Piers Ploughman (Wright)/Glossary




 * [The figures in the following Glossary refer to the page of the text. Words preceded by a &dagger;, occur only in the . A.S. and A.N. distinguish the two different languages of which our own is composed, Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman.]

a, prefixed to verbs of Anglo-Saxon origin, has sometimes a negative, sometimes an intensative power: before nouns and adjectives it represents on and at, as, a-brood, a-fore (æt-foran), a-rowe (i. e. on a row), a-loft (i. e. on high), &c. In words of Anglo-Norman origin, it answers to the prepositions, a, ab, ad, of the original Latin words

a (A.N.) 355, ah! (an interjection)

abidynge (A.S.) 413, patient

abiggen (A.S.) 35, 127, abien, 58, abugge, 122, abye, 164, abyen, 393, to make amends for, to atone for. ''pret. s.'' aboughte, 168, 190, 231, 268. ''part. past'', abought, 392

abite (A.S.) 331, to bite, nip

a-blende (A.S.) 377, a-blynden, to blinde, dazzle. ''pret. s.'' a-blente, 388

abosten (A.N.) 126, to assault

abouten, aboute (A.S.) about

a-brood (A.S.) abroad

ac (A.S.) but, and

a-cale (A.S.) 393, cold. It occurs in the Romance of the Seven Sages (Weber, p. 59):

accidie (A.N.) 99, sloth, a fit of slothfulness

acombren (A.N.) to embarrass, bring into trouble

acorden (A.N.) to agree, accord

acorse, acursen (A.S.) 375, to curse. acorsed, 375, accursed

acoupen (A.N.) 272, to blame, accuse. (for acoulpen)

a-drad (A.S.) 397, afraid

a-drenchen (A.S.) 198, to drown

afaiten, 291, affaiten 81, 119, (A.N.) to tame

a-feren (A.S.) 395, 435, to frighten, drive away. a-fered, 376, afraid, terrified

affraynen (A.S.) 347, to ask, question, interrogate

afore (A.S.) before

aforthe (A.S.) 129 is unclear], to afford

afrounte (A.N.) to encounter, attack, accost rudely. ''pret. s.'' afrounted, 425

a-fyngred (A.S.) 133, 176, 283, 403, a-hungered, hungry

a-furst (A.S.) 176, 283, a-thirst, thirsty. The two forms, a-fyngred and a-furst, appear to be characteristic of the dialect of the counties which lay on the Welsh border. They occur once or twice in MS. Harl. 2253, which, in my Specimens of Lyric Poetry, I have shown to have been written in Herefordshire. They also occur in several other manuscripts which may probably be traced to that part of England. In the Romance of Horn, in the MS. just mentioned, we have the lines:—

i. e. the beggars are thirsty. Whitaker gives a very remarkable translation of a-furst and a-fyngred, i. e. frost-bitten, and with aching fingers. Ritson has no less inaccurately explained a-furste in the Romance of Horn, by at first: the Cambridge MS. of this Romance, earlier and better than the MS. Harl., reads:—

ayein (A.S.) again, in return for. ayeins, against, towards

a-gulte (A.S.) 273, 313, 318, 365, to fail in duty towards any one, offend, sin against

aiels (A.N.) 314, forefathers

†aisliche (A.S.) 471, fearfully. The Anglo-Saxon egeslice

aken (A.S.) to ache. ''pret. pl.'' oke, 359

al (A.S.) all. pl. alle, gen. pl. alre, aller. oure aller fader, 342, the father of us all. your aller heed, 424, head of you all

