Alternative forms

• bodword, bodewurd, bodworde, bowdword, bodeworde, bode-word, bodwurd, bodd-word, boodword

Etymology

Calque of Old NorseCategory:Middle English terms calqued from Old Norse#BODEWORDCategory:Middle English terms derived from Old Norse#BODEWORD boðorð; equivalent to bod +‎ wordCategory:Middle English compound terms#BODEWORD.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈboːdˌwurd/, /ˈboːdˌwoːrd/Category:Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation#BODEWORD

Noun

bodewordCategory:Middle English lemmas#BODEWORDCategory:Middle English nouns#BODEWORDCategory:Middle English entries with incorrect language header#BODEWORDCategory:Pages with entries#BODEWORDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#BODEWORD (chiefly NorthernCategory:Northern Middle English#BODEWORD)

1. commandment, directive (especially divine)
2. news, tidings (especially divine)
   • 15th c., “Pharao [Pharaoh]”, in Wakefield Mystery Plays; Re-edited in George England, Alfred W. Pollard, editors, The Towneley Plays (Early English Text Society Extra Series; LXXI), London: […] Oxford University Press, 1897, →OCLC, page 69, lines 141–145:

     A, lord! pardon me, Wyth thy leyf, / that lynage luffis me noght; / Gladly thay Wold me greyf, / if I sych bodworde broght.

     Ah, Lord! Pardon me, by your leave. That bloodline does not love me; they would gladly hurt me if I brought such news

     Category:Middle English terms with quotations#BODEWORD

3. (rareCategory:Middle English terms with rare senses#BODEWORD) pledge