utteraunce

And soo they mette soo hard / that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe hors and alle / Thenne sir Bleoberis cryed a lowde and said thus / make the redy thou fals traytour knyghte Breuse saunce pyte / for wete thow certaynly I wille haue adoo with the to the vtteraunce for the noble knyghtes and ladyes that thou hast falsly bitraid

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “liij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X:


bitrenden

enm-verb

bitrenden (third-person singular simple present bitrendeth, present participle bitrendende, first-/third-person singular past indicative bitrente, past participle bitrent)

bitrendeth (present singular third-person)
bitrendende (participle present)
bitrente (first-person indicative past singular third-person)
bitrent (participle past)

(transitive) To encircle or entwine (something); surround, envelop, engulf.


kynde

And whan he cam ageyne he sayd / O my whyte herte / me repenteth that thow art dede /[…]/ and thy deth shalle be dere bought and I lyue / and anone he wente in to his chamber and armed hym / and came oute fyersly / & there mette he with syr gauayne / why haue ye slayne my houndes said syr gauayn / for they dyd but their kynde

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “vij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book III:

one's inherent nature; character, natural disposition


pottere

English: potter

Scots: patter

From late Old English pottere; equivalent to pot + -er; influenced by Old French potier, from pot (“pot”) + -ier (“indicates an agent noun”).


mididone

From mid (“with”, preposition) + idone, past participle of don (“to do”), used as a noun.


sinfull

(Late Middle English) Alternative form of synful


qued

Scots: quad, quaid, queid

From Old English cwēad, *cwǣd, from Proto-West Germanic *kwād (“bad, evil”, adjective), *kwād (“dung; evilness”, noun).

inh

The body that was heavy as lead, be the Jews never so qued, A-riseth from grave..

Young and old, good and qued.


qued

an evil person or being, especially the devil


aunciently

English: anciently

That aunciently it was accustumed atte coronacion of the Emperour of Constantinoble.

1479 March 24, Cordyal, Westminster: William Caxton:

There were wõte aunciently thermytes for to dwelle / thurgh this valeye renneth the Ryuer that I spak of to fore

1481 November 20, The Boke Intituled Eracles / and Also of Godefrey of Boloyne / the Whiche Speketh of the Conquest of the Holy Londe of Iherusalem, Westminster: William Caxton:

For that causeth to asche we synne. of whyche cometh all seruitude. and aunciently & of olde tyme whã themperours were crowned it was demaũded of them in what place they wolde be buryed & thẽne they assygned the place of theyr buryeng / & this custome was ordyned to thẽde that they sholde remembre theyr deth for tesche we pryde / as it is recounted in the lyf of saynt Iohũ the Amener.[…]Aunciently also many men wolde that theyr bodyes shold be eten

1487, The Book of Good Maners, Westminster: William Caxton:


laughen

laughen (infinitive)
to laughen (infinitive)
laughe (infinitive)
laughe (first-person present singular)
lough (first-person past singular)
low (first-person past singular)
laughed (first-person past singular)
laughest (present second-person singular)
lowe (past second-person singular)
lough (past second-person singular)
low (past second-person singular)
laughedest (past second-person singular)
laugheth (present singular third-person)
lough (past singular third-person)
low (past singular third-person)
laughed (past singular third-person)
laughe (present singular subjunctive)
lowe (past singular subjunctive)
laughed (past singular subjunctive)
laughe (imperative present singular)
laughen (plural present)
laughe (plural present)
lowen (past plural)
lowe (past plural)
laugheden (past plural)
laughede (past plural)
laugheth (imperative plural present)
laughe (imperative plural present)
laughynge (participle present)
laughende (participle present)
laughen (participle past)
laughe (participle past)
laughed (participle past)

English: laugh

Scots: lauch

Yola: leeigh, leigh

From Old English hlæhhan, alternative form of hlehhan, hliehhan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlahhjan, from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną.

But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan / whan that he saugh that al the peple lough: / "Namoore of this, for it is right ynough!

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knight's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, lines 961–963:

But right away the worthy Knight started / when he saw that all the people laughed: / "No more of this, because that's enough!

To laugh; to break out in laughter or laughing.

And Venus laugheth upon every wight / For Januarie was bicome hir knyght

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Merchant's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, lines 1723–1724:

And Venus laughs about every person / As January has become her knight

To express glee or joyfulness; to show happiness.

(usually with a preposition) To reminisce about; to remember with affection.

(rare) To laugh about an incident or thing.


cley

English: clay, cley

Scots: cley

Yola: cley

From Old English clǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *klaij.

Any earth or terrain; something of little value or import.


cley

A frame composed of planks crossed together.


bewreken

head

bewreken (past bewroke, past participle bewroken)

bewroke (past)
bewroken (participle past)

Compare Old English bewrecan (“to drive away, exile, banish”).


harre

He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 549-550

He was stoutly built, broad, a large-framed fellow,
There was no door that he would not heave off its hinges, …


bewrien

bewrien (infinitive)
to bewrien (infinitive)
bewrie (infinitive)
bewrie (first-person present singular)
bewried (first-person past singular)
bewriest (present second-person singular)
bewriedest (past second-person singular)
bewrieth (present singular third-person)
bewried (past singular third-person)
bewrie (present singular subjunctive)
bewried (past singular subjunctive)
bewrie (imperative present singular)
bewrien (plural present)
bewrie (plural present)
bewrieden (past plural)
bewriede (past plural)
bewrieth (imperative plural present)
bewrie (imperative plural present)
bewriynge (participle present)
bewriende (participle present)
bewried (participle past)
ybewried (participle past)

From Old English bewrēon, bewrīhan (“to cover, hide, cover over, wrap up, enwrap”), equivalent to bi- + wrien (“to cover”).


dezert

Alternative form of desert (“wilderness”)


kyte

English: kite

Scots: kyt, kyte

→ Welsh: cud

Inherited from Old English cȳta, from Proto-West Germanic *kūtijō, from Proto-Germanic *kūts.


aproven

enm-verb

aproven (third-person singular simple present aproveth, present participle aprovende, aprovynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle aproved)

aproveth (present singular third-person)
aprovende (participle present)
aprovynge (participle present)
aproved (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)
aproven (infinitive)
to aproven (infinitive)
aprove (infinitive)
aprove (first-person present singular)
aproved (first-person past singular)
aprovest (present second-person singular)
aprovedest (past second-person singular)
aproveth (present singular third-person)
aproved (past singular third-person)
aprove (present singular subjunctive)
aproved (past singular subjunctive)
aprove (imperative present singular)
aproven (plural present)
aprove (plural present)
aproveden (past plural)
aprovede (past plural)
aproveth (imperative plural present)
aprove (imperative plural present)
aprovynge (participle present)
aprovende (participle present)
aproved (participle past)
yaproved (participle past)

English: approve

Borrowed from Old French aprover, approver, approuvir, appreuver (“to approve”); equivalent to a- + proven.


oute

head

oute (comparative uttre, superlative utmost)

uttre (comparative)
utmost (superlative)

English: out

Geordie English: oot

Scots: out, oot

Yola: udh, uth, ut, out, outh

From a conflation of two separate adverbs:
* Old English ūt, from Proto-West Germanic *ūt, from Proto-Germanic *ūt.
* Old English ūte, from Proto-West Germanic *ūtē, from Proto-Germanic *ūtai.


wode

From Old English wōd, from Proto-West Germanic *wōd, from Proto-Germanic *wōdaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂tós.

When thei saw hir for wode so wilde Thei did lede hir ... With-oute the toun […]And stoned hir to dethe.

When they saw her rage so wild, They did lead her ... out the town … And stoned her to death.

At cherche kan god […] yelde þe wyttes of þe wode.t

(Can we date this quote?), Dan Michel of Northgate, Ayenbite of Inwyt:

madness, insanity, an overmastering emotion, rage, fury


wode

woden (infinitive)
to woden (infinitive)
wode (infinitive)
wode (first-person present singular)
woded (first-person past singular)
wodest (present second-person singular)
wodedest (past second-person singular)
wodeth (present singular third-person)
woded (past singular third-person)
wode (present singular subjunctive)
woded (past singular subjunctive)
wode (imperative present singular)
woden (plural present)
wode (plural present)
wodeden (past plural)
wodede (past plural)
wodeth (imperative plural present)
wode (imperative plural present)
wodynge (participle present)
wodende (participle present)
woded (participle past)
ywoded (participle past)

Vices woden to destroyen men by wounde of thought.

c. 1382 (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “Boetius de consolatione Philosophie”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:

To be or go mad; be or go out of one's mind; behave wildly; be frenzied; go out of control.

Whan I ne may my ladi se, The more I am redy to wraththe […]I wode as doth the wylde Se.

