"word" meaning in Middle English

See word in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /wurd/, /woːrd/ Forms: wordes [plural], word [error-unknown-tag, plural], vord [alternative], weord [alternative], woord [alternative], worde [alternative], wourd [alternative], wurd [alternative]
Etymology: From Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą, from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom. Doublet of verbe. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|word}} Old English word, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*word}} Proto-West Germanic *word, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*wurdą}} Proto-Germanic *wurdą, {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*werdʰom}} Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom, {{doublet|enm|verbe}} Doublet of verbe Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} word, {{enm-noun|wordes|pl2=word|pl2_qual=early}} word (plural wordes or (early) word)
  1. A word (separable, discrete linguistic unit)
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-SNKT-Nft
  2. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    A speech; a formal statement.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-dWX-YgeT
  3. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    A byword or maxim; a short expression of truth.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-UxrLDtev
  4. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    A promise; an oath or guarantee.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-sAgFfksA
  5. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    A motto; an expression associated with a person or people.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun--MYRUz5Q
  6. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    A piece of news (often warning or recommending)
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-fYOfEp0X
  7. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    An order or directive; something necessary.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-X2lbVjl1
  8. A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:
    One or more religious precepts, strictures, or beliefs.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-FWvBzfz7
  9. The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action):
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-xtkqQ6RL
  10. Discourse; the exchange of statements.
    The basic, non-figurative reading of something.
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-b4RcSOPO Categories (other): Talking Disambiguation of Talking: 2 5 5 7 7 5 5 6 7 20 20 6 2 2
  11. Discourse; the exchange of statements.
    The way one speaks (especially with modifying adjective)
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-9IKe-DRa Categories (other): Talking Disambiguation of Talking: 2 5 5 7 7 5 5 6 7 20 20 6 2 2
  12. (theology) The Logos (Jesus Christ)
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-XjMsBe9U Categories (other): Theology, God Disambiguation of God: 2 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 5 5 68 2 1 Topics: lifestyle, religion, theology
  13. (rare) The human faculty of language as a whole. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-vB6FDAgh Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Language Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 2 2 3 10 17 0 Disambiguation of Language: 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 0 2 2 5 28 0
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: bodeword, byword, hereword, mysword, wacche word, worden, wordy, wytword
Etymology number: 1

Noun

Head templates: {{head|enm|noun}} word
  1. alternative form of werde Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: werde
    Sense id: en-word-enm-noun-pHIc8pXE
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "word"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wird"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "word"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wurd"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "word"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wird"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "word"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wurd"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "wourd"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "word"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*word"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*wurdą"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *wurdą",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*werdʰom"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verbe"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of verbe",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą, from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom. Doublet of verbe.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "wordes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "word",
      "tags": [
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "weord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "woord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "worde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "wourd",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "wurd",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "word",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "wordes",
        "pl2": "word",
        "pl2_qual": "early"
      },
      "expansion": "word (plural wordes or (early) word)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "bodeword"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "byword"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hereword"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "mysword"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "wacche word"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "worden"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "wordy"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "wytword"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              81,
              87
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              79,
              84
            ]
          ],
          "english": "You also know that the form of language is in flux; / within a thousand years, words / that had currency; really weird and bizarre / they seem to us now, but they still spoke them / and accomplished as much in love as men do now.",
          "ref": "a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “Book II”, in Troilus and Criseyde, lines 22–28:",
          "text": "Ȝe knowe ek that in fourme of ſpeche is chaunge / With-inne a thousand ȝeer, and wordes tho / That hadden pris now wonder nyce and ſtraunge / Us thenketh hem, and ȝet thei ſpake hem so / And ſpedde as wel in loue as men now do",
          "translation": "You also know that the form of language is in flux; / within a thousand years, words / that had currency; really weird and bizarre / they seem to us now, but they still spoke them / and accomplished as much in love as men do now.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word (separable, discrete linguistic unit)"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-SNKT-Nft",
