Middle / Early Modern English Glossary
A word list, really.
As I post material in Middle English or Early Modern English I will add to this glossary. I only include the words which in my view are likely to make readers pause and / or were to be found in the glossary of the edition I read, if it had one. The plan is to add to it each time I post something which contains words requiring a gloss.
This ought to become substantial over time. I do not intend this as an exercise in proper lexicography, but rather as a very rough-and-ready aid to reading.
“When in doubt, read it out” must be the maxim with strange words Middle English. Most of them are not in fact strange or indeed unknown to us. Declamation makes the words which seem at first strange simply become misspelled (from our perspective).
Think of it this way - in Middle English, words were spelled how they were pronounced, according to the scribe copying the texts of course, whereas we now maintain more consistent spelling. If, for example, today’s English were written as Middle English, the third person plural object pronoun “them” would be spelled “thim” in New Zealand; “black” would be spelled “bleck” in South Africa; and “locker” would be spelled “lockah” in New York City.
The letter ‘Ȝ’: ‘y’ at the beginning of words, ‘g / gh’ in the middle (niȝt, for example = night); except when, at the beginning of the word, it’s clearly another ‘g’: “ȝaf them in to slaȝter” - [he/she gave them into slaughter].
The letter “Þ,” is “th.” In some older texts two characters are used to represent “th,” one for the voiced “th” and another for the unvoiced. This orthographic change appears to have happened early in the Middle English period.
Do not, however, despair of the vocabulary. It is, in my experience, a short time until Middle English becomes as easy to read as our own English simply through a relatively short time of perseverence. It helps that Middle English texts are fun.
-A-
aferd: afraid
a-forne: before, ahead of time
aga: gone
algate: in every case, always
aldai: all day
allegate: in any case
almus: alms
apayd: satisfied, appeased
are (in the are): air
aryn: are
array: clothes
astatis: estates
atent: intent
atte : at the
avowtré: adultery
awin: own
ay: always, ever
ayen: again
-B-
bacbyte: slander
ballis: balls (i.e. tennis balls)
barn, barne: child, bairne
bawme: balm
beest, beeste: beast, animal
bem: beam (of light)
benyng: gracious
bere: bear
bere: bier
beré: bury
bereyng: burial
besé: active, busy
bet: better
beth: are (i.e. be-eth)
beothe, beon: are
besynesse: business
betyme: beforetime, in time before
beye: buy, purchase
bi-þenchand: be-thinking
blastys: blasts, winds
ble, blee: face, countenance
blere: blur, cloud
blinne, blinnen, blynne: to cease, stop
blyndfelden: blind folded
blynne: blind
bobbid: beaten / mocked.
boffeteden: beat (simple past ending - ede(n) rather than -ed ending).
bone: petition, entreaty, request
breder: brothers
brenyng: burning, firing
brondis: brands
brycht: bright
buggere: buyer, purchaser
bunde: certain, stable, secure (< binden: to bind)
burd: maiden
buþe: be (i.e. be-eth - second person pl. imperative of verb “to be”)
buxumnes: obedience
-C-
cam: came
cape: cap
cete: city
cewre : cure
chaplyte: garland
charll: churl
ched, chedyn: shed
chent: ruined
chepardis: shepherds
chere: affection, cheer; manner, degree
chese: choose
chielde: child
childe = schilde: shield
chomes: shames (3rd person singular, present indicative)
clannes: clean
cleertees: clarity
clennes: purity
clepid: called
clyppe: clasp, embrace
carpe: talk, speak (< carpen: to talk, to speak, to say; to rebuke; carpede (pt) carped. Icelandic: karpa, to boast)
cokewolde: cuckold
cokyll: darnel, tare (pernicious and poisonous weed which looks just like wheat until it’s too late to weed it out)
con: can
conueyed, conueied: directed, conveyed
conyng: wisdom
cors: corpse
cowth: caused
covetyse, covetys: covetousness, avarice
coynt: quaint
craukes: crackling (as in the fat of a roast joint when the moisture has been baked out)
crisum-childer: newly baptized
crid, cridyn: cried, wept
-D-
daie: day
dalf: delved, dug
dalyens: conversation (small talk?)
