Research Literature
BW I:
Bierbaumer, Peter.
Der botanische Wortschatz des Altenglischen. Grazer Beiträge zur Englischen Philologie 1. Bern, Frankfurt am Main: Lang, 1975.
DOE:
Cameron, Angus, Ashley Crandell Amos, Antonette di Paolo Healey, et al. (eds.).
Dictionary of Old English (A to G). CD-Rom. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies for the Dictionary of Old English Project, 2008.
LB:
Cockayne, Oswald Thomas (ed.).
"Leech Book." In: Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England. Being a Collection of Documents, for the Most Part never before Printed, Illustrating the History of Sience in this Country before the Norman Conquest. Vol. 2. Rev. Ed. by Charles Singer. London: Longman [et. al.], 1961. 1-360.
LB:
Leonhardi, Günther.
Kleinere angelsächsische Denkmäler I. Bibliothek der ags. Prosa VI. Hamburg: Grand, 1905.
Deegan, Marilyn.
A Critical Edition of MS. B.L. Royal 12.D.XVII: Bald's 'Leechbook'. Diss. Univ. of Manchester. 1988.
Hankins, Freda Richards.
Bald's 'Leechbook' Reconsidered. Diss. Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 1993.
MS London, British Library, Royal 12 D.xvii.
Olds, Barbara M..
The Anglo-Saxon Leechbook III: A Critical Edition and Translation. Diss. Univ. of Denver. 1985.
Pollington, Stephen.
Leechcraft: Early English Charms, Plant Lore, and Healing. Hockwold-cum-Wilton: Anglo-Saxon Books, 2000.
Storms, Godfrid (ed.).
Anglo-Saxon Magic. Reprint of the 1948 ed. published by M. Nijhoff, The Hague. Norwood, Pa: Norwood Editions, 1975.
Wright, Cyril E. (ed.).
Bald's Leechbook. Early English manuscripts in facsimile. 5. Kopenhagen: Rosenkilde & Bagger, 1955.
Cockayne (111,311) suggests that æferþe is a contraction of →æþel-feorþing-wyrt, which, given the remarkably long plant name, is a logical conclusion. Another arguement supporting this theory is the pharmaceutical usage which is consistent with →æþel-feorþing-wyrt.[1] Storms (1948,319) follows this argumentation without comment. Pollington (2000,99) wrongly paraphrases BW I. The DOE also records →eferþe in its entry on æferþe.