Where two terms are given with a slash between them, unless otherwise stated the first is Old Norse and the second Anglo-Saxon. There are two ways of pronouncing Old Norse; where they differ, the Modern Icelandic is listed first and the Reconstructed second. Different groups often use slightly different anglicizations or Anglo-Saxonizations, some of which may not be listed. But it is common to omit the accents indicating length.

Ć

Ćsir (sing. Ás) [EYE-seer, ahss or owss)
One of the two tribes of gods; often used in the lore to refer to all the gods

ćţeling, ćtheling [ATH-uh-ling]
prince: one qualified by birth to be king (Anglo-Saxon)

Ćtheling Thews (Twelve)
Anglo-Saxon heathen counter to NNV--a list of heathen ethical guidelines derived from lore and literature

'ćweweard [EYY-wuh-way-urd]
less common Anglo-Saxon translation of gođi, priest; higher-ranking Anglo-Saxon priest

ćtt [ite]
one of the three groups of eight within the Elder Fuţark. (Norse "clan")

A

alf (plur. alfar [AL-far]) / ćlf / alp
elf: Norse, Anglo-Saxon, German

Alfablót [AL-fuh-bloat]
ceremonial observance of the elves, particularly as male ancestors, and associated festival day

Alfheim [ALF-heym]
home of the elves, one of the nine worlds

alhersjargođi [ahl-HAIRS-yarr-go-thee, with short "o" and voiced "th"]
gođi of all men--title used in Icelandic heathenry

althing [ALL-thing]
annual or less frequent general meeting; capitalized, the parliament of Iceland

Armanism, Armanenschaft [ahr-MAH-nuhn-shaft]
German-centered movement in heathenry based on the teachings of Guido (von) List

árung [AHH-roong]
rank; level of membership in an Anglo-Saxon heathen organization

Ásatrú [ASS-uh-troo, OWSS-uh-troo]
Most common term for modern heathen religion; heathenry with a Norse emphasis

Ases [AH-suz, EY-suz]
Anglicization of Ćsir

Ásgarđr /Esageard /Ensigart [OWSS-gahrthrr or AHSS-gahrthrr, with voiced "th," EY-suh-yay-urd, ENN-si-gahrt]
home of the Ćsir, one of the nine worlds--Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Armanic German.  Often anglicized Asgard

ASH
Anglo-Saxon heathen

ásynja, plur. ásynjur [OW-sünn-yah, OW-sünn-yuhr or ah-SÜNN-yah, ah-SÜNN-yuhr]
goddess; female member of the Ćsir

B

barnstokkr, barmstokk
tree or column representing a tree within a house, embodying the strength of the family and against which a woman braces herself when giving birth—-Scandinavian tradition extrapolated back to Norse heathenry

bede, biad
a prayer--Anglo-Saxon

berserkr, plur. berserkir [BERR-serrrkrr, BERR-serr-keer or berr-SERR-keer, with each single “e” as in “get”]
warrior who fought in a crazed state, insensible to pain--Norse, “bear-shirt” or “bare-shirt” (i.e.: shirtless), two possible etymologies. Anglicized berserk, berserker

Bifröst [BIH-fröst, or anglicized BYE-frost]
Rainbow Bridge to Asgard; the rainbow

Blessing of the Plough
Anglo-Saxon early spring ritual in association with the beginning of the agricultural year; generally observed around February 2 and modernized to bless all professional endeavors

blót [bloat] / bletsian [BLET-see-un]
a sacrifice or offering to one or more of the gods; to make a sacrifice, to sacrifice something

blótmađr / blótere [BLOAT-mathrr, BLOAT-err-uh]
Occasionally used alternates for gođi: "sacrificer"

blótorc [BLOAT-ork]
blót bowl--Anglo-Saxon

bride-price, brýd-céap [BRÜD-chey-up]
dowry paid by would-be husband, particularly in Anglo-Saxon marriage negotiations

bright, in
in rune-divination: face up

bumble
pejorative term for a celebration that insufficiently distinguishes blót from sumble