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


wode

Lat us to the peple seme Suche as the world may of us deme That wommen loven us for wod.

c. 1374–1385 (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The House of Fame”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:

He was wod wroth and wold do Thomas ... to deth. — Mirk's Festial: A Collection of Homilies by

When þe wale kyng wist, he wex wode wroth.


wode

English: wode, wood

Scots: wod, wode, wud, wude, wuid

waxen wode

to become mad because of (sth.), be made mad by

mad, insane, possessed, furious, frantic, mentally deranged, of unsound mind, out of one's mind.


wode

English: wood

Scots: wod, wuid

From Old English wudu, from Proto-West Germanic *widu, from Proto-Germanic *widuz; see wood.


wode

wode (infinitive)
to wode (infinitive)
wode (first-person present singular)
woded (first-person past singular)
wodest (present second-person singular)
wodedest (past second-person singular)
wodeth (present singular third-person)
woded (past singular third-person)
wode (present singular subjunctive)
woded (past singular subjunctive)
wode (imperative present singular)
woden (plural present)
wode (plural present)
wodeden (past plural)
wodede (past plural)
wodeth (imperative plural present)
wode (imperative plural present)
wodynge (participle present)
wodende (participle present)
woded (participle past)
ywoded (participle past)

To take to the woods; hide oneself in the woods (also reflexive: ben woded).


knowleche

English: knowledge

Yola: knoouledge

/ˈknɔu̯lɛːt͡ʃ/


gaile

(Late Middle English) Alternative form of gayole


whetten

enm-verb

whetten (third-person singular simple present whetteth, present participle whettende, whettynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle whetted)

whetteth (present singular third-person)
whettende (participle present)
whettynge (participle present)
whetted (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)
whetten (infinitive)
to whetten (infinitive)
whette (infinitive)
whette (first-person present singular)
whetted (first-person past singular)
whette (first-person past singular)
whettest (present second-person singular)
whettedest (past second-person singular)
whettest (past second-person singular)
whetteth (present singular third-person)
whetted (past singular third-person)
whette (past singular third-person)
whette (present singular subjunctive)
whetted (past singular subjunctive)
whette (past singular subjunctive)
whette (imperative present singular)
whetten (plural present)
whette (plural present)
whetteden (past plural)
whettede (past plural)
whetten (past plural)
whette (past plural)
whetteth (imperative plural present)
whette (imperative plural present)
whettynge (participle present)
whettende (participle present)
whetted (participle past)
whet (participle past)
ywhetted (participle past)
ywhet (participle past)

English: whet

Scots: what

Yola: what

Inherited from Old English hwettan, from Proto-West Germanic *hwattjan, from Proto-Germanic *hwatjaną.

To sharpen; to make sharp, especially with a whetstone.

To sharpen one's claws or tusks; to prepare for attack.

To motivate; to encourage or cause eagerness.

(rare) To stimulate or increase endurance.

(rare) To growl or groan; to make hostile noises.

(rare, of the teeth or feet) To grind against something.


waget

English: watchet

waget:

Y-clad he was ful smal and proprely, al in a kirtel of a light waget — ful faire and thikke ben the poyntes set.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


ragery

Late 1300s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, “The Merchant’s Tale,”
And after that he sang ful loude and cleere,
And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere
He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye,
And ful of jargon as a flekked pye.


divinistre

His spirit chaunged hous, and wente ther
As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher,
Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
Of soules fynde I nat in this registre

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 1951-4:


interstition

The dewes and the frostes hore
After thilke interstition,
In which they take impression


rethor

Compare French rhéteur and English rhetor.

It muste be a rethor excellent

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


kercher

A keuerchef [vr. kercher] to him a drouȝ In þat ilche stounde, To stope mide is wonde.

c. 1330, “Early English Text Society, Extra Series 46, 48”, in E. Kölbing, editor, The Romance of Sir Beues of Hamtoun:


morwe

English: morrow; morn

Scots: morrow, morra; morn

From Old English morgen, from Proto-West Germanic *morgan, *morgin, from Proto-Germanic *murganaz, *murginaz.
Compare West Frisian moarn.


wemlesse

Thou pitouse lady and virgyne wemlesse

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, Orisoune to the Holy Virgin:

Sythen the world first begane / knewe I never such a man / borne of a deadlych woman, / and hee yet wembles.

?a. 1425, “The Temptation”, in Chester Mystery Plays, lines 25–28:

Since the world first began, I never knew a man be born of a mortal woman and yet be without blemish.


wherso

From Old English hwǣr + Old English sō; compare Old English phrase swā hwǣr swā.

Whereſo thou come, emong hie or lowe / Kepe well thy tong, and thinke on the crowe

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, “Manciple's Tale”, column 1, lines 360–362:

Wherever you come from, among high or low / Hold your tongue, and remember the crow

c. 1491, Anonymous, Croxton Play of the Sacrement, lines 336-337

Sir, almighty God be your guide, / And be glad wherever you rest!

Syr, almyghty God mott be yowr gyde, / And glad yow wheresoo ye rest!

(locative) wherever, in whatever place, wheresoever

2000, Walter Hilton, Thomas H. Bestul (Editor), The Scale of Perfection [published c. 1475], republished by Medival Institute Publications in Kalamazoo, Michigan, chapter 40, lines 1068-1069.
For oure Lord gyveth sundri giftes whereso He wole, not oon man al, ne alle men oon, outaken charité whiche is comyn to alle

For our Lord gives gifts however he wills, not on all men, nor all on men, except for charity which is common to all.

(non-locative) in whatever case, however


wherso

1897, Anonymous, George England (Editor), Alfred W. Pollard (Editor); The Towneley Plays, [published c. 1460], republished by Kegan paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., London, The Resurection of the Lord, XXVI, page 393, section (93), lines 558-561.
In ilk contree where so we lende / By nyght or day, / where so we go, where so we weynd, / Thus shall we say.

In those same countries where we dwell / By night or day, / wherever we go, wherever we turn, / thus shall we say.


sautiere

(Late Middle English) Alternative form of sauter


spute

to ſpute my face þey ſhame not

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume II, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Job 30:10, page 714, column left:


heigh

head

heigh (comparative heigher, superlative heighest)

heigher (comparative)
heighest (superlative)

English: high

Sranan Tongo: hei

→ German: high

Scots: heich

Yola: heigh, heighe, heegh, hia, hie

From Old English hēah, from Proto-West Germanic *hauh (“high”), from Proto-Germanic *hauhaz (“high”).


heigh

enm-verb

heigh (third-person singular simple present heigheth, present participle heighende, heighynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle heighed)

heigheth (present singular third-person)
heighende (participle present)
heighynge (participle present)
heighed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

Alternative form of hien (“to go quickly”)


godsib

English: gossip, godsib

From Old English godsibb, equivalent to god + sibbe.

one's sponsor at baptism or confirmation, a godparent


gyderesse

English: guidress, guideress

thou that art gyderesse of verray light, the thinges that thou hast seid me hidirto ben to me so cleer and so schewynge by the devyne lookynge of hem, and by thy resouns, that they ne mowen nat been overcomen.

1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales:


unresty

I roos me up, for boote fond I noon
In myn unresty bed lenger to lye.

c. 1405, Thomas Hoccleve, The Regiment of Princes, 115-6:


oratour

English: orator

From Anglo-Norman oratour, from Latin ōrātor.

One who advocates or petitions for another.

One who prays or supplicates for another.


unhap

English: unhap

Equivalent to un- (“lack of”) + hap (“luck”).


chamberer

And but thow make a feeste on thilke day / That I was born and make me fressh and gay / And but thow do to my norice honour / And to my chambrere with inne my bour / And to my fadres folk and his allyes

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Prologe of the Tale of the Wẏf of Bathe”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 61, verso:


endower

(rare) Money granted as to support an individual.


unworship

To yive a man ſo litel thinge,
It were unworſhip in a kinge

To give a man so little a thing,
 Would be unworship in a king

unworship: lack of worship or respect; dishonour; failure or refusal to worship; irreverence


femele

English: female

Scots: female

Borrowed from Old French femele, from Latin fēmella. Some forms are influenced by male (“male”).

Used in extended reference to supposedly "female" gems, trees, plants, or astrological portents.


femele

English: female

Scots: female


arow

English: arrow

Scots: aerrow, arrae, arow, arowe

From Old English ārwe, earh, from Proto-West Germanic *arhu, from Proto-Germanic *arhwō.

An arrow (projectile weapon emitted from a bow)

(figurative) Anything felt to have a (metaphorically) piercing effect.


undigne

Wondrẏnge upon this word / quakẏng foꝛ drede
she seẏde lord / undigne / or unwoꝛthẏ
I am

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Clerke of Oxenfordes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio 178, verso:

Wondering at this, and quaking in fear, she said "lord, I am unworthy"


smiker

English: smicker

From Old English smicer (“beauteous, elegant, fair, tasteful”), from Proto-Germanic *smikraz (“fine, elegant”). More at English smicker.

inh

He..warrþ till atell defell þær Off shene & smikerr enngell. — The Ormulum

beautiful, beauteous, elegant, fair, tasteful


fonne

English: fon (obsolete)

Unknown, perhaps of North Germanic origin; see modern fun. Potentially related to fonnen (“to be insane”).

Chaucer, The Cantebury Tales, The Reeve's Prologue and Tale

Someone who is easily tricked or misled.


fonne

English: fun

Scots: fun


swartish

English: swartish


norice

desc

English: nurse (obsolete norice, nourice, nourse)

Scots: nourice, nuirice

Borrowed from Old French norrice, from Late Latin nūtrīcia, ultimately from Latin nūtrīx.

A person (usually a woman) employed to take care of one's children; a nanny.

A person who breastfeeds a child; a wet-nurse.

(rare, Christianity) Mary as the guardian of Jesus.

Slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to Leccherie

1394, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parson's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales:

A long and peaceful sleep is also a true encourager of profligacy.

(by extension) A proponent or engenderer (of a quality, behaviour, etc.)

An animal or plant as a caretaker of its offspring.