      "links": [
        [
          "word",
          "word#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A speech; a formal statement."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-dWX-YgeT",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "speech",
          "speech"
        ],
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A byword or maxim; a short expression of truth."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-UxrLDtev",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "byword",
          "byword"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A promise; an oath or guarantee."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-sAgFfksA",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "promise",
          "promise"
        ],
        [
          "oath",
          "oath"
        ],
        [
          "guarantee",
          "guarantee"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A motto; an expression associated with a person or people."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun--MYRUz5Q",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "motto",
          "motto"
        ],
        [
          "expression",
          "expression"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              81,
              85
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              91,
              95
            ]
          ],
          "english": "\"My lord,\" said Sir Bedivere, \"your order will be carried out, and I'll promptly bring you news [about it] afterwards.\"",
          "ref": "1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[Morte Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folios 480, verso – 481, recto:",
          "text": "My lorde ſeyde ẜ Bedwere youre cõmaundement ſhaỻ be done, and lyghtly brynge you word a gayne.",
          "translation": "\"My lord,\" said Sir Bedivere, \"your order will be carried out, and I'll promptly bring you news [about it] afterwards.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A piece of news (often warning or recommending)"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-fYOfEp0X",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "news",
          "news"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "An order or directive; something necessary."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-X2lbVjl1",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "order",
          "order"
        ],
        [
          "directive",
          "directive"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              24,
              28
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              27,
              35
            ]
          ],
          "english": "But those who practice the precepts that Holy Scripture teaches / and finish [life] with praiseworthy deeds, as I previously said, / can be certain that their souls will [ascend] to Heaven.",
          "ref": "c. 1370, [William Langland], “[Passus 1]”, in Petrus plowmon (V, A-text), Worcestershire, published c. 1390, folio 395, verso, column 1; republished as Bodleian Library MS. Eng. poet. a. 1, Oxford: Digital Bodleian, 10 January 2019:",
          "text": "¶ Ac heo þat woꝛchen þᵗ woꝛd. þat holi writ techeþ. / And endeþ as Ich er ſeide. in ꝓfitable werkes. / Mouwen be siker þat heoꝛe ſoules. ſchullẽ to heuene.",
          "translation": "But those who practice the precepts that Holy Scripture teaches / and finish [life] with praiseworthy deeds, as I previously said, / can be certain that their souls will [ascend] to Heaven.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "One or more religious precepts, strictures, or beliefs."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-FWvBzfz7",
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "religious",
          "religious"
        ],
        [
          "stricture",
          "stricture"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action)"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-xtkqQ6RL",
      "links": [
        [
          "speaking",
          "speaking"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action):"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 5 5 7 7 5 5 6 7 20 20 6 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Talking",
          "orig": "enm:Talking",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Discourse; the exchange of statements.",
        "The basic, non-figurative reading of something."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-b4RcSOPO",
      "links": [
        [
          "Discourse",
          "discourse"
        ],
        [
          "exchange",
          "exchange"
        ],
        [
          "basic",
          "basic"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 5 5 7 7 5 5 6 7 20 20 6 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Talking",
          "orig": "enm:Talking",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Discourse; the exchange of statements.",
        "The way one speaks (especially with modifying adjective)"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-9IKe-DRa",
      "links": [
        [
          "Discourse",
          "discourse"
        ],
        [
          "exchange",
          "exchange"
        ],
        [
          "speaks",
          "speaks"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Theology",
          "orig": "enm:Theology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 5 5 68 2 1",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "God",
          "orig": "enm:God",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              23,
              27
            ],
            [
              36,
              40
            ],
            [
              67,
              71
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              25,
              29
            ],
            [
              39,
              43
            ],
            [
              74,
              78
            ]
          ],
          "english": "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Joon 1:1, folio 44, recto, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "IN þe bigynnyng was þe woꝛd .· ⁊ þe woꝛd was at god / ⁊ god was þe woꝛd",
          "translation": "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Logos (Jesus Christ)"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-XjMsBe9U",
      "links": [
        [
          "theology",
          "theology"
        ],
        [
          "Logos",
          "Logos"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(theology) The Logos (Jesus Christ)"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "lifestyle",
        "religion",
        "theology"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 2 2 3 10 17 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 0 2 2 5 28 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Language",
          "orig": "enm:Language",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The human faculty of language as a whole."