C

Charming of the Plough
Early February festival, originally Anglo-Saxon

cyning [KÜ-ning]
king--Anglo-Saxon

D

Desert God
the god of Abraham

dís, plur. dísir [deess, DEE-seer] / idise, plur. idesi [EE-di-say, EE-day-see]
female ancestor who serves as a guardian and advisor to members of a family

Dísablót [DEE-sa-bloat]
ceremonial observance of the dísir and associated festival day

Disting [DEESS-ting]
Swedish mid-January festival kept by some modern heathens in honor of the dísir

dökkálfar, svartálfar [DÖCK-owl-vahr or –ahhl-vahr, SVAHRRT-owl-vahr or –ahhl-vahr]
black or dark elves, usually identified with the dwarves--Norse

draugr [drowgrr, DRAH-ügrr]
walking ghost, with many of the characteristics of a zombie

drihten [DRICHH-tun]
lord--Anglo-Saxon

drohtnung [DRROCHHT-noong]
honor, ethics--Anglo-Saxon

E

éalá [EHH-ul-aah or EY-ul-ah]
Anglo-Saxon exclamation of longing , regret, or surprise; modern Anglo-Saxonization of “hail!”

ealh [EY-alchh]
altar--Anglo-Saxon

einherjar (sing. einheri) [eyn-HARE-yur, EYN-herry]
Chosen warriors in Valhalla

Einherjar Day
heathenization of Veterans' Day/Remembrance Day

einvígi [EYN-vee-yih]
Single combat to the death--Norse

ellenwight
theodish term for a respected non-member--from Anglo-Saxon

Englisc [ENN-glish]
Anglo-Saxon

Ensi [ENN-see]
the gods known as Ćsir in Norse—-Armanic German

Ensigart [ENN-see-gahrt]
home of the Ensi, Asgard-—Armanic German

Eormensyl [EY-uhr-men-süll or ER-men-sill]
the World Tree--Anglo-Saxonization of Irminsűl

Eostre [EY-oss-trey]
Anglo-Saxon spring festival, originally in honor of goddess of the same name, which gave its name to Easter; non-Anglo-Saxon heathens use Ostara

Eowemeolc [AY-oh-way-mey-ulk]
Anglo-Saxon spring festival, literally "ewe-milk"

ergi [AIR-yee]
depravity; receptive homosexuality; an extremely insulting word with varying meanings in the lore, usually used in modern times in its late Icelandic, anti-homosexual meaning

Esageard [EY-suh-yey-urd]
Anglo-Saxonization of Ásgarđr

Ese [EY-suh]
Anglo-Saxonization of Ćsir

etin
giant--anglicization of jötunn / eoten

F

faining [FEY-ning]
a sacrifice to the gods that does not rise to the level of importance of a bletsian; distinction made in some forms of Anglo-Saxon heathenry

Fallow
June

fare forth
visit other worlds psychically, usually through trance or in spć

fetch
Anglicization of fylgja / fćcce

Fimbulvetr [FIM-booll-vettrr]
the deep three-year winter that will precede Ragnarök—-Norse. Anglicized as Fimbulwinter.

flyting
ritual exchange of insults

Fogmoon
November

folkish
taking one of the major approaches to heathenry, involving some emphasis on the closeness of Germanic people to the Germanic gods

forn sed / forna seden / fyrn sed [sade]
term for heathenry popular in Scandinavia and used by some organizations (Danish, Swedish, Anglo-Saxon --"ancient custom")

forwyrht [for-WÜRCHHT]
crime, sin—Anglo-Saxon

Freyfaxi [FREY-facks-ee]
Harvest-time festival in honor of Freyr/Fréa celebrated by most Ásatrú

frith
productive, honorable relationship and conduct between people; in many situations approximates to peace; also used as a sign-off in letters

frithu
frith--Old High German

full
toast at sumble or veizla/húsel (Norse)

fulltrúi [FULL-troo-ee, full-TROO-ee]
Old Norse term for patron deity, literally "fully trusted one"

futhark / futhorc [FOO-thark, with short "oo" like "u" in "put" and either voiced or unvoiced "th"]
runic alphabet

fylgja / fćcce [FÜLG-yuh or FILL-gyuh, FA-chey with "a" as in "hat"]
personal tutelary and guiding spirit, usually in animal form, similar in many ways to a Native American totem animal; animal form to which one often transforms when faring forth. Often anglicized as fetch.

