The Wordhord

In Old English, a wordhord was a hoard of words — a store of language kept close, ready to be drawn on when it mattered most. To unlock the wordhord was to begin to speak with purpose and skill.

One of the earliest and most evocative uses comes from Beowulf, just as the hero prepares to speak for the first time:

Him se yldesta andswarode, The eldest of them answered,

werodes wīsa, wordhord onlēac: the leader of the warriors, unlocked his wordhoard:

“Wē synt gumcynnes Gēata lēode “We are men of the Geatish people,

and Hīgeles heoras; Beowulf is mīn nama…” Hygelac’s hearth-companions; my name is Beowulf…”

To open one’s wordhord is not simply to speak — it is to draw on knowledge, memory, and meaning, and shape them into something that can be shared.

This section gathers reflections on the structure, history, and meaning of English words. You’ll find etymology cards, seasonal explorations, and word-family notes that trace how language grows — not at random, but through stories, roots, and sound.

Each entry examines how a word was built, where it came from, and how its meaning has shifted through time, translation, and use. It’s a place for wordcraft grounded in history — practical, curious, and shaped by the belief that language is not just learnt, but forged.