(rare) A provider of religious support or education.


narwe

head

narwe (plural and weak singular narwe, comparative narwere, superlative narwest)

narwe (plural)
narwe (singular weak)
narwere (comparative)
narwest (superlative)

English: narrow

Scots: naro, narow, narrow

Yola: narrowe

From nearw-, the oblique stem of Old English nearu, from Proto-Germanic *narwaz.

Narrow, small: narw, narwe, narwest. For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.

2003, Akio Oizumi, A Complete Concordance to the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: A lexical concordance to the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, supplement series, III. v. 1. A-D, →ISBN:

A povre widwe, somdel stope in age,
Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cotage, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4011-4012

A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age,
Was once dwelling in a small cottage, …

Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 946

Forth goes her ship throughout the narrow mouth …

Tight, constricting; not allowing for much space.

(rare, Early Middle English) Severe, rigorous, unforgiving.


narwe

English: narrow

Tightly; in a confined or restrictive way.

Firmly; in a well-secured or well-attached way.

Close, near; without allowing for much space.

Uncomfortably; in a threadbare or poor way.

Judiciously, attentively, with care, attention and heed.

Readily, enthusiastically; with much purpose and dedication.

(rare) Compactly, crowdedly; in a packed or non-diffuse way.

(rare) In an accurate or meticulous way.

(rare) Clingily; in a possessive manner.


narwe

English: narrow

(rare) Something narrow or constrictive.


nevew

English: nephew

Scots: neffae

From Old French neveu, later form of nevod, from Latin nepōtem, accusative of nepōs.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3594

[...] For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe, [...]
… For he was thy nephew, and son-in-law, …


doubtuouse

English: (obsolete) doubtous

Borrowed from Old French dotos, douteus. Compare French douteux.


wawe

English: waw, wawe (obsolete)

Scots: waw

From inflected forms in wāg- of Old English wǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *wāg, from Proto-Germanic *wēgaz.

And fro the navele doun al covered was / With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 1099-1100:

A wave (moving zone of water or other flowing substance; undulation)

(usually in the plural) The ocean; a large body of water.

(figurative) A force of change or disruption.


wawe

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of wowe


arsmetrike

Alteration of Old French arismetique, from Latin arithmētica, arithmeticus, from Ancient Greek ἀριθμητική (τέχνη) (arithmētikḗ (tékhnē), “(art of) counting”), feminine of ἀριθμητικός (arithmētikós, “arithmetical”), from ἀριθμός (arithmós, “number, counting”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ri-dʰh₁-mó-s, form of *h₂rey- (“to count, reason”).

der

ἀριθμητική (τέχνη)

In ars-metrike shal there no man fynde, / Biforn this day, of swich a question.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Sompners Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 558-589:


ernestful

English: earnestful

For which heere for the wyues love of Bathe / Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene / In heigh maistre or ellis were it scathe / I wol with luſty herte freſſh and grene / Seye yow a song to glade yow I wene / And lat us stynte of erneſtful matere / Herkneth my song that seith in this manere

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Clerkys] Tale [of Oxenford]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 190, verso:

But now hear: for the love of the Wife of Bath / Whose life, and the lives of all of her sex, may God keep / In high mastery, (for it would be a great pity otherwise) / I will with joyous, fresh, and green heart / Sing you a song to gladden you, / And let us cease talking of such serious things: Listen to my song, which goes as follows.


untempter

[…]sotheli God is vntempter [translating intentator] of yuel thingis, forsothe he temptith no man.

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume IV, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, James I:13, page 596, column 1:


wowke

And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two.
Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Frankeleyns Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


unlust

He doth all thynge wyth anoye & with wrawnesse, slacknesse, and excusation: wyth ydelnesse and vnlust.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

He doth all thing with annoye, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, and excusation, with idlenesse and unlust.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parson’s Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; Charles Cowden Clarke, editor, The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. […], 2nd edition, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: James Nichol; London: James Nisbet & Co.; Dublin: W. Robertson, 1860, →OCLC:


holwe

English: hollow

Scots: hallae

From holgh (“hollow”, noun), influenced by the meaning of hol, hole (“hollow, concave”, adjective).

c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue: The Clerk's Tale, ll. 290–291

And he too was not fat, that I take, But he looked hollow, moreover, abstemiously.

And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, but looked holwe, and therto sobrely...


triacle

English: treacle

→ Welsh: triagl

From Old French triacle, from Latin thēriaca, from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ).

...for trewthe telleþ þat loue is triacle of heuene...

c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, section I:


knarry

First, on the wal was peynted a forest,
In which ther dwelleth neither man nor best,
With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde
Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 1117-20:


orped

English: orped (archaic)

Scots: orpit (obsolete)


undwellable

Be taȝt, Jerusalem, lest par auenture go awey my soule fro thee; lest par auenture I sette thee desert, a lond vndwellable.

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume III, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Jeremiah VI:8, page 357, column 1:

uninhabitable; unsuitable for dwelling in


rewful

[...] And, passing othere of weping, Emelye,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2885-2886

… And, excelling others in weeping, Emelye,
The most pitiful of all the company.


unwit

[...] Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye
To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye,
And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1084-1087

… Unhappy man! right now I will hasten myself
To tell thy lack of prudence and thy folly,
And also the falseness of that other wretch,
Insofar as my skill will stretch.

As ferforth as that my conning may strecche.


unobedient

(anatomy, of a limb or muscle) unresponsive, inflexible

(pathology, of an abscess, tumor, or diseased tissue) resistant to treatment

tumor; or diseased tissue; tumor; or diseased tissue

(of a food) not amenable to digestion; indigestible

(anatomy, of a humor) unresponsive, obstructive


widwe

English: widow

Scots: weedae, wedow, widdow

From Old English widuwe, from Proto-West Germanic *widuwā, from Proto-Germanic *widuwǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁widʰéwh₂.

A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed.
He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1169-1171

A man must of necessity love, in spite of all he can do.
He can not flee (from) it, though he should be dead,
Whether she be maid, or widow, or else wife.

Al be she mayde, or widwe, or elles wyf.


kess

Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfaſtneſſe / And hire in armes took and gan hir keſſe

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Clerkys] Tale [of Oxenford]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 188, verso:

["...] Now, dear wife, I see your steadfastness--" / And he took her in his arms and began to kiss her.


gulty

But though myself be gulty in the synne,
Yit can I make othere folk to twynne [...]

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Pardoners Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

But though myself be guilty of that sin,
Yet I can make other folk to turn away …


storial

English: storial (obsolete)

Either from storie + -al or a shortening of historial.

And this is storial sooth, hit is no fable. Now, er I finde a man thus trewe and stable...

1386, Chaucer, “v. 702”, in The Legend of Good Women:

Related to history or historical events.


treget

English: treget

From Old French tregeter (“to throw around”), ultimately from Latin trans + jacere (“to throw”).

c. 1370s. Unknown, The Romaunt of the Rose. 6266-8.
For, sith they coude not perceyve
His treget and his crueltee,
They wolde him folowe, al wolde he flee.

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


kirked

English: kirked

Probably a Northern dialectal form of kroked (“crooked”), or perhaps a miswritten form. More at English crooked.

c. 1370s. Unknown. The Romaunt of the Rose. 3135-8.
Like sharp urchouns his here was growe,
His eyes rede as the fire-glow;
His nose frounced ful kirked stood,
He com criand as he were woor,

The Clarendon Press
Walter William Skeat


goost

His lighte goost ful blissfully is went.


himpne

And al the Love of Palamon and Arcite
 Of Thebes, though the storie is knowen lite
, And many an himpne, for your holy daies

c. 1386–1388 (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The Legende of Good Women: (please specify the subtitle)”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:


heraud

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

15th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The House of Fame Then at the last espied I That pursuivantes and herauds[…]


trepeget

Without stroke it mote be take,
 Of trepeget or mangouell

c. 1360s (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The Romaunt of the Rose”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:


oinement

Ne oinement that wolde clense or bite

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


haveles

As povere as Job, and loveles,
 Outaken on, for haveles

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


ælc

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of ech


practisour

Borrowed from Middle French practiseur; equivalent to practisen + -our.


knopped

English: knopped

c. 1370s. Unknown. The Romaunt of the Rose. 7258-60.
And greye clothis not ful clene,
But fretted ful of tatarwagges,
And highe shoes, knopped with dagges,
And gray clothes not fully clean,
But adorned with ragged shreds,

Knopped; having knops or knobs; fastened as with buttons.


kynrede

English: kindred

Scots: kindred

From Old English cynrǣden; equivalent to kyn + -rede. For forms with -nd-, compare the development of thonder, gandre.

A family relationship; kinship:
Ancestry; one's ancestors.

A family relationship; kinship:
The state of having a noble bloodline.

but thyne enemys been thre, and they han manie children, bretheren, cosyns, and oother ny kynrede...

1387, Chaucer, “v. 2563”, in The Tale of Melibee:


whennes

If love be good, from whennes comth my wo?

c. 1380s, [Geoffrey Chaucer, William Caxton, editor], The Double Sorow of Troylus to Telle Kyng Pryamus Sone of Troye … [Troilus and Criseyde], [Westminster]: Explicit per Caxton, published 1482, →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], (please specify |book=I to V), [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


amorwe

English: amorrow (dialectal)

That whan I sawgh hir first amorwe, I was warished of al my sorwe

1372, Chaucer, “v. 1102”, in The Boke of the Duchesse:


reprefe

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 25, line 2413

‘Now is it reasonable and time that I show you when and wherefore that you may change your plans without earning dishonor.’