G

galdr [galdrr]
Germanic ceremonial magic, particularly rune-magic; intoning to either charge or work magic with the runes; to intone in association with runes; to work galdr

galdrstaf [GALDRR-stavv]
galdr-staff, wand or staff used by galdr-worker

garma
wyrd--Armanen term

gefrain [yuh-FRANE or guh-FRANE]
(good) reputation, fame--Anglo-Saxon term used in theodism

geléafa, gelôbo [yuh-LEY-uh-vuh, guh-LOW-bo]
belief, religion (Anglo-Saxon, Old High German/Old Saxon)

Geol [YAY-ull]
Yule—Anglo-Saxon

gesith [yuh-ZEETH with unvoiced “th”]
associate, member, companion--Anglo-Saxon

gielp, gylp [yelp]
boast of one’s accomplishments that qualify one to carry out a task one is oathing to perform—-Anglo-Saxon

Ginnungagap [GINN-oon-gah-gap, YINN-oon-gah-gap]
the nothingness that existed in the beginning

Giuli [YOOL-ee]
Yule--reconstructed Old High German/Old Saxon

gođi [GWO-thee or GO-thee, both with short "o" and voiced "th"; long "o" is a common mispronunciation], plur. gođar [GWO-thahr or GO-thahr, both with short "o" and voiced "th"]
priest; on the model of late Icelandic society, sometimes also chieftain, head of a kindred

grith
honorable conduct toward outsiders sometimes distinguished from frith

gyđja [GITH-ya, with voiced "th"], plur. gyđjur [GITH-yur, with voiced “th”]
priestess

H

hallow
to make holy or set aside as sacred

hamingja / hama [HAM-ing-yuh, HA-muh]
the part of one's self that travels when one fares forth

handfasting
engagement ceremony

handgeld [HAND-geld]
an Anglo-Saxon term for dowry

Harfćst [HAR-vast]
Anglo-Saxon harvest festival

harrow
modernization of hörgr / hearg: altar

Harvest
Harfćst; August

Haymoon
July

hearth
family-based group--term used in some branches of heathenry

heilsa [HAIL-sa]
"Hail," as a greeting; derived from Old Norse and commonly and ungrammatically pluralized as "heilsan" when addressing more than one person; may also be used when hailing the gods in blót

heiti, plur. heitir [HEY-tee, HEY-teerr]
sobriquet: term used to refer to a person in Norse poetry by a characteristic or deed rather than name, e.g: "Óđ's gal," Freyja, "Midgard's Warder," Thor.

hęl [hail] “Hail” as a greeting—-Old High German

hierós gámos [hee-AIR-oss GAMM-oss]
sacred marriage, particularly that of two deities sacrally reenacted by humans--Greek

Hlafmćst [HLAHF-mast], Lammas
Anglo-Saxon late summer, early harvest festival, sometimes called Thingtide

hlaford [HLAH-vurd]
lord--Anglo-Saxon

hlautbolli / blótorc [HLOUT-bolly or HLOUT-bo-hlee, BLOAT-ork]
blót bowl

hlauttein [HLOUT-teyn] / hlóttán [HLOTE-tahhn]
twig or sprig used to sprinkle or "asperge" participants at the close of a blót

hof [hoff]
temple

holmgang [HOLLM-gang]
Norse duel (lit.: going to an island)

holzruna [HOLLTS-roon-ah]
witch, seiđworker-—Armanic German

hörgr / hearg [hergrr, HEY-argh]
altar, in particular an outside altar made of rocks

Horning
February

horse
to act as host to in a possessory rite; such a host (term borrowed from Yoruba usage)

housel
Modernized húsel

huldrufolk [HÜLL-droo-follk]
"hidden people"--Scandinavian fairies, elves, or benevolent spirits of forests and lakes; sometimes less correctly huldufolk

Hunting
October

húsel [HOO-sell]
Anglo-Saxon for veizla: sacred feast. Sometimes modernized as housel.

