meginþættum

Meginþættum is an Old English compound word consisting of two elements: megin, meaning "force" or "power", and þættum, a dative plural form of þætt, meaning "thing" or "device". In the context of Old English literature and grammar, meginþættum refers to a specific type of poetic device or rhetorical figure.

In Old English poetry, especially that of the Anglo-Saxon period, meginþættum was used to express or convey a concept, idea, or quality through the use of metaphors, similes, or other figurative language that invoked the power or energy of a thing or a being. The term encompasses a range of literary devices, from similes that compare one thing to another using "likeness" (e.g., "he ran like the wind") to metaphors that equate two different things (e.g., "he was a lion among men").

Meginþættum is often contrasted with orðræd, another poetic device used in Old English poetry. While orðræd involves the use of words and language to create a particular effect or mood, meginþættum involves the invocation of the power or energy of a thing or being. The use of meginþættum in Old English poetry served to convey complex ideas, emotions, and relationships in a way that helped to engage and persuade the audience.

Today, scholars of Old English literature and linguistics continue to study meginþættum and its various forms to gain a deeper understanding of the poetry and culture of the Anglo-Saxon period. By examining the use of meginþættum in Old English texts, researchers can better comprehend the ways in which Anglo-Saxon poets used language to convey meaning and create effects in their work.