‘Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow, whanne, and wherfore, that ye may chaunge your conseil with-outen your repreve.’

[...] ‘Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man,
Spak in repreve of the Samaritan:’ [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 15-16

… ‘Beside a well, Jesus, God and man,
Spoke in reproof of the Samaritan:’ …


resoun

English: reason

→ Welsh: rheswm

Yola: raaison, raison

From Anglo-Norman raisun, from Old French reson, from Latin ratiō, ratiōnem.

Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
To telle yow al the condicioun
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me.

Before I proceed further in this tale,
It seems to me in accord with reason
To tell you all the circumstances
Of each of them, as it seemed to me.


resoun

English: resound

From Old French reson; equivalent to re- + soun.


unstrengthe

From Old English *unstrengþu (“weakness”), equivalent to un- + strengthe.


frelte

he holdith virginite
More parfit than weddying in frelte

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


upsodown

And ye shall understonde that in mannes sinne is every manere of ordre or ordinaunce turned up-so-doun.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, line 259:


reyn

English: rain

Scots: rain

Yola: rhyne, ryne

From Old English reġn, from Proto-West Germanic *regn, from Proto-Germanic *regną.

His salte teeris trikled doun as reyn.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prioresses Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, line 222:

(by extension) Anything falling from the sky.


reyn

English: rean

Borrowed from Old Norse rein, from Proto-Germanic *rainō.


gobet

[…]and he hadde broke the chaynes, and hadde broke the stockis to smale gobetis, and no man myyte make hym tame.

1388, John Wycliffe, The New Testament in English, Mark 5:4:

[…] and he had broken the chains, and had broken the stocks into small pieces, and no man might make him tame.

He seyde he hadde ǁ a gobet of the seyl / That Seint Peter hadde ǁ[…]

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 10, verso:

He said he had a bit of the sail that Saint Peter had […]


emperice

English: empress

Scots: empress

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman empereiz, contraction of empereriz, from Latin imperatrix; equivalent to emperour + -esse. Final -e is apparently by analogy with other feminine nouns, as the borrowing was early enough for the Middle English gender system to survive.

‘Your blisful suster, Lucina the shene,
That of the see is chief goddesse and quene,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1045-1048

Yet emperesse aboven him is she:’ [...]
‘Your blissful sister, Lucina the bright,
Who of the sea is chief goddess and queen,
Though Neptune have godly dominion in the sea,
Yet empress above him is she:’ …

An empress; a female ruler of an empire.

The wife or partner of an empire's ruler.


forster

An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 116-117

He carried a horn, the shoulder strap was green;
He was a forester, truly, as I guess.


forster

(hypercorrect) Alternative form of foster


kempe

English: kemp (obsolete)

Scots: kemp (obsolete)

From Old English cempa, from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō; doublet of champioun.

A fighter, battler, or soldier; one who wars.

A spiritual soldier; a fighter of malice.

(rare) A challenger or competitor; an entrant in a competition, especially one requiring physical might.

(rare) A winner; one who succeeds in a competition.

(rare) A person, especially one of large size.


kempe

Unknown; potentially related to Middle Dutch kindekijn.


kempe

English: kemp (obsolete)

From Old Norse kampr, kanpr, from Proto-Germanic *kanipaz.


vileyns

Vileyns synful dedes make a churl.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


nadder

English: adder, edder (by rebracketing)

Scots: edder

O · seruant traẏtour / falſe homlẏ hewe / Lẏk to the neddre in boſom / Sly vntrewe

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Marchantes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 144, verso, lines 25–26:


duhþe

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of douthe


þei

head

þei (accusative þem, genitive þeires, þeiren, possessive determiner þeir)

þem (accusative)
þeires (genitive)
þeiren (genitive)
þeir (determiner possessive)

English: they

Scots: thay

Yola: thaaye, thaay, thaye, thye, a

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
Borrowed from Old Norse þeir.

etymon

but algate alyſaundꝛine · atte wille hem ſerued / þat non knew here · cunseile but þei þre one

c. 1335-1361, William of Palerne (MS. King's College 13), folio 25, recto, lines 1414-1415; republished as W. W. Skeat, editor, The Romance of William of Palerne, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1867, →OCLC, page 52:

But Alexandrine would always help them whenever they wanted, so nobody would know their secret except for the three of them.

University of Michigan
w:University of Michigan

þan haſtely hiȝed eche wiȝt · on hoꝛſe ⁊ on fote / huntyng wiȝt houndes · alle heie wodes / til þei neyȝyed ſo neiȝh · to nymphe þe ſoþe

c. 1335-1361, William of Palerne (MS. King's College 13), folio 36, recto, lines 2177-2179; republished as W. W. Skeat, editor, The Romance of William of Palerne, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1867, →OCLC, page 74:

Then each man went quickly, hunting with hounds amongst tall trees, on horse and on foot, until he came close enough to notice the truth.

(rare) Third-person singular pronoun: they


þei

(Northern) Alternative form of þe (“thee”)


þei

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of þouȝ (“though”)


thider

For whan ther any ryding was in Chepe,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Cook's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4377-4378

For when there was any procession in Cheapside,
Out of the shop thither would he leap.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1690-1692

For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
And directly to the glade he rides,
For through there the hart was accustomed to take his escape,
And (flee) over a brook, and so forth on his way.

And to the launde he rydeth him ful right,


brotelness

[...] On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1279-1280

… On brittle ground they build, and insecurity
They find when they expect security.


avoutrie

English: advowtry, avowtry

Borrowed from Old French avouterie, from Latin adulterium.

Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree
An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree,
That boldely dide execucioun
In punysshynge of fornicacioun,
Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye,
Of diffamacioun, and avowtrye,
Of chirche reves, and of testamentz,
Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz,

14th c., Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, The Friar’s Tale


squaimous

But sooth to seyn, he was somdel squaymous

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3337-3338

But to say the truth, he was somewhat squeamish
About farting, and fastidious in his speech.


whider

English: whither (archaic)

Yola: fidi, vidy, vidie

From Old English hwider, alteration of hwæder, from Proto-Germanic *hwadrê.

Thiſe olde wommen / þᵗ been gladlẏ wẏſe
As is hir maẏſtreſſe . anſwerde hir anon
And seẏde madame / whider wolde ẏe gon
Thus erly / for the folk been alle on reste

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Squiers Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 133, verso:

These old women are, hapilly, as wise as their mistress, who now answered her, saying "Madame, whither are you going so early in the morning, while everyone is at rest?


loave

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of love (“remainder”)


vilany

I curse and blame generally / Alle hem that loven vilany / For vilany makith vilayn

1372, Chaucer, “v. 2179”, in The Romaunt of the Rose:


murage

English: murage

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Middle French murage (compare Medieval Latin mūrāgium). Equivalent to muren + -age.

A tax for the maintenance of town walls; murage.

(rare) Funds for wall construction and repair.

(rare) The privilege of collecting murage.


eale

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of hele (“health”)


unobedience

For if the ilke word that was seid bi aungels, was maad sad, and ech brekyng of the lawe and vnobedience took iust retribucioun of meede, hou schulen we ascape, if we despisen so greet an heelthe?

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume IV, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Hebrews II:2-3, page 482, column 2:

For if that word that was said by angels, was made firm, and each breaking of the law and unobedience took just retribution of meed, how shall we escape, if we despise so great a health?


kerver

[...] For in the lond ther nas no crafty man,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1897-1899

Ne purtreyour, ne kerver of images, [...]
… For in the land there was no skilled man,
Who knows geometry or arithmetic,
Nor painter, nor carver of images, …


kinrede

For she was oon, the faireste under sonne,
And eek therto come of so heigh kinrede, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 734-735

For she was of the fairest under sun,
And therewithal come of so high kindred, …


lofe

Æt þam ytemestan, broðor mine, hér æfter fyliȝæð þeo mongung be þare ælmessæn lofe.

c. 1175, “Dominica in Quadragessima”, in Algernon Ikey Belfour, editor, Twelfth Century Homilies in MS Bodley 343, published 1909, page 48, lines 12–14:

In conclusion, my brethren, after this comes an exhortation in praise of charity.


volupeer

She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer, And with the staf she drow ay neer and neer

1382, Chaucer, “v. 383”, in The Reeve's Tale:


malgracious

his figure
Bothe of visage and of stature
Is lothly and malgracious

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


flemer

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 459-460

[...] The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the spere,
Flemer of feendes out of him and here [...]
… The white lamb, that was hurt with a spear,
Banisher of fiends out of man and woman …


wikke

English: wicke (obsolete)

Scots: wick

Perhaps from an adjectival use of Old English wicca.

‘Iesu Crist, and seynt Benedight,
Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
For nightes verye, the white pater-noster!

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3483-3486

‘Jesus Christ and Saint Benedict,
Bless this house from every wicked creature,
For evil spirits of the nights, the white pater-noster!
Where went thou, Saint Peter's sister?’

‘Alle the dayes of povre men ben wikke;’

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 118-119

‘All the days of poor men are painful;’
Beware, therefore, before thou come to that point!

Be war therfor, er thou come in that prikke!


hippe-halt

He had a courbe upon the back,
And therto he was hippe-halt


liflode

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 53, line 685

Now certainly this foul sin Sloth is also a very great enemy to the sustenance of the body, for it has no preparation against temporal necessity, for it loses by delaying and spoils through sluggishness and destroys all temporal goods by carelessness.