I

Irminism, Irminenschaft [eer-MEEN-uhn-shaft]
variants of Armanism, Armanenschaft: German-centered movement in heathenry based on the teachings of Guido (von) List

Irminsűl [EER-minn-sool]
sacred column of the Saxons destroyed by Charlemagne; identified with the World Tree and used as an Old Saxon/Old High German name for it

J

jötunn (plur. jötnar) / eoten [YÖH-tun or frequently YOH-tun, EY-oh-tun]
giant; sometimes modernized as etin

Jötunheim [YÖH-tun-heym or frequently YOH-tun-heym]
Giantland, one of the nine worlds

Jul [yule]
Yule—-Norse and modern Scandinavian

K

kenning, plur. kenningar [KENN-ing-urr]
extended metaphor of two or more terms, a basis of Norse poetry, e.g. "swan-road," sea, "wave-steed," ship, "Týr of the meadbench," warrior.

kin
relatives

kindred / mót [mote]
local heathen group (usual terms)

kinfylgja [KIN-füll-gyuh]
fylgja / fetch that descends within a family

konungr / cyning [KON-oongrr or KWON-ungrr, KÜ-ning]
king

L

Lćráđr [LIE-rauthrr or LIE-rahhthrr, with voiced “th”]
alternate name for Yggdrasill--Norse

Lenting
March

líc [leech]
physical body—Anglo-Saxon. Sometimes modernized as lyke

líesing [LEE-uh-zing]
freedman—-Anglo-Saxon; a theodish árung

Litha [li-THAH]
Midsummer festival

ljósálfar [LYOHSS-owl-vahr or -ahhl-vahr], light elves
one of two classes of elves in Norse, the other being the dark or black elves (svartálfar)

lögrétta [lö-GRETT-uh]
court of law, tribunal—-Old Norse

lore
texts important to our knowledge of the gods and the ancient heathens, in particular those attributable to heathens

Lussi [LÜ-see]
Swedish mid-January festival of lights, at winter solstice in the old calendar

lyke
modernization of líc-—physical body

M

main
anglicization of megin / mćgen

mćthel, mćţel [MATH-ul, with unvoiced "th"]
regional group within an Anglo-Saxon organization (A-S for "assembly")

mćthelgeréfa, mćţelgeréfa [MATH-ul-yeh-rey-vuh, with unvoiced "th"]
leader or administrator of a mćthel. Feminine mćthelgeréfu [MATH-ul-yeh-rey-voo]

megin / mćgen [ME-yinn with short "e," MIE-yun as in "Mayan"]
strength, particularly of psychic origin, sometimes referred to by the modern cognate, main; psychic resources, particularly as influenced by honorable or dishonorable behavior, luck as a function of karmic forces; psychic force with which a valued possession or gift is endowed

Merrymoon
May

Miđgarđr / Middangeard [MITH-garrthrr with voiced "th," MID-un-yay-urd]
of the nine worlds, the world of humans. Anglicized as Midgard; Armanic German Mittigart

Mimameiđr [MIMM-uh-meythrr, with voiced “th”]
alternate name for Yggdrasill--Norse

minni / minnetrunk [MINN-uh-troonk]
toast in memory of an ancestor (Norse,German)

Mjöllnir [MYÖLL-neer, with “y” as in “yum”]
hammer of Thor/Thunor

moot
gathering, meeting (from Anglo-Saxon equivalent of Norse thing)

morgengabe [MOHR-gun-gah-buh]
dowry paid by husband the morning after the first night of marriage (German, lit. "morning gift")

mót [mote]
local group of Anglo-Saxon heathens

Mothers' Night, Módraneht, Módra Niht [MOHD-ruh-nechht, MOHD-ruh-nichht]
the first night of Yule, particularly in Anglo-Saxon heathenry; traditionally dedicated to one's dísir

mund [moond]
protection, particularly extended to a guest or fosterling; bride-price (Anglo-Saxon)

murk, in
in rune-divination: face down

Múspell, Múspelheim [MOO-spell, MOO-spell-heym]
one of the nine worlds; a fiery place

