Glossary

alderman 

(sometimes aldormann or ealdorman) The title of one exercising authority under the king over a former kingdom, a district, or county; later supplanted by the term earl.

All Saints 

A celebration instituted to honour all the saints; celebrated November 1.

alms 

Money or goods collected for the poor; charity.

calends 

(sometimes kalends) The first day of the month in the Roman calendar; originally the day of the new moon.

Candlemas 

(sometimes Purification of the Blessed Virgin) Marks the end of the Christmas and Epiphany season; celebrated February 2.

cock-crowing 

The time when the rooster crows, or pre-dawn.

dawn 

The time of the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.

etheling (eðeling) 

(sometimes atheling) Generally used to designate anyone of noble birth; often used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to denote royalty from Wessex.

ides 

Originally the day of the full moon in the Roman calendar, later became the 15th of March, May, July & October and the 13th day in other months.

midsummer 

Originally the day of the summer solstice, traditionally celebrated on June 24.

mid-winter 

The middle of winter, traditionally accepted to be Christmas Day (December 25).

murrain 

Any disease of domestic animals that resembles a plague.

nones 

The ninth day before Ides in the Roman calendar; the 7th of March, May, July and October and the 5th of other months.

pall 

Fine or rich cloth as used for the robes of persons of high rank; a cloth used on or at the altar, for any of various purposes.

pound 

An English money of account (originally, a pound weight of silver).

right belief

Seven Sleepers 

A feast day observed for the Saints "Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, Dionysius, Joannes, Serapion, and Constantinus" on July 27.

sheriff (scír3eréfa) 

a high officer, the representative of the royal authority, who presided in the shire-moot, and was responsible for the administration of the royal demesne and the execution of the law.

twelfth-day 

The twelfth day after Christmas on which the festival of the Epiphany is celebrated; formerly observed as the closing day of the Christmas festivities; the sixth of January.

welkin 

The arch or vault of heaven; the sky.

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A Definition of Calendrical Terms
Online Anglo-Saxon Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
WordNet