a-leggen (A.N.) 207, to allege

a-liry (A.S.) 124, across, cross-legged

alkenamye (A.N.) 186, alchemy

allowen (A.N.) 294, to allow, approve

a-loft (A.S.) 378, on high

almarie (A.N.) 288, a cupboard

almesse (A.S.) alms

a-lough, a-logh (A.S.) 241, 242, below

†aloute (A.S.) 495, to salute

als (A.S.) also

a-maistren, a-maistryen (A.N.) to overcome, be master of

amenden (A.N.) to make amends for

amercy (A.N.) to amerce

amortisen (A.N.) 314, to amortize, to give property in mortmain

ampulle (A.N.) 109, a small vessel containing holy water or oil

an (A.S.) 2, on

ancres (A.S.) 3, 308, anachorites, monks who live in solitude. It is applied to nuns, in the early English Rule of Nuns. See Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. ii, p. 1

and (A.S.) the conjunction, is frequently used in the sense of if. and men crye, 362, if men cry

aniente (A.N.) 365, to destroy, annihilate, reduce to nothing

anoon (A.S.) anon

anoy (A.N.) annoyance

†anuel (A.N.) 475, an annuity: a yearly salary paid to a priest for keeping an anniversary

apayen (A.N.) 123, to satisfy, to please

apeiren (A.N.) 80, 111, 125, 127, 141, to lessen, diminish, impair

apertli (A.N.) openly

appenden, apenden (A.N.) 17, to belong, appertain to

apposen (A.N.) 18, 43, 252, 318, to raise questions, to object

arate (A.S.) 208, 283, to rate, scold, correct (the A.S. aretan?)

arayen (A.N.) to array

arere (A.N.) backwards, back

arwe, pl. arewes (A.S.) 438, an arrow

arst (A.S.) 287, first, erst

ascapen (A.N.) to escape

askes (A.S.) ashes

asondry (A.S.) 358, separated

aspare (A.N.) 303, to spare

aspien (A.N.) to espy. ''part. s.'' aspied, 350

assaien, assaie (A.N.) 334, 336, to assay, try

assetz (A.N.) 362, assets sufficient to pay the debts or legacies of a testator. A law term

assoille (A.N.) 57, 188, 407, 419, to assoil, absolve, to explain or solve

astronomien (Lat.) an astronomer

a-thynken (A.S.) 374, to repent

attachen (A.N.) 40, to attach, indict

atte (A.S.) at the. atte nale, 124, at the ale, a corruption of the Saxon, æt þan ale

attre (A.S.) 243, poison, venom

a-tweyne (A.S.) in two

aught (A.S.) something, anything, everything

auncer (A.N.) 90, a small vessel or cup. In Low-Latin it is called anceria. See Ducange, s. v., who quotes from a charter of the date of 1320 the words, Una cum cuppis, anceriis, tonis, et aliis utensilibus

auntren (A.N.) to venture, adventure, ''pret. s.'' auntrede, 382, auntred, 435

auter, pl. auteres (A.N.) altar

avarouser (A.N.) more avaricious

aventrous (A.N.) 370, adventurers, adventurous persons

aventure (A.N.) an adventure, an accident. an aventure, 47, by adventure, by chance

avoutrye (A.N.) adultery

avowen (A.N.) to make a vow

avowes (A.N.) vows, promises

awaiten (A.N.) 346, to watch, wait. a-wayte, 193, to see or discover by watching

awaken (A.S.) to awake. ''pret. s. awaked, 396, awakned, 424, a-wook, 147, part. past'', awaked, 425

awreken (A.S.) to avenge, revenge. ''part. pas.'' a-wroke, 129

†awyrien (A.S.) 490, to curse, execrate

axen (A.S.) 71, to ask. ''pret. s.'' asked, 81

ay (A.S.) ever, always

bakstere (A.S.) 14, 47, a woman who bakes

bale (A.S.) 70, 209, 381, 371 (?), evil, mischief, punishment

†bale (A.S.) 490, a bon-fire (rogus)

baleis (A.N.) 184, 229, a rod

baleisen (A.N.) 87, to beat with a rod

balled (A.S.) 436, bald. balled reson, 176, a bald reason, a bare argument

ballok-knyf (A.S.) 302, a knife hung from the girdle

bannen, banne (A.N.) 18, 143, 167, 310, to ban, curse, banish. ''pret. s.'' banned, 173