dele: bit
dere: valued, cherished
derei: violence
dedis: deeds
dere: dearly
dernels: tares; weeds
deserent: desirous
detrasion: slander
deuh: dew
deyyen: die
dissayte: deceit
dome: judgement
dompnationis: dominations (one of the nine ranks of heavenly host: archangels, angels, dominations, thrones, powers, seraphim, cherubim, virtues and principalities).
domusmen: judges
dredul: fearful, respectful
dresse: make ready, direct, reach, prepare, dress
dyse: dice
-E-
eeke: each
efere: together
efte: after, again
echoon: each one
enchesone: occasion
enmes, enmys: enemies
Emne: as found in Christmas Carol cycle - scholarly opinion as to its meaning ranges from unsubstantiated guess to less substantiated guess. See Introduction John Audelay in Books for a discussion which failed to enlighten me. It might be, on a weird interpretation, enemy. Mary gave birth to Jesus, and in a way therefore the Trinity, the Triune God created all including “the Enemy.” A bit extreme, but there you have it.
entres, entresse: entry
enuye: envy
eor: their
erd: earth
eretyk: heretic
Eris: Year’s
est: behest
euesynges: eaves (i.e. top of house)
everechon: every one
-F-
fard: fare
faunt: infant
fayne: joyful, willing, inclined, eager
fe: fief
fedyng: feeding, eating
feele: excellent, proper, worthy, good
fele: < felen: to fall
felle: skin
fend: fiend, Devil
ferd: feared
fere, in fere: together
fetred: fettered
flesschly: carnally
ffryst: first
folnes: foulness
fong: past tense < fon: to seize, grasp, take hold of; to receive; welcome, accept (as one would a King or dignitary)
forbled: bled excessively. Past participle < forbleden, to bleed profusely, to cover with blood; to weaken or exhaust by loss of blood; to bleed to death; to shed blood.
forȝeue: forgive
forwake: forsake, abandon
foyle: folly, foolishness
fraiedist: past tense < fraien: to attack, make an assault upon
fray: terror; attack
froyte: fruit
fuson: abundance
Fynd: fiend, the Devil
Fyndis: of the fiend, fiend’s, of the Devil, the Devil’s (-is = genitive singular ending)
fysyke: physic (medicine)
-G-
gan: gave
gat: gate
gedren: gather
gen (to): began, began to (gen he seye – began to say; gen to syng: began to sing)
gete: begot
ȝeue, ȝeuen: give
ȝauen: gave
gif: give
gilery: deceit, guile
Godis: (genitive singular: God) of God
godnys: goodness; good fortune
grandseres: grandsires
grawdam: grandmother
gresteyste: greatest
grill: cruel, harsh
grownder: grounding, basis
gyf: if
gyffe: give
gynnyng: beginning
-H-
habounde: abundant
haddys: must (from verb “to have,” as in “I have it as my lot” / “I have it to . . .” = “I must.”)