N

needfire
fire kindled from scratch, without using matches, preferably by friction

niđing [NI-thing, with voiced or unvoiced "th"]
despicable person, especially one who has been formally ostracized

níđstang, níđstöng (NEETH-stang, NEETH-stöng, with voiced "th"]
pole with horse's head on top used to curse someone

nithing pole
anglicization of níđstang

Nifelheim [NIFF-ul-heym]
Hel's realm, the realm of the dead, and as such one of the nine worlds; the lower, worse part of Hel's realm

nixie (female; more rarely nicker, male)
water-spirit or fairy, particularly in Germany

NNV
Nine Noble Virtues; any of several lists of heathen ethical guidelines derived from Hávamál, other lore, and the sagas

O

oath
a formal vow; to make a formal vow

odal
of one’s home or, particularly, ancestral land and homestead

Odian
taking an approach to heathenry focused on Óđinn/Woden as chief god—-as taught by Edred Thorsson

óđr / wód [oethrr with voiced "th," wode]
spirit of life and vigor, particularly as evinced in rage, ecstasy, poetic inspiration, and other heightened states associated with Óđinn/Woden. Sometimes anglicized as wode or wood

offrung [OFF-roong]
an offering, sometimes distinguished by Anglo-Saxon heathens from a bletsian; in particular, some regard only a live animal sacrifice as a bletsian

önd
breath of life; one of the gifts of the Sons of Bor

öndvegissúlur, sing. öndvegissúla [önd-VEY-iz-SOO-luhrr, önd-VEY-iz-SOO-luh]
the two high-seat pillars in a Norse dwelling

orlög [OR-lögh, OR-log]
original, primary fate (from the etymological meaning, "earliest laid down, earliest law"); personal fate within the entirety of wyrd. Sometimes Anglo-Saxonized as orlćg, anglicized as orlay

Ostara / Eostre [OSS-tuh-ruh or oss-TAH-ruh, EY-oss-trey]
spring festival in honor of an Anglo-Saxon goddess that gave its name to Easter. Ostara is actually derived from Old High German and is also used for the month of April.

P

patron
god with whom one has a particularly close relationship, often involving being chosen and/or being oathed

Q

No Q-words

R

Ragnarök [RAG-nah-rökk]
the end of this world--the cataclysmic last battle in which all but a few of the gods are to die, and associated destruction of the World Tree, several of the worlds, and all but two of humanity--Norse "doom of the regin"

R.E.
Runic Era: year-numbering system based on the earliest dated runic inscription. 2255 R.E. = 2005 C.E.

recel [REH-chell]
incense--Anglo-Saxon

reconstructionism
approach to paganism involving the closest possible adherence to the ways of pre-conversion adherents of an ancient religion

rede
advice; in the Troth, ruling council—from Anglo-Saxon

regin [REY-in]
all the gods--Norse

reiks [rakes]
kingdom, country--Gothic

ríce [REE-chey]
kingdom, country--Anglo-Saxon

risi / rîsi [RIH-see or REE-see, REE-see] a kind of giant—-the least brutal kind. Norse, Old High German

rist
to cut runes

rita
all that is, seen as a system; the systematization that makes sense of the cosmos--Sanskrit term used in Armanism

rooftree issue
in theodism, a matter of personal values that should not be the concern of non-kin or non-members of the mót or kindred