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-vB6FDAgh",
      "links": [
        [
          "language",
          "language"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) The human faculty of language as a whole."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/wurd/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/woːrd/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "word"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun"
      },
      "expansion": "word",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "werde"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "alternative form of werde"
      ],
      "id": "en-word-enm-noun-pHIc8pXE",
      "links": [
        [
          "werde",
          "werde#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "word"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English doublets",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Pages with 7 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:God",
    "enm:Language",
    "enm:Talking"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "word"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wird"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "word"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wurd"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "word"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wird"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "word"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "wurd"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "wourd"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "word"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*word"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*wurdą"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *wurdą",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*werdʰom"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verbe"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of verbe",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą, from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom. Doublet of verbe.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "wordes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "word",
      "tags": [
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "weord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "woord",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "worde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "wourd",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "wurd",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "word",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "wordes",
        "pl2": "word",
        "pl2_qual": "early"
      },
      "expansion": "word (plural wordes or (early) word)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "bodeword"
    },
    {
      "word": "byword"
    },
    {
      "word": "hereword"
    },
    {
      "word": "mysword"
    },
    {
      "word": "wacche word"
    },
    {
      "word": "worden"
    },
    {
      "word": "wordy"
    },
    {
      "word": "wytword"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              81,
              87
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              79,
              84
            ]
          ],
          "english": "You also know that the form of language is in flux; / within a thousand years, words / that had currency; really weird and bizarre / they seem to us now, but they still spoke them / and accomplished as much in love as men do now.",
          "ref": "a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “Book II”, in Troilus and Criseyde, lines 22–28:",
          "text": "Ȝe knowe ek that in fourme of ſpeche is chaunge / With-inne a thousand ȝeer, and wordes tho / That hadden pris now wonder nyce and ſtraunge / Us thenketh hem, and ȝet thei ſpake hem so / And ſpedde as wel in loue as men now do",
          "translation": "You also know that the form of language is in flux; / within a thousand years, words / that had currency; really weird and bizarre / they seem to us now, but they still spoke them / and accomplished as much in love as men do now.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word (separable, discrete linguistic unit)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "word",
          "word#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A speech; a formal statement."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "speech",
          "speech"
        ],
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A byword or maxim; a short expression of truth."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "byword",
          "byword"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A promise; an oath or guarantee."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "promise",
          "promise"
        ],
        [
          "oath",
          "oath"
        ],
        [
          "guarantee",
          "guarantee"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A motto; an expression associated with a person or people."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "motto",
          "motto"
        ],
        [
          "expression",
          "expression"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              81,
              85
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              91,
              95
            ]
          ],
          "english": "\"My lord,\" said Sir Bedivere, \"your order will be carried out, and I'll promptly bring you news [about it] afterwards.\"",
          "ref": "1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[Morte Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folios 480, verso – 481, recto:",
          "text": "My lorde ſeyde ẜ Bedwere youre cõmaundement ſhaỻ be done, and lyghtly brynge you word a gayne.",
          "translation": "\"My lord,\" said Sir Bedivere, \"your order will be carried out, and I'll promptly bring you news [about it] afterwards.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "A piece of news (often warning or recommending)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "news",
          "news"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "An order or directive; something necessary."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "order",
          "order"
        ],
        [
          "directive",
          "directive"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              24,
              28
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              27,
              35
            ]
          ],
          "english": "But those who practice the precepts that Holy Scripture teaches / and finish [life] with praiseworthy deeds, as I previously said, / can be certain that their souls will [ascend] to Heaven.",
          "ref": "c. 1370, [William Langland], “[Passus 1]”, in Petrus plowmon (V, A-text), Worcestershire, published c. 1390, folio 395, verso, column 1; republished as Bodleian Library MS. Eng. poet. a. 1, Oxford: Digital Bodleian, 10 January 2019:",
          "text": "¶ Ac heo þat woꝛchen þᵗ woꝛd. þat holi writ techeþ. / And endeþ as Ich er ſeide. in ꝓfitable werkes. / Mouwen be siker þat heoꝛe ſoules. ſchullẽ to heuene.",
          "translation": "But those who practice the precepts that Holy Scripture teaches / and finish [life] with praiseworthy deeds, as I previously said, / can be certain that their souls will [ascend] to Heaven.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A statement; a linguistic unit said or written by someone:",
        "One or more religious precepts, strictures, or beliefs."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "statement",
          "statement"
        ],
        [
          "written",
          "written"
        ],
        [
          "religious",
          "religious"
        ],
        [
          "stricture",
          "stricture"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "speaking",
          "speaking"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "The act of speaking (especially as opposed to action):"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Discourse; the exchange of statements.",
        "The basic, non-figurative reading of something."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Discourse",
          "discourse"
        ],
        [
          "exchange",
          "exchange"
        ],
        [
          "basic",
          "basic"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Discourse; the exchange of statements.",
        "The way one speaks (especially with modifying adjective)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Discourse",
          "discourse"
        ],
        [
          "exchange",
          "exchange"
        ],
        [
          "speaks",
          "speaks"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations",
        "enm:Theology"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              23,
              27
            ],
            [
              36,
              40
            ],
            [
              67,
              71
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              25,
              29
            ],
            [
              39,
              43
            ],
            [
              74,
              78
            ]
          ],
          "english": "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Joon 1:1, folio 44, recto, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "IN þe bigynnyng was þe woꝛd .· ⁊ þe woꝛd was at god / ⁊ god was þe woꝛd",
          "translation": "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Logos (Jesus Christ)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "theology",
          "theology"
        ],
        [
          "Logos",
          "Logos"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(theology) The Logos (Jesus Christ)"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "lifestyle",
        "religion",
        "theology"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The human faculty of language as a whole."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "language",
          "language"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) The human faculty of language as a whole."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/wurd/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/woːrd/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "word"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Pages with 7 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:God",
    "enm:Language",
    "enm:Talking"
  ],
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun"
      },
      "expansion": "word",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "werde"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "alternative form of werde"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "werde",
          "werde#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "word"
}

Download raw JSONL data for word meaning in Middle English (9.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-08-28 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-08-05 using wiktextract (872fc7b and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.