hai: hay
haleday: Sabbath
halle: all
halse: hug, embrace (this is the same word asa below in a different connotation)
halson, halsyng: beeech, adjure conjure < halsen / halsien
ham: them
happys: fortune, fate
hard: heard
Harflete: Harfleur
hasardours: hazarders, i.e. gamblers
hast geton: have gotten
hastilich: quickly, hastily
hatis: hates (3rd person singular, present indicative)
haylsyng: greeting
he degré: high degree
helter: halter
hent: until
heo: she
herber: harbor, shelter
here: their (when it does not mean “here”)
here: hear (when it does not mean “their” or “here”)
heryd, heredon: praised
heryed: harried, harrowed
heryng: hearing
hestes: commands, demands, directions
hicht: height
hilé: entirely, wholly
hod: head
holden: held, considered
hom: them
hon: one
hon in fere: one together, one united
hordent: ordained
hoth: oath
hynde = hende: noble, courtly, well-bred, refined; gentle, mild, kindly, generous; (re God & Virgin) gracious, merciful, loving
-I-
ibore: born – past participle with i- augment
icallid: named - past participle with i- augment
ichos: past participle chosen (i- is an augment, soon to disappear from the language)
ilkone: alike
in the kyng danger: in the danger of the King, i.e. within his jurisdiction
Isay: Isaiah
iuel: evil
iwys, iwous: for sure
-J-
judicare : sentencing, condemnation
-K-
kaght: shatched, caught up
kele: < kelen: to cool
kepe: require
kittiþ = cutteþ: cuts
knavechilder: male children
kunde: nature
kynes: knees
knyt, knytte, knet, etc.: to knit tie, bind up; to marry; in relation to a halter: to hang up or put aside
kynd: nature, station
-L-
lake: fails, lacks
laus: laws
leche, lechys: (lit. leech) doctor
lede: lead, deal with, put up with
lemmon: lover
lere: learn
lered: learned, educated, literate
lesne: loose, release
lette: cease, desist
leud: ignorant, uneducated, illiterate
leve: believe (sometimes)
leve: leave (at other times)
leve: loved (at yet other times)
liftand: lifting
lith: lies
loke: look
lorn, lorne: lost, forsaken
lowse: loose (as in untie a knot)
lufe: love
lusté: greatly
lycht: light
lye: lie, not tell the truth
lytil: little, small
lyyst: lie, tell an untruth
-M-
mak: mate
malas: malace
manere: manner
mannus: man‘s
mared: married
marteiris seir: martyrs many
mary: merry
may: maid (as in merceful may - merciful maid)
med, mede: reward; often meaning bribe
medeled: mixed
mekelé: meekly, mercifully
mele: meal
mene: mean
metys: meats
modur: mother
mon: moan
moné an e: many an eye
monhod: manhood
monkunne: mankind
mony-makers: counterfeiters
mot, mown, mowyth, mow: may
mothys: months
munde: mind
mycht: might
myschif: misery
myschip: mishap
mystere: necessity
nam: took (vid. German verb nehmen, nahm, genommen)
nappe: draught
ne: nor; not
not: know not (I not: I know not)
nowfangelnesse: newfangledness, novelty, the latest (fashion etc.)
nyȝtrauin: night raven
-O-
o: one
obisions: perversions
odur: either; second
oȝains: against
on: one (sometimes, other times it means “on”)
oné: any
on he: on high
onlé: only
oone: alone, own (i.e. on his own)
oonis = ones: one time only, once; once more, yet again
ore, or : before
owre: hour (at other times “our”)
oultrage = outrage: to become intemperate
-P-
pape: breast
paramour, paramowr: darling
parfiteliche: completely; entirely; perfectly
patayle: battle
pere: peer
perfite: perfect
peté: pity, compassion
peynis: pains
pistil: epistle
pleyers: players
pleyne: lament, bemoan, complain
postil, postilis: apostle, apostles
potestatis: powers (type of angel)
potykary: apothecary
Poule: Paul
poure: power
prest: prepared for battle, armed; ready; quick
prow: benefit, sake
prys: price
purs: purse
pyght: fixed
Pyté: pieta
-Q-
quhome: whom
-R-
racide: raked, scratched, gouged (<raken - to rake)
rather: before (after and rather – after and before)
reams: realms
rede: < reden – to advise, counsel
reddour: severity, sternness, rigor, strictness; firmness of mind; a rule of a religious order; severe treatment
rere-sopers: late suppers
rer op: rear up
resun: reason
reuthe: pity
rewle, reulis: rule, rules
richelees = recheles: heedless, imprudent; careless of the consequences of one's actions; foolhardy, rash; uncaring towards somebody or oneself, indifferent; characterized by recklessness or heedlessness; negligent of one's work or duty; dilatory; carefree, untroubled by care.