banyer (A.N.) 321, a banner-bearer, standard-bearer

barn (A.S.) 353, a child

baselarde (A.N.) 61, 302, a kind of large dagger, carried in the girdle

batauntliche (A.N.) 286, hastily. Cotgrave gives the Fr. phrase, il arriva tout batant, he came very hastily

baude (A.S.) a bawd

baudy (A.N.) 88, dirty, applied to garments. Thus in Chaucer, Cant. T. l 16102:—

baw (A.S.) 210, 419, an interjection of contempt. Whitaker says that the word is still used in Lancashire, and that "the verb means alvum levare"

bayard (A.N.) 72, a term for a horse. It means properly a bay horse

beau-peere (A.N.) 383, a common title for a monk. "Beau-pere, titre que l'on donnoit aux religieux." Roquef.

beche (A.S.) a beech-tree

bede, pl. bedes (A.S.) prayer. Our modern word beads is derived from this word, because it was by such articles, hung on a cord, that our forefathers reckoned the number of their prayers

bedeman (A.S.) 45, a person who prays for another

†been (A.S.) 493, bees

beigh (A.S.) pl. beighes, rings, bracelets, collars

bekene (A.S.) 363, a beacon

†beldyng (A.S.) 483, building. belded, 483, built

†bellyche (A.N.) 461, fairly

bel-sire (A.N.) 168, grandfather, or rather, an ancestor

belwe (A.S.) 222, to bellow

ben (A.S.) to be. ''pres. pl. arn, aren or'' ben, we beth, 391, ye aren, 301, they arn, 375. ''subj. sing. weere, 15, 19, 417, pl.'' were. what she were, 19

bene (A.S.) a bean, †pl. benen (A.S.) 495, beans

†beneson (A.N.) 489, blessing

†beouten (A.S.) 489, without

beren, bere (A.S.) to bear. ''pr. s.'' he berth, 341. ''pret. s. bere, 54, bar, 28, 109, pl.'' baren, 98. ''part. pas.'' born, y-bore, 377

bergh (A.S.) 112, a hill, mount

bern (A.S.) 416, a barn

best, beest, pl. beestes (A.N.) a beast, animal

bet (A.S.) 389, better

bete (A.S.) 375, to beat. ''pret. s.'' bette, 184, 436. ''part. pas.'' y-bet

bete (A.S.) 131, to amend, heal, abate. that myghtt not bete my bale (Sir Amadas, l. 46), that might not amend my misfortune. bete his nede (Rom. of Alexand. l. 5065, in Weber), to satisfy his need

bettre (A.S.) better

bi- or be- is a very common prefix to words in our language derived from the Anglo-Saxon, and has chiefly an intensative power, although it modifies the meaning in various degrees. Many verbs are no longer known, except in this compound form. Thus we have:—


 * bi-dravelen (A.S.) 88, to slobber or slaver on anything


 * bi-fallen (A.S.) to befal, happen. pr. sing. bifel


 * bi-yete (A.S.) begetting, offspring


 * bi-ginnen (A.S.) to begin. pret. s. bi-gonne, 106


 * bi-heste (A.S.) 50, a behest, command


 * bi-hest (A.S.) 432, a promise


 * bi-holden (A.S.) to behold. pr. sing. biheeld


 * &dagger;bi-hirnen (A.S.) 488 (?)


 * bi-hoten (A.S.) to promise. pres. s. bi-hote, 104. pret. s. bi-highte, 81, 345, 389. bi-hote God, 133, an exclamation


 * by-japen (A.S.) 386, 453, to mock


 * bi-kennen (A.S.) 31, 154, to commit to


 * bi-knowen (A.S.) 13, 45, to know, recognize, acknowledge. pret. s. bi-knewe, 404, part. past, bi-knowe, 370


 * bi-lien (A.S.) 174, bi-lye, 101, to calumniate. part. past, bi-lowen, 29


 * bi-love (A.S.) 184, false love (?)