S

sácerd [SAHH-churd]
priest--Anglo-Saxon

sceatt [SHEY-ut], scot
tribute payment or fine--Anglo-Saxon

scír [sheer], shire
regional group within an Anglo-Saxon organization

scírgeréfa [SHEER-yeh-rey-vuh]
leader or administrator of a scír or shire--Anglo-Saxon antecedent of sheriff. Feminine scírgeréfu [SHEER-yeh-rey-voo]

scóp [shope]
Anglo-Saxon poet; used as equivalent of skald

scyld [shülld or shilld]
what one owes; a fine or recompense, anglicized as shild--Anglo-Saxon

seax [SAY-aks], sax
long knife or short sword for which the Saxons are named

seiđmađr [SAYTH-mahthrr, with voiced "th's"]
seiđworker, one who does seiđr

seiđr [saythrr, voiced "th"]
a form of Norse magic, traditionally forbidden to all males except Óđinn/Woden

Shedding
September

shild
a fine or recompense--anglicized form of scyld

sit out
to spend the night or a lengthy period sitting or lying alone on a grave, particularly that of one's father or other ancestor, on a mound or other high place even if not a grave, or at a crossroads, for the purpose of receiving guidance or assistance from the dead--translation of útiseti

Sigrblót [SIGrr-bloat]
Norse spring sacrifice and associated festival calling for victory

skald [skahlld]
Norse poet, particularly in a tradition involving complex rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration schemes and many kennings and privileging extemporization. Adj. sometimes anglicized as scaldic

skalk
alternate term for thrall in theodism, particularly in Norse theods

Snowmoon
January

sonargöltr [SO-nahr-göltrr]
boar on which ancient heathens swore oaths at the culminating feast of Yule

spá, spć [spa or spau, spay]
subset of seiđr involving journeying to the netherworld and/or calling on spirits and sometimes gods for advice and divination; sometimes called oracular seiđr, sometimes, including in sagas, conflated with seiđr as a whole

stalli [STA-lly]
small, usually portable altar

stánbćţ [STAHN-bath]
stone bath. Anglo-Saxon sauna

Stav [stahv]
Rune-based martial art/physical discipline taught by Ivar Hafskjold

staves (sing. staff
Runic "letters" as opposed to the meanings of the runes

stigeweard [STI-yuh-wey-urd], steward
membership/communications officer in an Anglo-Saxon organization

Sumarrmál [SOOM-uhr-maul or SOOM-uhr-mahhl]
Norse celebration of the start of the spring/summer half-year

sumbel, sumble [SUM-bell or SOOM-bell], symbel [SÜM-bell]
ritual drinking celebration of human community, kinship, friendship, virtuous action, achievements accomplished and promised, heroes of the past, and the gods

Sumerdćg [SOOM-er-die, with short “oo”], Summer’s Day
Walpurgisnacht evening and May Day celebration among Anglo-Saxon heathens corresponding to Walburges

sunwheel
design of a cross within a circle (from Scandinavian rock carvings)

svartálfar, dokkálfar [SVAHRRT-owl-vahr or –ahhl-vahr, DOCK-owl-vahr or –ahhl-vahr]
black or dark elves, usually identified with the dwarves--Norse

Svartalfheim [SVAHRR-talf-heym]
one of the nine worlds, home of the dark elves, usually identified with the dwarves

Ţ, TH

theal
anglicization of ţyle

ţegn, thegn [thane, with unvoiced "th"]
lowest level of Anglo-Saxon nobility; in compounds indicates a servant. Sometimes the modern spelling, thane, is used.

ţéod, theod [THEY-odd, with unvoiced "th"]
in theodism, a group or organization; a regional or ethnic-heritage-based division of a kingdom; (ungrammatically) a theodish heathen. (Anglo-Saxon: people, tribe, nation)

theodism, thiodism [THEY-ud-izm or THEE-ud-izm, with unvoiced "th"]
tribal movement in heathenry based on the teachings of Garman Lord, later Garman Cyning; adjectives theodish, ţeodisc, ţiodisc; literally "of the people/tribe." Capitalization may signify direct descent from Garman's organization.

theow [THEY-oh, with unvoiced “th”]
alternate term for thrall in theodism

thianostmann
oathed follower; theodish German corresponding to thegn

thew
honor, ethics--Anglo-Saxon

thews
heathen ethical values (Anglo-Saxon), particularly in the Twelve Ćţeling Thews

