blōd
neuter
The English phrase 'blood' is blōd in Old English.
The term refers to the vital liquid flowing in human and animal bodies.
Meaning: vital liquid flowing in human and animal bodies (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Northumbrian dialect, the word blæđ was used instead of blōd. In the West Saxon dialect, the spelling blod was common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun blōd is neuter. Use the dative singular form blōde to mean 'with blood' and the genitive singular form blōdes to mean 'of blood'.
Did you know?
- Old English poets often used 'kennings', or metaphorical compounds, where words related to 'blood' might be replaced by poetic descriptions like 'wound-sea' to avoid the literal term.
- Legal documents in Old English often used the term blōd-gild to describe the 'blood-price' or compensation paid to a family after a killing.
- In some Old English medicinal texts, blōd was not just a liquid but was categorized as one of the four bodily humors that determined a person's temperament.
Examples in context
- Þā ġesetnessa tō ġesċyldnysse sind mid blōde āwritene.Safety regulations are written in blood.This example shows how to use the form blōd in a sentence regarding safety regulations being written in blood.Tatoeba #13924140 by rul, translation #12147138 by shekitten
- Þæt blōd is rēad.The blood is red.
- Hē drincþ blōd.He drinks blood.
Example conversation
Mildryth is tending to Osric's small cut.
- MildrythÞū hæfst blōd on þīnum fingre, Osric.You have blood on your finger, Osric.
- OsricĠēa, ic wæs ġewundod mid scearpum seaxe.Yes, I was cut with a sharp knife.
- MildrythIc wille þis blōd nū āwascan.I will wash this blood off now.
- OsricÞanc þē, Mildryth.Thank you, Mildryth.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blood” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
