What does the word 'wergild' mean in Beowulf?

It would mean the same in Beowulf as it means in Anglo-Saxon law: wergild literally means "man-gold", and was the price set in law as a fine for killing or wounding someone. The higher status the person killed, and/or the more badly wounded, the higher the fine. read more

The term wergild in Beowulf literally translates as 'man payment' or 'man compensation' but is usually translated simply as 'man price'. The concept of wergild was a legal principle under Anglo-Saxon law. read more

It would mean the same in Beowulf as it means in Anglo-Saxon law: wergild literally means"man-gold", and was the price set in law as a fine for killing or wounding someone. read more

Wergild definition, (in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries) See more. read more