 * bi-loven (A.S.) 130, to make friends (?)


 * by-menen (A.S.) to signify. pret. s. by-mente, 370


 * by-molen (A.S.) 273, 274, to spot, stain


 * by-nymen (A.S.) to take from. part. past, by-nomen, 62


 * bi-quasshen (A.S.) 384, to crush to pieces


 * bi-reve (A.S.) 132, to take from, bereave


 * bi-rewe (A.S.) 242, to rue


 * bi-seken, bi-sechen, 18 (A.S.) to beseech. pret. bi-soughte. part. pas. bi-sought


 * bi-semen (A.S.) to appear


 * bi-setten (A.S.) 93, 95, to place, set


 * bi-seggen (A.S.) to reproach, insult. part. past, bi-seye, 437


 * bi-sherewen (A.S.) 75, to curse


 * bi-shetten (A.S.) 40, to shut up. part. past, bi-shet, 405


 * bi-sitten (A.S.) 36, 195, to beset


 * &dagger;be-slomered, 476, bedaubed


 * bi-snewed (A.S.) 301, snowed over, covered with snow


 * bi-speren (A.S.) 303, to lock up


 * bi-swynken (A.S.) 323, to labour hard. pret. pl. bi-swonke, 442


 * bi-tiden (A.S.) to happen to, betide


 * bi-wicchen (A.S.) 405, to bewitch

bicche (A.N.) 98, a bitch

bidden, bidde (A.S.) to pray, to ask, beg, to require, to order. ''pres. s.'' he bit, 308, 188. ''pret. s. bidde, bad, pl.'' beden, 372, 404. ''part. act.'' biddynge. (if he) bede, 157

bidder (A.S.) pl. bidderes, an asker, petitioner

biden (A.S.) 387, 428, to bide, wait. ''part. past'', boden

bienfait (A.N.) a benefit

bi-girdle (A.S.) 156, a bag to hang at the girdle, a purse

bi-hynde (A.S.) behind

bikere (A.S.) 429, to skirmish, fight

†bild (A.S.) 460, a building

bile (A.S.) a bill

bilyve (A.S.) 410, 425, food

bynden (A.S.) to bind. ''pret. s.'' bond, 352. ''part. pas.'' bounden

bisie (A.S.) busy

bismere, bismare (A.S.) 82, 413, infamy, reproach, disgrace

biten, bite (A.S.) 446, to bite, urge. ''pres. s.'' bitit, 225. ''pret. s.'' boot, 82

byte (A.S.) 381, a morsel, bit

bi-time (A.S.) betimes

bittre (A.S.) 393, bitterly

bi-yonde (A.S.) beyond: when used indefinitely it signifies beyond sea, ultra mare

blancmanger (A.N.) 252, a made dish for the table. Receipts for cooking it are given in most of the early tracts on cookery

bleden (A.S.) to bleed. ''pret. s.'' bledde, 402, 415

blenche (A.S.) 112, to draw back

blende (A.S.) 181, to blind. blent, blinded

†blenying (A.S.) 468, blistering

bleren (A.S.) to blear, to make a person's sight dim, impose upon him. bler-eighed, 367, blear-eyed

blisse (A.S.) joy, happiness

blisful (A.S.) joyful, full of happiness, blessed

blody (A.S.) 129, 213, by blood, of or in blood

bloo (A.S.) blue

blosmen (A.S.) to blossom. pret. blosmede

blowen (A.S.) to blow. ''pret. s. blewe, blew''. ''part. past'', y-blowe, 360

blustren (A.N. ?) 108, to wander or stray along without any particular aim

bochier (A.N.) a butcher

†bode 493 (?)