ţing, thing
meeting, assembly, especially a general gathering (Norse)

Thingtide
time when things were most often held, identified with Anglo-Saxon Hlafmćst or Lammas

ţignen, thignen, thygen [THEE-nen, THEE-yen, with unvoiced "th"]
feminine forms of ţegn

Ţorri [THORR-ee]
Icelandic holiday kept as a festival in honor of Thor by some Norse heathens

thrall
unfree servant, slave; would-be member of a theod undergoing a period of voluntary service to a lord

ţulr, plur. ţulur [thoolrr, THOOL-uhr, with unvoiced "th"]
wise man, loremaster; unit of poetic description in terms of myth, particularly as listed in the Prose Edda. Cognate of A-S ţyle

ţurs [thoorss, therss; unvoiced "th"]
a kind of giant; the most brutish or hostile kind

ţyle [THÜLL-uh, with unvoiced "th"]
respected profession at an Anglo-Saxon court, usually interpreted as loremaster and challenger of unwise boasts; challenger of large boasts at an Anglo-Saxon symbel. Occasionally anglicized as theal.

T

til árs ok friđu [till ARSE okk FRI-thoo]
for peace and plenty

tine
twig or thin strip of wood, in particular rune tine--a tine with a rune risted on it for use in divination or magic

tívar [TEE-vahrr]
the gods--Norse

tomte [TOM-tuh]
Scandinavian house-spirit

tribalism
movement within heathenry taking inspiration in varying ways from the pre-historic tribal organization and sense of identity of the Germanic peoples

trú [true], troth
faith, primarily in the sense of "being true to, good faith, loyalty," secondarily "belief, religion." More or less joking terms for various approaches to heathenry, and other belief systems, have been coined with -trú on the model of Ásatrú

U

ulfheđnar, sing. ulfheđinn [oolf-HETH-nuhr, oolf-HETH-in, with voiced “th”]
warriors who behaved like wolves and reputedly could actually transform into wolves--Norse, “wolf-heads”

und’ćd [OON-deyd, with short "oo"]
crime, misdeed—-Anglo-Saxon

under the cloak, go to trance or meditate while covered with a cloak or a skin, for the purpose of receiving guidance from the gods or spirits or otherwise reaching a difficult decision

universalist
generally used opposite to folkish, characterizing a view of heathenry that minimizes the importance of blood heritage in relating to the gods

UPG, UPI
unverifiable personal gnosis/insight: information, particularly regarding the gods, derived from a vision or other non-lore source

útangeard [OOT-un-yay-uhrd]
the place beyond one’s circle, people beyond the pale--Anglo-Saxon term used particularly by tribalists and theodists

útgarther [OOT-gar-thuhr, with voiced “th”]
excluded person, person from útangeard or outside one’s garth—based on Norse Útgarđ, supposed home of Útgarđa-Loki

útiseti [OO-tee-set-ee]
spending the night or a lengthy period sitting or lying alone on a grave, particularly that of one's father or other ancestor, on a mound or other high place even if not a grave, or at a crossroads, for the purpose of receiving guidance or assistance from the dead. English: "sitting out"

V

vćttir [VIE-teer] / wights
supernatural beings of a place, primarily landwights and housewights

vafrlogi [VAVVRR-luh-o-gee with “o” and “g” as in “got,” or VAVVRR-loh-gee with “g” as in “got”]
magic fire that occurs in several tales of gods and heroes—-Norse, “wavering fire”

valknútr [VAL-knootrr]
design of three interlocking triangles, dedicating to Óđinn/Woden (Norse: slaughter-knot)

