Beowulf's Vocabulary Lessons

Beowulf, the epic poem, was the last piece of literature we read in English class. By the time I was finished, my copy was peppered in a rainbow of stickie notes, and rather than watch my thoroughly scripted study fall into the trash can, I saved them, with this glimmer of an idea that I'd record these brilliant vocabulary words I had discovered among the translated, Old English jargon.

And so, they've been sitting on my already-cluttered desk for about 3 weeks. But I came through, and now, the world can share in some obscure words to potentially put in some obscure poetry.

reconnoitre: to survey the enemy (not so obscure, but I had to look it up nonetheless)
thole: to endure; to tolerate
suppurate: to produce/discharge pus, as a wound
anathema: a person detested, damned
fen: a marsh; boggy land
damascened: inlaid with ornamental designs, of gold, silver
reave: to plunder
alacrity: liveliness; briskness; willingness
bier: a stand for a corpse or coffin
scud: to dart nimbly from place to place; to move hurriedly
kesh: a plant with a hollow stalk
boon: a favor or request; a thing that is helpful or beneficial
bane: a cause of great distress
spurn: to reject with contempt
bawn: (Irish origin) fortified enclosure around a castle or such building
wassail: a festivity of drinking (to healths, of course!)
pinion: to tie or hold the legs or arms of someone