bolden (A.S.) to encourage, embolden

bole (A.S.) a bull

bolk (A.S.) 100, a belching

bolle (A.S.) 83, 99, a bowl

bollen, bolne (A.S.) to swell. ''pres. s.'' bolneth, 84

book, pl. bokes (A.S.) a book

boold (A.S.) 373, bold

boon (A.S.) a bone

boor (A.S.) a boar

boot (A.S.) a boat

boote (A.S.) 70, 139, 189, 209, 233, 266, help, reparation, amendment, restoration, remedy

bootne (A.S.) to restore, remedy. ''part. pas.'' bootned, 128

boot-les (A.S.) 369, without boots

borde (A.S.) table. Hence the modern use of the word board when we speak of "board and lodging"

bord-lees (A.S.) 239, without table

borgh, 70, 143, 181, 346. borugh, 426, 439, pl. borwes, 19 (A.S.) a pledge, surety. ''s. in obj. case'', borwe, 285

borwen (A.S.) 71, to give security, or a pledge to release a person or thing, to bail, to borrow. ''pret. s.'' borwed

bosarde (A.N.) 189, a worthless or useless fellow. It is properly the name of a worthless species of hawk, which is unfit for sporting; and is thus used in Chaucer's version of the Romance of the Rose, l. 4033:—

The original is,—

bosten (A.S.) to boast. ''part. past'', y-bosted, 351

bote-lees (A.S.) 381, without remedy

botenen (A.N.) to button. †''part. past, y-botend, 468, buttoned''

bothe (A.S.) both. The genitive, botheres, of both, occurs. hir botheres myghtes, 340, the might of both of them. hir botheres right, 371, the right of each of them.

botrasen (A.N.) 113, to make buttresses to a building

bouchen (A.N.) 5, to stop people's mouths (?)

bouken (A.S.) 274, 306, to buck (clothes)

bour (A.S.) a bower, chamber

bourde (A.S.) a game, joke

bourdynge (A.N.) 297, jesting

bourn, g. bournes (A.S.) a stream or river

bowe (A.S.) 112, a bough, branch

bown (A.S.) 37, ready

boy (A.S.) 6 (?)

boye (A.S.) 214, a lad servant

breden (A.S.) to breed. ''pret. pl.'' bredden

brede (A.S.) breadth

breed (A.S.) bread

breeth (A.S.) 388, breath

breken (A.S.) to break, tear. ''pret. s.'' brak, 388. ''part. pas.'' y-broken, broke, y-broke, 416

breme (A.S.) 241, vigorous, fierce, furious. Chaucer, C. T. l. 1701, speaking of Arcite and Palamon, says they—"foughten breme, as it were bolles two," fought as fiercely as two bulls. In the Romance of Sir Amadas (Weber, p. 250) a person is described as coming "lyke a breme bare," like a fierce boar. It appears to be most commonly applied to animals. In the Towneley Mysteries, p. 197, Anna says to Cayphas, "Be not to breme," be not too fierce

brennen, brenne (A.S.) 360, to burn. ''pret. s.'' brende, 367. ''part. pas.'' brent

bresten (A.S.) to burst, ''pret. s.'' brast, 127

brevet (A.N.) 5, a little brief or letter

brewestere (A.S.) 14, 47, a woman who brews

brid, pl. briddes (A.S.) a bird

bringen (A.S.) to bring. ''pret. s.'' broughte, broghte. ''part. past'', y-brought, broght, 235

brocage (A.N.) 33, 289, a treaty by a broker or agent. It is particularly applied to treaties of marriage, brought about in this way. In Chaucer's Romance of the Rose, l. 6971, Fals Semblant says,—

So in the Miller's Tale (C.T. 3375), it is said of Absolon,

That is, he wooed her by the agency of another person, whom he employed to persuade her to agree to his wishes.

broches (A.N.) brooches, jewels.

broches, 362, matches (?)