Now certes, this foule sinne Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the lyflode of the body; for it ne hath no purveaunce agayn temporel necessitee; for it forsleweth and forsluggeth, and destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by reccheleesnesse.


wrawful

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, in The Canterbury Tales. Ellesmere Manuscript, folio 221, verso (§53)

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

After the synnes of Enuye and of Ire, now wol I speken of the synne of Accidie. for Enuye blyndeth the herte of a man and Ire troubleth a man; and Accidie maketh hym heuy, thoghtful, and wrawful.


noyful

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 11, line 2222

For although it be so that all tarrying is bothersome, it is not always to be reproved in giving of judgment nor in vengeance taking, when it is sufficient and reasonable.

For al-be-it so that alle tarying be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve in yevynge of Iugement, ne in vengeance-taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable.


havest

From Old English hæfst, hafast, second-person present singular form of habban, from Proto-Germanic *habaisi, second-person present singular form of *habjaną; equivalent to haven + -est.

13th C., anonymous, “Worldesblis ne last no throwe”, Rawlinson Ms G18

When you lie, man, under the mould, / you'll have as you've wrought.

wanne thu list, mon, undur molde / thu shalt hauen astu hauest wrokt.

second-person singular present indicative of haven


luxurie

English: luxury

From Old French luxurie, from Latin luxuria.

Lustfulness; sexual desire or attraction.


poureliche

But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
Than was she oon the faireste under sonne;
For povreliche y-fostred up was she,
No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Clerk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 211-214

But to speak of virtuous beauty,
Then was she the fairest of all under sun;
Because she was raised in poverty,
No sensual desire had run through her heart; …

And right anon he chaunged his array,
And cladde him as a povre laborer,
And al allone, save oonly a squyer,
That knew his privetee and al his cas,
Which was disgysed povrely, as he was,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1408-1413

And right away he changed his clothing,
And clad himself as a poor laborer,
And all alone, except only a squire,
Who knew his private affairs and all his situation,
Who was disguised as poorly as he was,
To Athens he is gone the nearest way.


falwe

From Old English fealg, from Proto-West Germanic *falgu.


falwe

English: fallow

Scots: fauch

Yola: falloo


dowve

"And est and west upon the peple I belle/ As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Pardoners Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 110-111:


weive

Her leges wolde hem nought receive,
So that they mote algates weive
To ſeche londe in other place.


weleful

English: wealful (obsolete)

Blessed, well-off, lucky; having prosperity or happiness.

[...] ‘O clere, o welful auter, holy croys,
Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,
That wesh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 451-455

… ‘O clear, O blessed altar, holy cross,
Red with the blood of the Lamb full of pity,
That washed the world from the old iniquity,
Keep me from the fiend and from his claws,
That day that I shall drown in the deep.’

That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.’

Bestowing prosperity or happiness; benevolent, kind.

(rare) Indicative of or signifying prosperity.


vernish

enm-verb

vernish (third-person singular simple present vernisheth, present participle vernishende, vernishynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle vernished)

vernisheth (present singular third-person)
vernishende (participle present)
vernishynge (participle present)
vernished (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

Venim or vernisch · or vinegre, I trouwe, Walleþ in my wombe · or waxeþ, ich wene.

c1386, Langland, “Passus V. 70”, in Piers Plowman:

Wel hath this miller vernisshed his heed; Ful pale he was for-dronken, and nat reed.

1392, Chaucer, “The Reeve's Tale 229-230”, in The Canterbury Tales^([The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer]):


keverchief

Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 453-455

That on a Sonday were upon hir heed.
Her kerchiefs were very fine in texture;
I dare swear they weighed ten pound
That on a Sunday were upon her head.


osanne

O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace,
Be myn advocat in that heighe place
Ther-as withouten ende is songe ‘Osanne,’

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 67-70

O thou, that art so fair and full of grace,
Be my advocate in that high place
Where unceasingly is sung ‘Hosanna,’
Thou Christ's mother, daughter dear of Anne!

Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of Anne!


tweyfold

head

tweyfold (plural and weak singular tweyfolde)

tweyfolde (plural)
tweyfolde (singular weak)

A remodelling of twifold after twei + -fold.


pomel

English: pommel

Yola: pomeale, pomell

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2689

[...] He pighte him on the pomel of his heed, [...]
… He hit himself on the top of his head, …


heyne

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1319-1320

He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne—
Unwiting this preest of his false craft— [...]
He slyly took it out, this cursed rascal—
This priest not knowing of his false craft— …


snape

enm-verb

snape (third-person singular simple present snapeth, present participle snapende, snapynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle snaped)

snapeth (present singular third-person)
snapende (participle present)
snapynge (participle present)
snaped (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

From Old Norse sneypa (“to outrage, dishonor, disgrace”).

der

Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde. — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, c1400

Ilke a barne in þe burgh all blaught is hys wedes Als any snappand snaw.

To injure; of snow or sleet: nip, afflict

Vte of desert þar he was in, He com to snaip þe king sinn. — Cursor Mundi, 1400

To Snape: corripere — Catholicon Anglicum, 1483


gladship

Me thenketh is ay the lenger the ferre
That bringeth my gladship out of erre


underpicchen

head

underpicchen (past tense and past participle underpight)

From under- + picchen (“to throw, fix”).

He drank , and wel his gurdel underpight

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Man of Lawes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


gyse

And to the ladyes he reſtored agayn / The bodyes of her huſbandes yͭ were ſlayn / To done obſequies as tho was the gyſe

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio i, verso, column 2, lines 133–135:


unbehovely

That I am unbehovely
Your court fro this day for to serve.


licour

English: liquor

Scots: liquor

Borrowed from Old French licour, from Latin liquor (“fluidity; a liquid”).

Whan that Auerill wᵗ his shoures soote / The droghte of march hath ꝑced to the roote / And bathed euery veyne in swich lycour / Of which v̄tu engendred is the flour[…]

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 2, recto:

When that April, with its sweet showers / Has pierced March's drought to the root / And bathed every vein in fluid such that / with its power, the flower is made […]

A beverage or drink; a liquid for consumption.


foyson

Late 14th century: Fyve þousand folk it was as greet mervaille / Wiþ loves fyve and fisshes two to feede. / God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.


gilour

English: guiler

And þow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure · now god gyf þe sorwe.

c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, section II:

And you have given her to a deceiver—now may God give you sorrow!


mendinaunt

Ultimately from Old French mendier (“to beg”), from Latin mendīcāre.

foꝛ it ſuffyſeth / Our loꝛde Ieſu, as holy wꝛyte deuyſeth / Yaue us enſample of faſtynge and pꝛayers / Therefoꝛe we mendicantes, we ſely freres / Ben wedded to pouerte and continence / To cherite, humbleneſſ, and abſtinence / [...] And therefoꝛe maye ye ſe that our pꝛayeres / (I ſpeke of us medicant, we freres) / Ben to the hye god moꝛe acceptable / Then yours, wyth your feeſt at your table

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Sompners Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xlvi, recto:

For it suffices, our Lord Jesus, as the holy scriptures describe, gave us an example of fasting and prayers. Therefore we mendicants, we pious frairs are wedded to poverty and continence; to charity, humbleness, and abstinence … And therefore may you see that our prayers (I speak of us mendicants, us friars) are more acceptable to the high God than yours, with your feast at your table.


knittle

A string that draws together a purse or bag.


woodly

Ther-with the fyr of Ielousye up-sterte
With-inne his brest, and hente him by the herte

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1299-1302

The box-tree, or the asshen dede and colde.
With that the fire of jealousy started up
Within his breast, and seized him by the heart
So madly that he was to look upon like
The box tree or the ash dead and cold.


wayk

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prioress's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 1671-1672

For to declare thy grete worthinesse, [...]
My ability is so weak, O blissful Queen,
To declare thy great worthiness, …


unthriftily

From un- + thriftily, or unthrifty + -ly.

Lo, thus by ſmellyng, & by thred bare aray / yf that men lyſt, thys folke knowe they may / And yf a man wol aſke hem priuely / Why they be clothed ſo unthryftely / Ryght anone they wol rowne in hys ere / And ſayne, yf that they aſpyed were / Then wolde hem ſlee, bycauſe of her ſcience / Lo thus theſe folke bytrayen innocence

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Tale of the Chanons Yeman”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio lxv, verso, column 1:

Thus by their smell and their threadbare dress / these folks may be identified, if men wish to do so. / And if some man were to ask them privately / Why they are dressed so poorly / They would instantly whisper in his ear / And say that, should they be noticed, / they would be slain on account of their [secret] knowledge. / Lo, thus these folks betray others' innoscence!


goundy

English: goundy, gundy, gunny (dialectal)

From Old English gundiġ; equivalent to gounde + -y.

(relating to the eyes) Covered in phlegm or gum.


weyve

To lyven vertuously and weyve synne

c.1386 Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, line 1176.


usself

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 19, line 349

And therefore says Saint John the Evangelist: ‘If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us.’

And therfore seith Seint Iohn the Evaungelist: ‘if that we seyn that we beth with-oute sinne, we deceyve us-selve, and trouthe is nat in us.’


pacquet

English: packet

Scots: packet

Either from Middle French pacquet, or formed independently from pak + -et (which in any case it is equivalent to).


giltif

For gilti, by confusion with -if, -ive, in French forms. See guilty.


dronkelewe

Thou shalt also eschue the conseiling of folk that been dronkelewe, for they ne kan no conseil hyde.

