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:

• Crist: The Old English form of "Christ". (appears in The Dream of the Rood)
• 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)
• 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)