brocour (A.N.) 31, 32, 45, 84, a seller, broker, maker of bargains

broke (A.S.) a brook

brok, pl. brokkes (A.S.) 119, an animal of the badger kind

brol (A.S.) 55, 494, 495, a child, brat. Reliquiæ Antiquæ, ii, 177:—

brood (A.S.) broad

brotel (A.S.) 153, weak, brittle, unsteady

†brothels (A.S.) 496, wretches, men of bad life. In the Coventry Mysteries (Ed. Halliwell, p. 308), the term is applied to the damned who suffer punishment in hell:—

In another play in the same collection, p. 217, it is applied to the woman taken in adultery:—

brouke (A.S.) 209, to enjoy, use, to brook

brugg, pl. brugges (A.S.) a bridge

bruneste (A.S.) brownest

buggen, bugge (A.S.) 412, to buy. ''pres. pl.'' biggen. pret. boughte. ''part. act.'' buggynge, 410

bummen (A.S. ?) 90, to taste (?)

burde (A.S.) 44, 404, a maiden, damsel, lady

burdoun (A.N.) 108, a staff

burel (A.N.) a kind of coarse brown woollen cloth. burel clerkes, 191. Tyrwhit (Glos. to Chaucer) thinks this means lay clerks. In the Canterbury Tales, l. 7453, the friar says:—

The hoste says (l. 15440)—

Borel folk and borel men evidently mean laymen

burgage (A.N.) 48, lands or tenements in towns, held by a particular tenure

burgeise (A.S.) burgess, inhabitant of a borough

burghe (A.S.) 135, burgh, town

burghe (A.S.) castrated, applied to a hog. burghe swyn, 34, a barrow hog

burjonen (A.N.) 299, to bud, or spring

burn (A.S.) pl. burnes, a man. buyrn, 341, 346

†burwgh (A.S.) 458, a castle, palace, or large edifice

busk, pl. buskes (A.S.) 223, a bush

busken (A.S.) 44, 167, to busk, go, to array, prepare

buxom (A.S.) obedient. buxomnesse, obedience

caas (A.N.) case

cacchen (A.S.) 236, to catch, take. ''part. past'', caught, 361

cachepol (A.S.) 372, 373, a catchpole

kaiser, kayser (A.S.) 404, an emperor

cammoke (A.S.) 414, a weed more commonly known by the name of rest-harrow (anonis)

kan (A.S.) can

capul, caple (A.N.) 354, pl. caples, 415, 416, a horse (said to be derived from the Low-Latin caballus)

caractes (A.N.) 233, characters

cardiacle (Gr.) 266, 430, a disease affecting the heart

careful (A.S.) pl. carefulle, 403, full of care

carien (A.S.) to carry

caroyne, careyne (A.N.) carrion, flesh, a corpse

carpen (A.N.) 356, 400, to talk, chat, tell. ''part. pas.'' y-carped, 313

†cary (A.N. ?) 475, a kind of coarse cloth

casten (A.S.) to cast

catel (A.N.) 70, 78, 175, 437, goods, property, treasure, possessions

cauken (A.S. ?) 223, 241, a technical term, applied to birds at their time of breeding. It is found in the St. Albans Book of Hawking, 1496, sign. A. i.; "And in the tyme of their (the hawks') love, they calle, and not cauke."

kaurymaury, 81, care, trouble?

†cautel (A.N.) 469, a cunning trick

kaylewey (.) 334 (?)

kemben (A.S.) 174, to comb

kene (A.S.) sharp, earnest

kennen, kenne (A.S.) 355, 396, 410, to teach, pres pl. konne, 3. imperat. kenne (teach), 20. pret. kenned, 67, 241, kennede, 409

kepen, kepe (A.S.) to keep, to abstain, 60. ''pret. pl.'' kepten, 235, 404. have kepe this man, 352, have this man to keep

