Names of God in Old English poetry
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In Old English poetry, many descriptive epithets for God were used to satisfy alliterative requirements. These epithets include:
- Cyning ("King")
- wuldres Cyning ("King of glory") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Dryhten ("Lord"): derived from dryht ("troop", "company"), emphasizing a noble's role as lord of a band of warriors.
- ece Dryhten ("eternal Lord") (appears in Caedmon's hymn)
- heofones Dryhten ("heaven's Lord") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Ealdor ("Elder")
- wuldres Ealdor ("Elder of glory") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Fæder ("Father") (appears in The Wanderer)
- Heahfæder ("Highfather") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Wuldorfæder ("Glorious father") (appears in Caedmon's hymn)
- Frea ("Master"): likely derived from Freyja or Freyr; emphasizes a lord's domestic rulership. In later Old English, it becomes a word for husband.
- Frea ælmihtig ("Master almighty") (appears in Caedmon's hymn)
- Frea mancynnes ("mankind's Master") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- God ("God")
- God ælmihtig ("God almighty") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- weruda God ("God of hosts") (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Hælend ("Healer"): from hælan ("heal"); often translated "Saviour". (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Wealdend ("Ruler"): from wealdan ("rule", "control"; cf. Mn. E. "wield"). (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
- Al-wealda ("all ruler"), Meters of Boethius 11
- wuldor alwealda in Cod. Exon.; fæder alwealda Beowulf 630;
- Weard ("Warder"): emphasizes both guardianship and ownership.
- heofonrices Weard ("the heavenly kingdom's Warder"): Heofon is "Heaven", and rice is "kingdom" (cf. the German reich). (appears in Caedmon's hymn)
