troubling
115
Bowed
Bent down or stooped
116
Sallied
Set out or charged forth (especially for attack)
117
Racked
Caused extreme pain or distress
118
Hell-dam
“Mother of Hell”; Grendel’s mother
119
Boar-Crests
Boar emblems on helmets for luck and protection
120
Depredation
Act of attacking or plundering
121
Keshes
Causeway or log bridge
122
Uncanny
Strange or mysterious in an unsettling way
123
Heather-stepper
Stag or deer
124
Hart
Male deer
125
Scud
Move quickly, as driven by wind
126
Bulwark
Defensive wall or strong protection
127
Troll-dam
Female troll; Grendel’s mother
128
Bit
Metal mouthpiece for controlling a horse
129
Halter
Headgear used for leading animals
130
Plaited
Braided or woven together
131
Screes
Loose stones covering a mountain slope
132
Dismal
Gloomy, depressing, or dreary
133
Hot gore
Blood spilled from violence
134
Heaving
Rising and falling rhythmically
135
Outlandish
Weird or foreign; unfamiliar
136
Wolfish
Greedy or ferocious like a wolf
137
Bewildering
Confusing or perplexing
138
Tarn-hag
Swamp witch; Grendel’s mother
139
Hewed
Chopped or cut with an axe or tool
140
Bode
Be an omen or sign of something coming
141
Primordia
The beginning or origin of something
142
Girasole
A reddish-yellow color; Italian for sunflower
143
Gyre
A spiral or circular motion
144
Engendered
Produced or gave rise to
145
August
Worthy of respect; majestic
146
Phi
Greek letter; symbol for the golden ratio
147
Fie
Exclamation of disgust or disapproval
148
Reify
Make something abstract more concrete or real
149
Kowtow
To bow deeply in excessive respect
150
Pythia
Priestess of Apollo at Delphi; delivered prophecies
151
Pith
The essential or central part of something
152
Empyrean
Relating to the heavens or sky
153
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
154
Discordance
Lack of harmony; conflict or noise
155
Gilt
Covered in gold
156
Postulates
Assumed truths or statements used for reasoning
157
Foyer
Entrance hall of a building
158
Doled
Distributed in small amounts
159
Rampant
Uncontrolled; spreading widely
160
Harrowed
Troubled or tormented
161
Din
Loud and continuous noise
162
Girdled
Surrounded or encircled
163
Exacted
Demanded and obtained by force
164
Wassail
Drinking and celebration
165
Wallstead
Site of a ruined building with walls still standing
166
Beset
Surrounded and attacked
167
Reavers
Raiders or plunderers
168
Pagan
Person with pre-Christian or nature-based religion
169
Riven
Split apart violently
170
Canny
Showed good judgment or cleverness
171
Crag
Steep rocky cliff
172
Headland
Point of land jutting into the sea
173
Stoutness
Boldness and strength
174
Gables
Triangular upper parts of walls under pitched roofs
175
Bothies
Small huts or shelters
176
Weather-eye
Alertness to weather or surroundings
177
Lay
Short narrative poem, often sung
178
Parley
Discussion between enemies under a truce
179
Heathen
Irreligious or uncivilized person
180
Hanger-on
Attendant or dependent follower
181
Hawser
Heavy rope for mooring a ship
182
Stook
Stack of weapons or grain
183
Four-square
Solidly built and stable
184
Boltered
Smeared or clotted with something thick (like blood)
185
Brook
Tolerate or endure
186
Vie
Compete or strive for victory
187
Filigree
Delicate metal decoration
188
Kith
Friends and family
189
Mizzle
Light drizzle
190
Bolster
Support or prop up
191
Spurned
Rejected scornfully
192
Quailed
Trembled or shrank in fear
193
Wound-slurry
Mixture of blood and fluids from a wound
194
Bay-steed
Horse with reddish-brown coat
195
Redress
To make right or fix a wrong
196
Eaves
Edge of a roof or forest
197
Requite
Repay or return a favor
198
Thrall
Slave or person under control
199
Hasped, hooped, and hirpling
Fastened, bent, and limping from pain
200
Embossed
Decorated with raised design
201
Coffer
Strongbox or small chest for valuables
202
Bereft
Deprived of something or someone
203
Waylaid
Ambushed or stopped unexpectedly
204
Arbitrate
Settle or judge a dispute
205
Unremitting
Unending; persistent
206
Fence
Barrier or protection
207
Time-proofed
Made durable over time
208
Guilt-fouled
Corrupted by guilt
209
Relish
Enjoyment or appreciation
210
Ridge
Narrow hilltop or elevated crest
211
Bridle
Headgear used to control a horse
212
Sumptuous
Luxurious or grand
213
Balk
To refuse to move forward
214
Steward
Manager of food or supplies
215
Duly
Properly or as required
216
Open-handed
Generous or giving freely
217
Urbane
Cultured and refined
218
Claw-scale
Scale or claw
219
Welt
Raised ridge or mark, as from a whip
220
Wave-vat
Sea or ocean
221
Frothing
Bubbling up with foam
222
Sway
Control or influence over others
223
Brood
Think deeply and gloomily
224
Bowed
Bent forward or downward
225
Sallied
Went forth to attack
226
Racked
Tormented or strained
227
Boar-Crests
Boar images on helmets for luck
228
Keshes
Log bridge or causeway
229
Uncanny
Weird or mysterious
230
Heather-stepper
Deer or stag
231
Hart
Male deer
232
Scud
Move quickly as if driven by the wind
233
Bulwark
Strong defensive wall or protection
234
Bit
Metal piece in a horse’s mouth
235
Halter
Headgear for leading an animal
236
Plaited
Braided hair or material
237
Fells
Hills or moorlands
238
Screes
Loose stones covering a mountain
239
Dismal
Gloomy or depressing
240
Heaving
Rising and falling repeatedly
241
Outlandish
Strange or foreign
242
Wolfish
Greedy or ravenous
243
Bewildering
Confusing or perplexing
244
Hewed
Cut or shaped with an axe
245
Bode
Be a sign of something to come
246
Primordia
Beginning or origin
247
Girasole
Reddish-yellow color, like a sunflower
248
Gyre
Spiral or circular motion
249
Engendered
Gave rise to; caused
250
August
Majestic or noble
251
Phi
Golden ratio symbol
252
Fie
Expression of disgust
253
Reify
Make something abstract more concrete
254
Kowtow
To kneel and bow in deep respect
255
Pythia
Priestess of Apollo; gave prophecies
256
Pith
Essence or core part
257
Empyrean
Heavenly or celestial
258
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
259
Discordance
Disagreement or lack of harmony
260
Gilt
Covered in gold
261
Postulates
Assumed ideas used for reasoning
262
Foyer
Entrance hall in a building
beowulf
flashcards
Decks in class (1)
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