This article deals with the Germanic concept. For an entry on the druidic homonym, see Frith (druidry)

Frith is an Old English word often (and usually over-simplistically) translated as "peace". In terms of Anglo-Saxon and post-Anglo-Saxon culture, however, the term has a considerably broader scope and meaning, and merits closer examination. Frith has a great deal to do not only with the state of peace but also with the nature of social relationships conducive to peace. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The Anglo-Saxons refers collectively to the groups of Germanic tribes who achieved dominance in southern Britain from the mid-5th century, forming the basis for the modern English nation. ...

Moreover, it has strong associations with stability and security. The word friþgeard meaning "asylum, sanctuary" was used for sacrosanct areas. A friþgeard would then be any enclosed area given over to the worship of the gods.

Frith is inextricably related to the state of kinship, which is perhaps the strongest indicator of frith. In this respect, the word can be coterminous with another significant Anglo-Saxon root-word, sib (from which the word 'sibling' is derived) - indeed the two are frequently interchanged. In this context, frith goes further than expressing blood ties, and encompasses all the concomitant benefits and duties which kinship engenders.

Frith is also used in the context of fealty, as an expression of the relationship between a lord and his people. Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste. ...

Frith also has a legal significance: peace was effectively maintained in Anglo-Saxon times by the frith-guild, an early manifestation of summary justice.

Many other words are derived from this root, including frŽodom (freedom); the German word for cemetery, Friedhof (peace-yard); and the Christian name Frederick (peace-ruler).

In Scandinavian, the words fred (no state of war) and frid (no state of disturbance) still mean "peace". The North Germanic languages (also Scandinavian languages or Nordic languages) is a branch of the Germanic languages spoken in Scandinavia, parts of Finland and on the Faroe Islands and Iceland. ...

In the novel Watership Down by Richard Adams, rabbits refer to the sun, which they regard as a solar deity, as Frith. Watership Down For the hill named Watership Down, see Watership Down, Hampshire. ... Richard Adams (born May 9, 1920 in Newbury, Berkshire, England, UK) is a British novelist who is best known for two novels with animal characters, Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus The bane of Australian farmers - the wild rabbit An old rabbit trap Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae, found in many parts of the world. ... A sun is the star at the center of a solar system. ... A solar deity is a deity who represents the Sun. ...

External links

• An Asatruar site on the word frith
• A second Asatruar site on the word frith