1387, Chaucer, “v. 382”, in The Tale of Melibee:


Turkeis

[...] Another his spere up in his hondes heeld;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2894-2895

The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, [...]
… Another held his spear upright in his hands;
The third carried with him his Turkish bow, …


unfestlich

[...] Hir liste nat appalled for to be,
Nor on the morwe unfestlich for to see;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 365-367

… She did not wish to be grown pale,
Nor in the morning to appear unfestive;
And slept her first sleep, and then awoke.

And slepte hir firste sleep, and thanne awook.


freelte

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath's Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; lines 97-100; (This reading only found in Royal MS 17 D XV; others read frelete--see Walter W Skeat (editor), Geoffrey Chaucer, "Index, Freletee" in The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer; Oxford, Volume 6.)

In sum: he held virginity / Nearer to perfection than marriage for frailty. And I say that frailty's all, unless he and she / Live their lives entire in chastity

This al and som he heeld virgynytee / More profit than weddyng in freeltee / Freeltee clepe I, but if that he and she / wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee


lyves

And I seide, “Ser, in his tyme maister Ioon Wiclef was holden of ful many men the grettis clerk that thei knewen lyuynge vpon erthe. And therwith he was named, as I gesse worthili, a passing reuli man and an innocent in al his lyuynge. And herfore grete men of kunnynge and other also drowen myche to him, and comownede ofte with him. And thei sauouriden so his loore that thei wroten it bisili and enforsiden hem to rulen hem theraftir… Maister Ion Aston taughte and wroot acordingli and ful bisili, where and whanne and to whom he myghte, and he vsid it himsilf, I gesse, right perfyghtli vnto his lyues eende. Also Filip of Repintoun whilis he was a chanoun of Leycetre, Nycol Herforde, dane Geffrey of Pikeringe, monke of Biland and a maistir dyuynyte, and Ioon Purueye, and manye other whiche weren holden rightwise men and prudent, taughten and wroten bisili this forseide lore of Wiclef, and conformeden hem therto. And with alle these men I was ofte homli and I comownede with hem long tyme and fele, and so bifore alle othir men I chees wilfulli to be enformed bi hem and of hem, and speciali of Wiclef himsilf, as of the moost vertuous and goodlich wise man that I herde of owhere either knew. And herfore of Wicleef speciali and of these men I toke the lore whiche I haue taughte and purpose to lyue aftir, if God wole, to my lyues ende.”

1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, pages 40–41:

And I said, "Sir, in his time master John Wycliffe was held by very many men the greatest clerk that they knew living upon earth. And therewith he was named, as I guess worthily, a passing ruly man and an innocent in all his living. And herefore great men of cunning and others also drawn much to him, and communed oft with him. And they savored so his lore that they wrote it busily and enforced them to rule them thereafter… Master John Aston taught and wrote accordingly and very busily, where and when and to whom he might, and he used it himself, I guess, right perfectly unto his life's end. Also Filip of Repintown while he was a canon of Leicester, Nicholas Hereford, dan Geffrey of Pickering, monk of Byland and a master divinity, and John Purvey, and many others which were held righteous men and prudent, taught and wrote busily this forsaid lore of Wycliffe, and conformed them thereto. And with all these men I was oft homely and I communed with them many a long time, and so before all other men I choose willfully to be informed by them and of them, and specially of Wycliffe himself, as of the most virtuous and goodly wise man that I heard of anywhere either knew. And herefore of Wycliffe specially and of these men I took the lore which I have taught and purpose to live after, if God will, to my life's end.


wel bigon

From Old English wel-begon. See English well and begone.

And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

Surrounded with happiness or prosperity.


lighty

From light (noun) + -y, -i (suffix forming an adjective).

bright, illuminated, spiritually enlightened


fadme

English: fathom

heigh labour / and greet apparaillẏnge
was at the seruẏse / and the fẏr makẏnge
That wᵗ his grene top / the heuene raughte
and twentẏ fadme of brede / the armes straughte

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Knẏghtes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 38, verso:

Great labour and appareling came to the service and the fire-making, for the pyre's green top reached to the skies, and its arms were twenty fathoms wide

A fathom: a unit of length equal to six feet.


vertuously

q

obsolete <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">vertuously</i>

English: virtuously (obsolete vertuously)

Virtuously; displaying virtue or righteousness.

(rare) Mightily, strongly; in a way displaying strength and power.

(rare) Bravely, fearlessly; in a way displaying courageousness or mettle.


riban

From Old French riban, probably from a Germanic compound derived from Proto-Germanic *bandiz.


vertual

obsolete <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">vertual</i>

English: virtual (obsolete vertual)

From Medieval Latin virtuālis; equivalent to vertu + -al.

Having an inherent attribute useful as an effect.

Having sufficient energy as means to an end.

In effect or essence (but not in reality).


monstruous

English: monstrous, monstruous

Scots: monsterous

Borrowed from Old French monstrueus, borrowed itself from Latin mōnstruōsus, mōnstrōsus; equivalent to monstre + -ous.

Misshapen, grotesque; of unnatural form or appearance.

(rare) Monstrous, terrifying, fear-inducing.


nart

Teere lakkyth no thyng to thyn vtter Iyen / That thow nart blynd / for thyng that we seen alle / That is a stoon that men may wel espyen.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Seconde Nonnes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


mokadour

English: muckender

Borrowed from Old Occitan mocador (“handkerchief”).

bor+

w:Webster's Dictionary#Webster's New International Dictionary 1909


engyn

desctree

English: engine
→ Afrikaans: enjin
→ Bengali: ইঞ্জিন (injin)
→ Hindi: इंजन (iñjan)
→ Iban: injin
→ Japanese: エンジン
→ Hakka: 引擎 (ên-chín)
→ Min Nan: 引擎 (ia̋n-jín)
→ Korean: 엔진 (enjin)
→ Malay: enjin
Indonesian: enjin
→ Scottish Gaelic: einnsean
→ Swahili: injini
→ Shanghainese: 引擎 (in¹-jin⁶)
→ Chinese: 引擎 (yǐnqíng)

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman engine ?, from Old French engin m.

Ther may no man out of the place it dryve
For noon engyn of windas or polyve; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 183-184

No man there can drive it out of the place
Despite any contrivance of windlass or pulley; …

But consider wel that I ne usurpe not to have founden this werk of my labour or of myn engyn.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 338-339

Right as a man hath sapiences three,
Memorie, engyn, and intellect also, [...]
Exactly as a man has three mental faculties,
Memory, imagination, and judgement also, …


maistress

I must as a hertless body
Abide alone in hevyness,
And ye shal do wel with your maistress

c. 1440, Charles d'Orleans, Eleanor P. Hammond (editor), "Go forth my heart" in English Verse from Chaucer to Surrey; republished 1927; Duke U. P.; p. 214-232

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


poraille

It is not honeſt, it maye not auaunce / For to deale wyth ſuche porayle / But all wyth ryche and ſellers of vytayle

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, “The Frere”, column 2, lines 246–248:

It is not honest, it may not advance / To deal with such poor people / But all with rich, and sellers of food


brigge

English: bridge

Geordie English: brig

Scots: brig

Yola: burge

Inherited from Old English brycġ. The final vowel is generalised from Old English inflected forms.

A bridge (structure that crosses river or a divide)

(figuratively) A straight raised portion of something; e.g. the bridge of a nose.

c, 1375, Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Taleshttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=E4DXD7Sk7WcC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA78#v=onepage&q=brigge&f=false
At Trumpyngtoun, nat fer fro Cantebrigge,
There gooth a brook, and over that a brigge
At Trumpington not far from Cambridge,
there goes a brook, and over that a bridge


flowen

enm-verb

flowen (third-person singular simple present floweth, present participle flowende, flowynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle flowed)

floweth (present singular third-person)
flowende (participle present)
flowynge (participle present)
flowed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)
flowen (infinitive)
to flowen (infinitive)
flowe (infinitive)
flowe (first-person present singular)
flowed (first-person past singular)
flew (first-person past singular)
flowest (present second-person singular)
flowedest (past second-person singular)
flewe (past second-person singular)
flew (past second-person singular)
floweth (present singular third-person)
flowed (past singular third-person)
flew (past singular third-person)
flowe (present singular subjunctive)
flowed (past singular subjunctive)
flewe (past singular subjunctive)
flowe (imperative present singular)
flowen (plural present)
flowe (plural present)
floweden (past plural)
flowede (past plural)
flewen (past plural)
flewe (past plural)
floweth (imperative plural present)
flowe (imperative plural present)
flowynge (participle present)
flowende (participle present)
flowed (participle past)
flowen (participle past)
yflowed (participle past)
yflowen (participle past)

English: flow

Scots: flow

Inherited from Old English flōwan, from Proto-West Germanic *flōan, from Proto-Germanic *flōaną. Compare flod.

To flow, stream, or issue; (to move as a fluid):

To gush or spurt; to move rapidly as a jet.

To act like a fluid; to be turbulent or impermanent.

(figurative) To flow (move smoothly like liquid)

(rare, of the sea) To become turbulent or rough.

To be flooded; to be overwhelmed by a flood or deluge.

(of the tide) To surge or rise; to become or be high.

To float; to be propelled by water or as if by water.

(rare, figurative) To macerate in joy or lucre.

