Compounds
Beauties of English Index
And no language delights more in compounds, so none (not even Greek) is more felicitous in them than Anglo-Saxon, so that it is in the habit of expressing every kind of condition and consideration without obscurity by its unions of terms clearly and elegantly. Even those who have only a beginner's knowledge of Anglo-Saxon will notice expressive elegance of these Compounds, not without great delight.
Here are a Few Examples :
Names used by Caedmon of the Ark of Noah playing with their variety.
- Mere-hus = sea-house
- Mere-cieste = sea-ark
- Wudu-faesten = wooden fortress
- Sund-reced = sea-hall
- Waeg-bord = tent on the waves
It is to be observed that the first word in noun compounds……… has the nature of an Adjective.
By George Hickes 1642-1715 : From English Examined : Page 56
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