| bolted | | a member of another Germanic tribe |
| fetter | | cringing in fear |
| vane | | a shackle or chain ; restraint |
| purge | | welthow, wife of Hrothgar. |
| boar headed helments | | the den of a wild animal |
| threshold | | the tendons that connect muscles to bones |
| Wulfing | | a narrow point of land extening into a body of water |
| edgetho | | the strip of wood or stone at the bottom of a doorway |
| affliction | | a journey to a sacred place or with a lofty purpose |
| healfdane's son | | a cause of pain or distress |
| gorge | | discolored ; black and blue |
| pilgrimage | | disgusting ; hateful |
| loathsome | | gray with age. |
| murky | | ran away ; fled |
| livid | | to enjoy keenly |
| relish | | broad, open regions with patches of bog. |
| taut | | a claw |
| lament | | Beowulf ' s father |
| writhing | | Germanic warriors often wore helmets bearing the images if wild pigs or other fierce creatures in the hope that theimages would increase their ferocity and protect them against their enemies. |
| hoary | | an audible expression of grief ; wail |
| cowering | | to stuff with food |
| talon | | pulled tight |
| moors | | twisting in pain writhe |
| sinews | | cloudy ; gloomy |
| lair | | hrothgar |
| queen | | a device that turns to show the direction the wind is blowing. |
| infamous | | having a bad reputation ; notorious |
| spit | | to cleanse or purify |