galdor

Alternative forms

• ġealdor

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *galdrą, *galdraz (“magical song, incantation”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shout, sing, charm, enchant”). Cognate with Old Saxon *galdar, Old High German galdar, kalter (“spell, enchantment”), Old Norse galdr (Icelandic galdur, “enchantment, spell”). Related to Old English galan (“to sing, shout”). More at yell.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑldor/

Noun

galdor n

1. song, incantation; enchantment, spell, divination
2. charm; magic; sorcery
   • Beowulf 3053-54

     Þonne wæs þæt yrfe, eacencræftig, iumonna gold, galdre bewunden

     That huge cache, gold inherited from an ancient race, was under a spell

3. sound