Meaning & use
kenning
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A compound or figurative expression used in place of an ordinary noun, especially in Old English and Norse poetry.
See it in a sentence
The poet used the kenning "whale-road" to refer to the sea.
"Battle-sweat" is a kenning for blood found in the epic poem Beowulf.
A note on using this word
Kennings are a hallmark of Old English and Old Norse poetry, combining two words to create a vivid, indirect description of something.
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