rewild: ruled
right: straight
roche: rock
roumers: rumor-ers (fals roumers – gossips)
rulye: pitifully
ryal: royal
ryd: ride
ryve: tear, rip
-S-
sabil: lit. sabel the fur; metaphoric meaning: dark
sapyence: wisdom, good judgement
saulis: souls
sawe: tale, story
schent = shent: overcome, doomed
schilde: shield
schryve, schryue: confess
schul: should
scle: slay
scorgys: scourges, whips
seche: such
seid: said (3rd person singular)
seiden: said (3rd person plural: they said)
sekyrly: certainly, surely ( lit. securely)
selcouth: wonder
sele: seal (as in wax seal on letter, deed or charter)
semlé: seemly, fitting
seris: sirs
setis: cities
sette: place, put, position (best sette: place best, i.e. make best)
setys: sets, places
sewe: < sewen: pursue, follow
sewond: follow
seygh: saw
seyng: seeing, sight
sine fyne: without end
siȝ: sees (the final letter pronounced as “sees” or “seez”)
siþen: since, because, when
sleth: slays (3rd pers sing)
sofir, sofird: suffer, suffered
sok: sucked
sone: sun / son
sone: soon
song aslep: sang asleep
songyn: sang
sonyng: swooning
sool: sole, alone
soote: truly
sope: sup
sorfet: surfeit
sote, swete: sweet
sothanly: suddenly
soþenes: truthfulness
sownyng: swooning
span: stretched, covered (?)
speir: sphere
spitteden: spat (weak-verb-form simple past tense < spitten)
sterfe: died < sterfen: to starve; to die cf. German sterben
stoon: stone
stynt: cease, stop
suete: sweat
sum dele: a lot, a great deal (some deal)
sunne: sin
surfytys: overindulgence, surfeits
swelte: < swelten, to cease living, to perish, to slip into death
swere: swear
swetyng: darling, sweetness
swynk: work for
swotte: sweat
synnaris: sinners
sytyht: sits
-T-
tabernacle: niche
tarage: ?? edge ??
tawt: taught
tekyl: ticklish
tene: trouble
tenés: tennis
thag: though
the: very often “thee” rather than “the.”
thechest: teach (2nd person singular indicative)
þenchand: thinking
thene: thence
theydyr: tither, there
thowth: thought
tofore: before
þoo: those
thyrst: thrust
toone: the one
tothir: the other
to-torne: two-torn, torn apart
touris: towers
towchyng: touching, sense of touch
traytré: treason
trebeut: tribute
tretour: traitor
tronis : thrones (type of angel)
tult: tilt
twel: dwell
twhertyd , thwarted: argued, answered < hwerfen: to turn, to change
tythyngis, tydyngus: tidings
-U-
uche: each
underfonged: received (< underfangen: to receive)
us untille: unto us
-V-
veniaunce: vengance, revenge
veray: true
vesid: visit
vnlust: slaggard, slothful one
vonge: caught, received
vyalens: violence
-W-
wan: lived (<wonen: to live, dwell)
wane: reduce, lessen
waymentynge: wailing, mourning, lamenting
wede: thought, mind, opinion
wele: wheel (sometimes)
wele: happiness (at other times)
wele: well
wem: blemish
wemlees: without blemish, pure, blameless
wens: whence
wenest: think
were: wear
west: knew (3rd person sing. simple past)
wettyng: understanding
wexe: grow, increase
wheche: which
wielde: wild; sinful.
wille: desires
wod: mad, insane
woe: we (So woe bisecheth thee – so we beseech thee)
wol, wold: wish (verb I wold - I wish)
wole (subst.)= wile: will
wonand: living, dwelling
wonen: live, dwell
worche, werche: work, do, carry out
worthilich: fittingly; worthily
woryshyp, worchip: honor
wot: know
wowynge: wooing
wringe: twist, squeeze; torment physically or emotionally, cause pain; suffer
wrytn: written
wyȝt, wight: living creature, animate being, person
wynd: wend; wynd youe fro: depart from you
wyrchen: work
wyst: knew
wyteh: know
wyvis: wives
-Y-
Y: I (first person pronoun)
yche: same
ydil: idle
ydon: done – “y” is an augment indicating the past participle, which survived into the Middle English period but eventually died out entirely.
ye: eye (mannus ye: man’s eye)
ȝode < ȝeden / yeden: go, go to, go towards - cf. Germen gehen
yerde: rod; branch; bower
yeven: given
yknow: known - past participle < to know (see Guide to Middle English Grammar)
ynfere: together
yre, yra: ire, anger
ys, yn etc.: is, in, etc.
yuel: evil
yyng: young
Most helpful! Thank you. I figure if I read through these particular posts quickly and out loud, I get the gist of these poems.