kernelen (A.N.) 113, to embattle a building, build the battlements

kerse (A.S.) 174, cress

kerven (A.S.) to carve. †''part. past'', y-corven, 460

kerver, 184, a sculptor

cesse (A.N.) 375, to end, cease

kevere (A.N.) 445, to recover

kex (A.S.) 361, the dried stalk of hemlock

chace (A.N.) 351, to race, to go fast

chaffare (A.S.) 131, 292, 301, 305, 338, to deal, traffic, trade

chaffare (A.S.) 3, 31, 85, 268, 305, merchandise

chalangen (A.N.) to challenge, claim. chalangynge, 82. chalanged, 87

chapitle (A.N.) a chapter

†chaple (A.N.) 485, a chapel

chapman (A.S.) a merchant, buyer

†chapolories (A.N.) 483, chapelaries

†charthous (A.N.) 490, Carthusians

chastilet (A.N.) a little castle

chatre (A.N.) 287, to chatter

chauncelrie (A.N.) chancery

cheke (A.S.) 68, the cheek, maugree hire chekes, 68. We have in Chaucer, maugré thin eyen, maugré hire hed, &c. See Tyrwhit's Gloss, v. Maugre. One of these instances is exactly analogous to the passage of Piers Ploughman (C. T. l. 6467):—

cheker (A.N.) the exchequer

chele (A.S.) 176, 439, cold

chepen (A.S.) 296, to buy

chepyng (A.S.) 68, 135, market, sale

cherl (A.S.) 210, pl. cherles, 337, 375, a serf, peasant, churl

†cherlich (A.N.) 485, richly, sumptuously

chervelle (A.S.) 134, chervil, a plant which was eaten as a pot-herb (cerefolium)

chese (A.S.) 296, to choose

cheeste, cheste (A.S.) 33, 169, 253, dissension, strife, debate

cheve (A.N.) 375, to compass a thing, to succeed, or bring to an end, to obtain, adopt. ''pres. s.'' cheveth, 287. ''pret. pl.'' cheveden, 3, chewe, 381, 439. lat hem chewe as thei chosen, let them take as they choose

chewen (A.N.) 26, 490, to eschewe

chibolle (A.N.) 134, a kind of leek, called in French ciboule

chicke, pl. chicknes, 67 (A.S.) a chicken

chevysaunce (A.N.) 92, 426, an agreement for borrowing money

chiden (A.S.) to chide

child (A.S.) a child. gen. pl. childrene, 72

chymenee (A.N.) 179, a fire-place

chirie-tyme, 86, cherry-time

chyvelen (A.S. ?) 88, to become shrivelled

†chol (A.S.) 464, the jowl

kidde, see couthen

kirk (A.S.) a church

kirtel (A.S.) a kirtle, frock

kissen (A.S.) 395, to kiss. ''pret. s.'' kiste, 394

kith, kyth (A.S.) 55, 324, 400, relationship, family connection. to kith and to kyn, 268, to family connection and kindred

kitone (A.N.) kitten, young cat

clawe (A.S.) 274, to brush, to stroke

clene (A.S.) pure, clean. clenner, 410, purer. clennesse, purity, cleanness

clepen, clepe (A.S.) to call. pret. cleped, 436. ''part. pas.'' cleped, 174

clergie (A.N.) science, clergy

clerk (A.N.) pl. clerkes, gen. pl. clerkene, 72, a scholar

cler-matyn (A.N.) 135, a kind of fine bread

cleven (A.S.) to split, cleave (intransitive). ''pret. s.'' cleef, 373

cleymen (A.N.) 389, to claim. ''pret. s.'' cleymede, 430

cliket (A.N.) 114, a kind of latch key. cliketten, 114, to fasten with a cliket. Tyrwhit explains the word simply as meaning a key—but in Piers Ploughman it is put so in immediate apposition with the word key, that it must have differed from it. In Chaucer, C. T. 9990, et seq. it appears to be the key of a garden gate:—