(rare, figurative) To appear (of feelings)


outerly

Scots: outerly

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Clerk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 638-639

‘I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte;
Wherfor I am disposed outerly,’ [...]
‘I would live in peace, if I could;
Therefore I am firmly resolved,’ …


ryal

head

ryal (plural and weak singular ryalle, comparative ryallere, superlative ryaleste)

ryalle (plural)
ryalle (singular weak)
ryallere (comparative)
ryaleste (superlative)

English: rial, ryal

Scots: rial, ryal

From Anglo-Norman reial, rial, from Latin rēgālis. Doublet of royal.

(Late Middle English) royal, kingly, of a king

(Late Middle English) majestic, befitting a king, worthy

(Late Middle English) amazing, effective, fine

(Late Middle English) noble, good, honourable


ryal

English: rial, ryal

Scots: rial, ryal

(Late Middle English) A royal, noble, member of royalty or nobility.

(Late Middle English) ryal/royal (coin), or a similar coin

(Late Middle English, hunting) The second protrusion coming from a deer's antler.


foryetten

But yet had I foryetten to devise The noble kerving, and the portreitures, The shape, the contenance of the figures That weren in these oratories three.

1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knightes Tale”, in Canterbury Tales:


popet

English: puppet, poppet

Probably from Middle French poupette, though it antedates it.

He in the wast is shape as wel as I; / This were a popet in an arm t’enbrace / For any womman smal and fair of face!

c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, Prologue to "Sir Thopas", lines 700–702 (Ellesmere):

He in the waist is made as nice as I; / This would be a popet in one's arms to embrace / For any woman small and fair of face!


coroun

For al the world, right as the dayesye
†I-coroned is with whyte leves lyte,
Swich were the floures of hir coroun whyte.
For of o perle fyn and oriental
†Hir whyte coroun was y-maked al;
†For which the whyte coroun, above the grene,
†Made hir lyk a daysie for to sene,

c. 1386–1388, (date written), Chaucer, The Legend of Good Women, in Walter W. Skeat (ed.), The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Oxford: Clarendon Press, Vol. 3, second edition, published 1900. "Prologue of .ix. goode Wimmen.", text A, l. 150-157

Considered eek the fret of gold above.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

And thow shalt clothe it with moost puyr gold, as wel the litel fier panne of it, as the walles bi enuyroun, and the hornes; and thow shalt make to it a coroun of gold bi enuyroun

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume I, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Exodus XXX:3, page 265:

KJV: And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.


accordaunce

English: accordance

From Old French acordance (“agreeing, reconciliation, harmony”).


infaunt

English: infant


servaunt

enm-noun

servaunt (plural servauntes or servauns)

q

dialectal <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">sarvant</i>

English: servant (dialectal sarvant)

Scots: servant, sairvant, servan

From Old French servent, servant, originally the present participle of servir; equivalent to serven + -ant. Doublet of serjaunt.

A labourer or employee; one who works for another:

A lover; one in a romantic relationship with another.

[…]Is verray god / this is al our sentence / That hath so good a seruant / hym to serue / This with o voys / we trowen thogh we sterue

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Nonne”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 171, recto, lines 418-420:

[…] is true God (this all of us believe) / who has such a good follower to serve Him. / This we believe without exception, even if we die.

⁊ folkis ben wrooþ · ⁊ þi wraþþe cam · ⁊ tyme of deed men to be demed · ⁊ to ȝelde meede to þi ſeruauntis ⁊ pꝛophetis ⁊ halowis ⁊ dꝛedynge þi name · to ſmale ⁊ to grete / ⁊ to diſtrie hem þat coꝛrumpiden þe erþe

c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 11:18, page 121r, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

And the nations were furious; then your fury came. It is time for the dead to be judged, to give rewards to your servants, prophets, saints, and those who fear your name, both small and large, and to destroy those who destroyed the Earth.

(religion) A follower of a deity or religious concept.

A soldier following a ranking individual.


tyraunt

English: tyrant

Scots: tirran, tarran

From Old French tirant, tyrant, tiran, from Latin tyrannus, from Ancient Greek τύραννος (túrannos).

To hom þat wolde is wille do debonere he was & milde & to hom þat wiþsede strong tirant & wilde.

1297, Robert of Gloucester, Chronicle, published 7689:

Princes, þat is,... tirauntis of þis warld.

c. 1340, Richard Rolle, Psalter, XXXII 10:

c. 1374, Geoffrey Chaucer translating Boëthius, De Consolatione Philosophiæ, III v 59

1382, Wycliffe's Bible, Dan. 1:3

The sonys of Yrael, and of the kyngus bloode, and the children of tyrauntis.

An absolute monarch; one who rules in despotism.

c. 1290, in the South-English Legendary (MS Laud 108), I 128

Ore louerd helpe nouþe seint thomas : for oþur frend nath he non, / A-mong so manie tyraunz for-to come: þat weren alle is fon!

A bastard no kyngdom suld hald Bot if þat he it wan... Of tirant or of Sarazin.

c. 1330, Robert Mannyng, Chronicle, section 51:

Attache þo tyrauntz...And fettereth fast falsenesse...And gurdeth of gyles hed.

1377, William Langland, Piers Plowman, I 199:

Whan a Kyng rulith his Realme onely to his own profytt, and not to the good of his Subgetts, he ys a Tyraunte.

c. 1471, John Fortescue, Works, section 453:

A monarch who is evil, merciless, or unfair.

A ruler who takes over a nation or usurps.

One who suppresses or oppresses the followers of a creed.

A scoundrel or malfeasant; one who is merciless, unfair, or evil.


tyraunt

English: tyrant


sompnour

Borrowed from Old French semoneor; equivalent to somonen, sompnen + -our.

This Somnour in his stiropes hye stood;
Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Summoner's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 1665-1667

This Summoner in his stirrups stood high;
Upon this Friar his heart was so enraged,
That like an aspen leaf he quaked for ire.

That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre.


nost

From Old English nāst, second person singular indicative of nytan (“to not know”).

þu nost wanne crist ure drikte

Contraction of ne wost; wost not; knowest not.


dradde

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3402

[...] ‘And he was proud, and no-thing god ne dradde,’ [...]
… ‘And he was proud and not at all dreaded God,’ …


drovy

From Old English drōfig, equivalent to drof + -y.

He fand drovy watyr & stynkand, & drank þeroff.

(of water) having sediment stirred up; murky, turbid.


forein

[N]e / forein causes necesseden þe neuer to compoune werke / of floterynge mater.

14th c. Chaucer (Translator); Boethius; Consolatione Philosophiae; Book 3, Metur 9; lines 2419–2421

No external causes impelled thee to mix [thy essence] with floating matter


hatel

English: hattle, hettle

Scots: hettle

Inherited from Old English hatol, hetol, from Proto-West Germanic *hatul; equivalent to hate + -el (adjectival suffix).


werre

English: war

Scots: wer, weir, war

From Old English werre, wyrre, borrowed from Old Northern French werre, from Medieval Latin werra, borrowed from Frankish *werru (“confusion; quarrel”).

And bar him so, in pees and eke in werre […]

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knight's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, line 1447:

And he acted so that, in peace and in war as well, […]

A joust or tourney; mock equestrian conflict.

(religion) A moral conflict or struggle.

Non-military conflict or strife:
A moral conflict or struggle.

(uncommon) Minor armed unrest or attacks.

Non-military conflict or strife:
Minor armed unrest or attacks.

(hunting, rare) The struggles of one's quarry.


werre

English: war, waur, wor (dialectal)

Middle Scots: wer

Scots: waur

Borrowed from Old Norse verri, from Proto-Germanic *wirsizô. Doublet of worse.


werre

English: war, waur, wor (dialectal)

Middle Scots: wer

Scots: waur

comparative degree of yvel (adverb); worse

comparative degree of ille (adverb); worse


werre

English: war, waur, wor (dialectal)

Middle Scots: wer

Scots: waur

Something or someone which is more yvel or ille (i.e. worse).


belimpen

enm-verb

belimpen (third-person singular simple present belimpeth, present participle belimpende, first-/third-person singular past indicative belamp, past participle belumpen)

belimpeth (present singular third-person)
belimpende (participle present)
belamp (first-person indicative past singular third-person)
belumpen (participle past)

From Old English belimpan (“to concern, regard, belong to, conduce to, happen, befall, become, befit”), equivalent to be- + limpen (“to happen”).

inh

(intransitive) To happen; occur; befall.

(intransitive) To pertain (to something); be concerned (with); to be proper or fitting.


ferdness

Alternative form of ferdnesse (“fearfulness”)


woxen

To every wight she woxen is so deere
And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore
And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yeere,
Unnethe trowed they, - but dorste han swore -
That she to Janicle, of which I spak bifore,
She doghter nere, for as by conjecture,
Hem thoughte she was another creature.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Clerke of Oxenfordes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


sengle

Yola: sangle

From Old French cengle, from Vulgar Latin *cingla, from Late Latin cingula.

A supporting strap or band; girth, surcingle


gise

But who ſo wol chaſtyce me / Anone my loue loſt hath he / For I loue no man in no gyſe / That wol me repreue, or chaſtyce […]

c. 1360s (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The Romaunt of the Rose”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC, folio clxiii, recto, column 1:

But who so will chastise me / Anon [at once] my love lost hath he, / For I love no man in no guise / That will me reprove, or chastise, […]


hery

English: hairy

Scots: hairy

hairy, furry; covered with hair, fur or wool.

(rare) Resembling hair; thin and minuscule.


reare

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of reren (“to raise”)


creatour

English: creator

Scots: creator

From Old French creator, creatour, creatur, from Latin creātor; equivalent to createn + -our.

The Christian God as a creator and maker (of the world).

