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[Opinions] Re: Medieval English Feminine Names
Yay, what an excellent list. I can go through these things for hours. Interesting about Hyssmaye; I know a male Ismay, and we always thought it was a corruption/translation/whatever of Esme- but maybe not so!mǽre = great, splendid, so Mærwynn = splendid friend. LOL, I never thought I'd ever find a use again for Old English. :)
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There was no fada over the æ (didn't even know there could be...), but I'll take your word for it that's what was meant. Nice meaning. Thanks!So you've studied Old English? I've always wanted to but they didn't offer it at my school that I'm aware of. I plan on getting a book on it sometime. I assume they make them. :)
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I've probably still got my old textbooks somewhere. :) It's quite fun to learn - easier than Welsh! And you get to read Beowulf in the original. (And a lot of battles that bored me silly at the time, but I suspect I might be more interested in now.)
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I have the Canterbury Tales in Old English. It should be fairly easy to learn since you can understand a reasonable portion of it anyway without knowing much about it!I'll have to look up a book that seems good to get and keep it for my birthday or Christmas list. I have always wanted to study Welsh, too, but hope maybe someday to get a CD-ROM for that.

This message was edited 6/9/2011, 3:33 PM

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Chaucer is Middle English ;) This is Old English: http://www8.georgetown.edu/departments/medieval/labyrinth/library/oe/texts/a4.1.html
- this has an overview if you still fancy it! http://www.jebbo.co.uk/learn-oe/contents.htm
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Oh yesSilly me. I knew that. :)Thanks for that link! I will definitely check it out tomorrow.
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"splendid friend" is such a lovely meaning, so warm! Look at you and your useful archaic knowledge!
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