Glossary

alderman 

(sometimes aldormann or ealdorman) The title of one exercising authority under the king over a former kingdom, a district, or county; later supplanted by the term earl.

All Saints 

A celebration instituted to honour all the saints; celebrated November 1.

alms 

Money or goods collected for the poor; charity.

antipope 

A pope elected in opposition to one believed to be canonically chosen; the result of a disputed or contested election.

calends 

(sometimes kalends) The first day of the month in the Roman calendar; originally the day of the new moon.

Candlemas 

(sometimes Purification of the Blessed Virgin) Marks the end of the Christmas and Epiphany season; celebrated February 2.

cock-crowing 

The time when the rooster crows, or pre-dawn.

dawn 

The time of the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.

etheling (eðeling) 

(sometimes atheling) Generally used to designate anyone of noble birth; often used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to denote royalty from Wessex.

ides 

Originally the day of the full moon in the Roman calendar, later became the 15th of March, May, July & October and the 13th day in other months.

Invention of the Holy Cross (feast of) 

Commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Helena, mother of Constantine, in A.D. 326; celebrated May 3.

midsummer 

Originally the day of the summer solstice, traditionally celebrated on June 24.

mid-winter 

The middle of winter, traditionally accepted to be Christmas Day (December 25).

murrain 

Any disease of domestic animals that resembles a plague.

nones 

The ninth day before Ides in the Roman calendar; the 7th of March, May, July and October and the 5th of other months.

pall 

Fine or rich cloth as used for the robes of persons of high rank; a cloth used on or at the altar, for any of various purposes.

pound 

An English money of account (originally, a pound weight of silver).

relict 

A widow or widower; the surviving spouse, usually female.

right belief

St. Andrew (mass of) 

Celebrated November 30.

St. Augustine's mass 

Celebrated May 26.

St. Gregory's mass 

Celebrated March 12.

St. Juliana (festival of) 

Celebrated February 16.

St. Michael's day 

Celebrated September 29.

Seven Sleepers 

A feast day observed for the Saints "Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, Dionysius, Joannes, Serapion, and Constantinus" on July 27.

sheriff (scír3eréfa) 

A high officer, the representative of the royal authority, who presided in the shire-moot, and was responsible for the administration of the royal demesne and the execution of the law.

twelfth-day 

The twelfth day after Christmas on which the festival of the Epiphany is celebrated; formerly observed as the closing day of the Christmas festivities; celebrated January 6.

Watling Street 

A Roman road which ran from Dover on the southeast coast of England and is believed to have terminated at Viroconium, which is now Wroxeter in Shropshire.

welkin 

The arch or vault of heaven; the sky.

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A Definition of Calendrical Terms
Catholic Encyclopedia: Christian Calendar
Online Anglo-Saxon Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
WordNet