(rare) A symbol of God (e.g. a communion wafer; a cross).


glew

English: glue

Scots: glue

From Old French glu, from Late Latin glūs, from Latin glūten, from Proto-Italic *gloiten.

A adhesive or adherent; something that binds:

glue; a substance designed to adhere two things together.

Cunne we wel Goddis lawe, and loke wher Fariseis grounden hem in it; and if þei done not, flee we her sentence as heresie or fendis glewe.

a. 1384, John Wyclif, “On Dai of Many Martris [On the Day of Many Martyrs]”, in Thomas Arnold, editor, Select English Works of John Wyclif, volume I, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1869, page 223:

birdlime; a trap or capturing mechanism.


glew

Alternative form of glewen (“to play music, have fun”).


elne

English: ell

Scots: elne, ellne, eln, el, ell


elne

English: ellen, elne (obsolete)


wele

English: weal

Scots: weal, weel

Inherited from Old English wela, from Proto-West Germanic *welō, *walō, from Proto-Germanic *walô. For more; see English weal.

Ofte mony mon forgos þe mo. // Þe oȝte better þyseluen blesse // And love ay God in wele and wo, // For anger gaynez þe not a cresse;

c. Late 14th Century, Pearl, Lines 340-343


brere

English: briar

From Old English brēr, brǣr (“briar; bramble”).

With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte,
Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


launcet

English: lancet

Borrowed from Old French lancete; equivalent to lance + -et.


somnour

A sysour and a somnour tho softliche forth ȝede

c. 1370–1390, [William Langland], “(please specify the passus number)”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...], London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:


bedrip

English: bedrip

Yola: bederup

From Old English bedrīp, equivalent to bede (“request”) + ripe (“reaping”).

A day of reaping demanded from tenants by their feudal lord

(usually attributive) Something given as a substitute for reaping.

(rare) An individual obligated to perform this reaping.


holsom

English: holesome, wholesome

Scots: halsum, hailsome

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 15, line 2285

‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’

‘And ther-as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples that many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been; and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable.’


sublimatory

Vyols, crosselettes, and sublymatoryes

Violles Creseletys . and sublimatories

14h century, Geoffrey Chaucer, edited by Frederick J. Furnivall, The Petworth MS of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, London, 1868-1879, p. 554, l. 793 (inside þᵉ tale of þe chanons ȝeman)


minitere

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of mynter


feyre

English: fair

Yola: feyer, vaar

From Old French foire, from Vulgar Latin *fēria, from the classical Latin plural noun fēriae.

I governed hem so wel after my lawe
That eche of hem ful blisful was and fawe
To bringen me gay thinges fro the feyre

c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath's Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales:

I governed them so well by my rules
 That each was blissful and happy
 To bring me gay things from the fair


goosish

For to be war of goosish peples speche, That dremen thinges whiche that never were...

1386, Chaucer, “III.584”, in Troilus and Criseyde:


perfit

That yf I might scape fro prison / Then had I bene in ioye and perfyt hele / There nowe I am exiled fro my wele.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, column 2, lines 412–414:

That if I might escape from prison I would be in joy and perfect health, whereas now I am exiled from my happiness.


flatour

Borrowed from Old French flatour, variant of flateour, from the verb flater (“to flatter”).

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4515-4516

Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour, [...]
Alas! you lords, many a false flatterer
Is in your courts, and many a sycophant, …


wardmote

Somme seruen þe kyng · and his siluer tellen / In cheker and in chancerye · chalengen his dettes / Of wardes and wardmotes · weyues and streyues.

c. 1370–1390, [William Langland], “[Prologue]”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...], London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:


enquere

‘So he may finde goddes foyson there,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3165-3166

‘So long as he can find God's plenty there,
Of the rest he needs not enquire.’

[...] That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yën;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 315-316

… One of them thou must give up, despite anything you can do;
What helps it to inquire about me or spy?

What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyën?


wastour

English: waster; wastor, wastour

Scots: waster

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman wastour (continental Old French gasteor); equivalent to wast (“desolate”) + -our.

A devastator or raider; one who lays waste.

A squanderer; one who wastes money or resources.


hething

‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘the day that I was born!

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Reeve's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4109-4110

‘Alas,’ said John, ‘the day that I was born!
Now are we driven to contempt and to scorn.’

Now are we drive til hething and til scorn.’


muskadel

English: muscadel, muscatel

Borrowed from Old Occitan muscadel, diminutive of muscat. Compare Medieval Latin muscatellum, muscadellum.

(Late Middle English) Wine made from muscat grapes; muscatel.


henxman

English: henchman

→ Scots: hanchman

Scots: hensman, henceman (obsolete)

Either from a putative Old English *henġestmann or formed anew from Old English henġest + man (“man”).

A male attendant to a high-ranking noble.


windas

Ther may no man out of the place it dryve

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 183-185

And cause why, for they can nat the craft.
No man there can drive it out of the place
Despite any contrivance of windlass or pulley;
And the reason why? Because they do not know the craft.


goodlich

English: goodly

Scots: guidlie

From Old English gōdlīċ (“good, goodly”), from Proto-Germanic *gōdalīkaz (“good, goodly”), equivalent to good + -lich.

And with alle these men I was ofte homli and I comownede with hem long tyme and fele, and so bifore alle othir men I chees wilfulli to be enformed bi hem and of hem, and speciali of Wiclef himsilf, as of the moost vertuous and goodlich wise man that I herde of owhere either knew.

1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, pages 40–41:

goodly (gracious, kind, kindly-disposed)


blosmy

English: blossomy (possibly)

From Old English blōstmig, equivalent to blosme + -y.

Blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed.

1395, Geoffrey Chaucer, “Clerk-Merchant Link; Merchant's Tale, End-link”, in Canterbury Tales:

Covered with or full of blossoms; blossomy.


reddour

But above all in his noblesse
Betwene the reddour and pite
A king shall do suche equite

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


folwe

Thanne shaltou considere what thyng shal folwe of that conseillyng, as hate, pees, werre, grace, profit, or damage, and manye othere thynges.

1387, Chaucer, “v. 2397”, in The Tale of Melibee:


whilwende

English: whilend

From Old English hwilwende (“temporary, transitory”), also hwilende.

der

Þe castel ... bi-tacnet þeos world, is whilende and ontful and swiðe lewe and swincful.

temporary, transitory, not permanent, lasting a short time.


mightand

mightand to fight

Being mighty or capable (of); mighty; powerful; able.


aftirward

And it was doon aftirward · ⁊ [iheſus] made iourneis bi citees ⁊ caſtelis, [pꝛe]ch[in]ge ⁊ euangelizynge þe rewme of god / ⁊ twelue wiþ h[im] ·

c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Luke 8:1, page 32r, column 1; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

After that happened, Jesus made visits to cities and fortresses, preaching about and disseminating the kingdom of God with the Twelve alongside him.


rewme

English: realm

Scots: realm

Borrowed from Old French reaume, of disputed origin. For the change of /ɛu̯/ to /ɛː/ before /m/, compare flewme.

The subjects of a ruler; the people of a realm.


dereling

‘Why, nay,’ quod he, ‘god woot, my swete leef,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3792-3793

"Why, nay," said he, "God knows, my sweet beloved,
I am thy Absolon, my darling!


toght

Thanne shal this cherl with baly stif and toght / As any tabour hider been ybroght.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Sompners Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


houve

Scots: how, hou

From Old English hūfe (“a covering for the head”), from Proto-West Germanic *hūbā, from Proto-Germanic *hūbǭ (“hood, cowl”), from Proto-Indo-European *kewp- (“to bend, curve, vault”).
Cognate with Dutch huif (“hood, tent”), German Haube (“hood, bonnet, cap”), Swedish huva (“hood, bonnet, cap”), Icelandic húfa (“cap”).

der

A head covering of various kinds; a hood; a coif; a cap.


gour

Alternative form of gore (“patch (of land, fabric), clothes”)


delayment

He made no delayment
But goth hym home in all bye


alestake

And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
As greet as it were for an ale-stake;
A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


unthank

Unthank come on his hand that bound him so.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Reues Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


-le

Alternative form of -el (adjectival suffix)


-le

Alternative form of -el (agentive suffix)


-le

Alternative form of -el (diminutive suffix)


meselry

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 42, line 625

Now if he reprove him for harm of pain, then the reproof turns to Jesus Christ, for pain is sent by the righteous dispensation of God, and by his permission, be it leprosy, or bodily injury, or illness.

Now if he repreve him by harm of peyne, thanne turneth the repreve to Iesu Crist; for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god, and by his suffrance, be it meselrie, or maheym, or maladye.


laft

And therefore in the place they han it laft

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 186-188

To voyden him, as ye shal after here.
And therefore in the place they have it left
Until the knight has taught them the manner
To remove him, as you shall later hear.

Til that the knight hath taught hem the manere

[...] At Orliens in studie a book he say
Of magik natural, which his felawe,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1124-1128

Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
Had prively upon his desk y-laft; [...]
… At Orleans in a study hall he saw a book
Of natural science, which his fellow,
Who was at that time a bachelor of law,
Although he was there to learn another craft,
Had covertly left upon his desk; …


fawe

I governed hem so wel after my lawe
That eche of hem ful blisful was and fawe
To bringen me gay thinges fro the feyre

c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath's Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales:

I governed them so well by my rules that each was blissful and happy to bring me gay things from the fair


fawe

Alternative form of fou (“multicolored”)