Vanaheim [VAN-uh-heym]
ancestral home of the Vanir, one of the nine worlds

Vanir (sing. Van) [VAN-eer, van]
one of the two tribes of gods

varđlokkr [VAHRRTH-lockrr, with voiced "th"]
song to entice helpful spirits performed to facilitate a spć session

varg(r) / warg, wearg [vahrrg(rr), wahrg, WAY-urg]
outlaw, one treated like a wild beast rather than a human

vatni ausa [vat-nee OWSS-uh or vat-nee AH-ü-suh]
sprinkling a baby with water to dedicate him or her to the gods; heathen baptism; performed either at birth, at the naming ceremony, or both. Lit. "to sprinkle with water"

vé [vey]
sacred space

veizla [VEYT-sla] / húsel [HOO-sell]
sacred feast, usually following a blót/bletsian

Vinland
Norse settlement in Newfoundland; American heathen term for US and Canada

vitki [VITT-kee]
rune-mage

völva, plur. völur [VÖLL-vuh, VÖLL-oor]
powerful magical practitioner, commonly translated “seeress”--only females are mentioned, so presumed to be seiđr practitioners. Vala is an incorrect form.

W

Wćlheall [WAL-hey-ull, with short "a"]
Anglo-Saxonization of Valhalla

wćrgenga [WARR-geng-uh, with “a” as in “hat”]
would-be member of a theodish organization or group undergoing a period of voluntary service to a lord without being unfree to the extent implied by thralldom

Walburges
spring festival based on German Walpurgisnacht: May Eve and/or May Day

Wanes, Wena [wahns or weyns, WEY-nuh]
Anglo-Saxonizations of Vanir

wassail
"Be well": modernization of A-S wes hál, used either as a greeting or as a wish for good fortune; to wish someone well, particularly in song; to sing good wishes and pour associated offerings to trees, particularly fruit trees, at Yule

welga [WELL-guh]
Anglo-Saxon "goodbye," occasionally used as "hello," literally "go well"

wéofod[WAY-uv-ud]
altar--Anglo-Saxon

wéofodţegn, wéofodthignen [WAY-uv-ud-theyn, WAY-uv-ud-thee-nun, with unvoiced "th"]
Anglo-Saxon equivalents of gođi, gyđja: priest, priestess

wéoh [WAY-ochh]
sacred; image of a god, "idol" (plur. wéohas [WAY-ochh-uz]); sacred place, translating Norse vé--Anglo-Saxon

wergild, weregeld
price paid to satisfy a dispute (in lieu of blood revenge)--Anglo-Saxon "person money"

werman [WARE-man]
Anglo-Saxon for a male person

wes (ţú) hál (sing.), wesaţ (ge) hál (plur.) [wess (thoo) HAHL, wess-uth (yay) HAHL]
"Hello," "hail" as a greeting or to the gods in blót; Anglo-Saxon equivalent of "heilsa". In strictly correct Anglo-Saxon, to two rather than more than two, wesaţ git [yit] hál.

wífman [WEEF-man]
Anglo-Saxon for "woman"

wight
spirit of place; from A-S for vćttir

wîh [weechh]
sacred—Old High German

Wild Hunt
the gods--usually led by Óđinn/Woden--riding on the storm, particularly in mid-winter; occasionally ghosts of dead children ride with Holda at their head

witan, witenagemót [WIT-un, wi-TEYN-uh-yuh-MOTE]
assembly of "wise men" who advised an Anglo-Saxon king, checked his wilder ideas, selected the new king, and if necessary ended the reign of an unfit king

wîzaga [WEE-zah-gah]
soothsaying, equated with Norse spć or spá-—Old High German

wód [wode]
spirit of life and vigor, particularly as evinced in rage, ecstasy, poetic inspiration, and other heightened states associated with Óđinn/Woden--Anglo-Saxon. Sometimes modernized as wode or wood

Wolfmoon
December

wrake
revenge

wurt [voort]
(personal or group) wyrd--term used in Armanism

wyrd
fate

X

Xian
Christian

Y

Yggdrasill [ÜGG-drah-zill or IGG-druh-sill]
the World Tree (Norse, “steed of Yggr,” i.e., of Óđinn/Woden)

ylfe [ÜLL-fey or ILL-fey]
elves, Anglo-Saxon

Yule
twelve-day festival at the end of the secular year

Z

No Z-words