Old English

How English has changed in the past 1000 years.

Word origin:  The word seems to be of Germanic origin although in modern German a strawberry is an Erdbeer or earth berry.  The English “strawberry” probably comes from Old English strew, meaning “that which is scattered or strewn,” as the ripe berries appear “strewn” over the ground.

boot (14c.), from the Old French bote, originally only used for riding boots.

cross (10c), from the Old English cros, via the Old Irish cros, via the Latin crux. The word replaced the Old English rood, a pole or cross. 

April, from the Old French avril, meaning “(month of) Venus.” In the 13th Century, it replaced the Old English Eastermonað, the month of the fertility goddess. 

The innocent heart must be happy.

(via oldenglisheveryday)

Byrhtwold - The Battle of Maldon (via justgetdancyy)

(“…when sorrow and sleep together bind the poor dweller-alone, it will seem to him in his mind that he is embracing and kissing his liege lord and laying his hands and his head on his knee, as it some times was in the old days when he took part in the gift-giving. Then he wakens again, the man with no lord, sees the yellow waves before him, the sea-birds bathe, spread their feathers, frost and snow fall, mingled with hail. Then the wounds are deeper in his heart, sore for want of his dear one.”)