The Word Hord: Daily Life in Old English

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 6:45 p.m.

In collaboration with Smithsonian Associates

Hana Videen has been collecting Old English words since 2013, when she began tweeting one a day. Now more 20,000 people follow these gems from her wordhord. Drawing on her new book The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English, Videen opens a glorious trove of obsolete words and uses them to illuminate the lives of the earliest English speakers (who got their milk from a cu).

She brings to life a world where choking on a bit of bread might prove your guilt, where fiend-ship was as likely as friendship, and where you might grow up to be a laughter-smith.

Join Videen in conversation with Rebecca Roberts, curator of programming at Planet Word, as she reveals the magical roots of the language you’re reading (or leornung) right now. You’ll never look at English in the same way.

Planet Word members can purchase tickets at the Smithsonian Associates member price ($20). Email [email protected] to get your coupon code.