In a document of the date 1416, quoted by Ducange, v. Cliquetus, it is ordered that, Refectorarius semper teneat hostium refectorii clausum cum cliqueto

clyngen (A.S.) 276, to shrink, wither, pine. Reliq. Antiquæ, vol. ii, p. 210:—

clippe (A.S.) 359, 394, to embrace, enfold

clips (A.N. ?) 377, an eclipse

clyven (A.S.) 367, to cleave, stick to

clokken (A.N.) 45, to limp or hobble, to walk lamely

clomsen (A.N.) 276, to shrink or contract. A verb used often in the Wycliffite Bible. In Prompt. Parv. aclomsid.

clooth (A.S.) cloth

clouch (A.S.) pl. clouches, a clutch

clouten (A.S.) to patch, mend. ''part. past'', y-clouted, 120

clucche (A.S.) 359, to clutch, hold

knappe (A.S.) 133, a knop, a button

knave (A.S.) 14, 66, a servant lad

†knoppede (A.S.) 476, full of knobs

knowelichen (A.S.) to acknowledge. ''pret. s.'' kneweliched, 239, 407. ''part. act.'' knowelichynge, 400

knowes (A.S.) 98, knees

knowen, knowe (A.S.) 408, to know, ''pres. pl.'' knowen. ''pret. s.'' knew, 232. pl. knewen, 237. ''part. pas.'' knowen, knowe

coffe (A.S. ?) 120, a cuff

†cofrene (A.N.) 455, to put in a coffer

coghen (A.S.) 367, to cough

coke (A.S.) a cook

cokeney (A.N.) 134, some kind of meager food, probably a young or small cock, which had little flesh on its bones. This meaning of the word (which has been misunderstood) may be gathered from a comparison of the passage in Piers Ploughman with one in the "Turnament of Tottenham," where the writer intended to satirize the poorness of the fare:—

Heywood, in his Proverbs, part i, chap. xi, gives a proverb in which the word is evidently used in the same sense, and appears to be intentionally contrasted with a fat hen:—

I think that cokenay in Chaucer is the same word, used metaphorically to signify a person without worth or courage (C. T. 4205):—

coker (A.S.) 120, a short stocking, or glove, a sheath

coket (A.N.) 135, a kind of fine bread

cokewold (A.N.) 75, a cuckold

cole (A.N.) 134, cabbage

coler (A.N.) a collar

collen (A.N.) 203, to embrace, put one's arms round a person's neck, in French, accoller

colomy (A..) 267 (?)

colvere (A.S.) 319, a dove, pigeon

come (A.S.) 416, to come. ''pres. s.'' he comth, 18, 332. ''pret. s.'' cam, kam, coom, 168, com, 400. pl. comen, 438, come, 235, 237, 430, coome, 416, coomen, 438. subj., til he coome, 328, er thei coome, 353

comsen (A.N.) 23, 24, 49, 77, 81, 119, 136, 152, 244, 372, to begin, commence, to endeavour. ''pret. s.'' comsede, 402, 403. comsynge, 382

comunes (A.N.) 80, 420, commons, allowance of provision

confus (A.N.) confused

congeyen, congeien (A.N.) 258, to give leave, dismiss

congie (A.N.) 258, leave

konne (A.S.) 401, 408, 437, to learn, know. ''pres. s. kan. pret.'' kouthe, 411, koude. subj. in case that thow konne, 424, and thou konne, 397, if thou know. ''pret. act. konnyng, 206, knowing''

konnynge (A.S.) 409, knowledge, science, cunning

contenaunce (A.N.) 2, 203, appearance, gesture, carriage

contrarien (A.N.) 367, to go against, vex, oppose

contree (A.N.) a country

contreve (A.N.) to contrive. contreved, contrived

conying (A.N. ?) a rabbit

copen (A.N.) 51, to cover with a cope, like a friar

coppe (A.N.) 44, 191, a cup, basin

coroune (A.N.) a crown

corounen (A.N.) to crown. ''part. p.'' y-corouned

cors (A.N.) 295, the body

corsaint (A.N.) 109, a relique, the body of a saint

corsen (A.S.) 305, to curse

corsede (A.S.) cursed. corseder, 421, more cursed, worse

cost (A.N.) 33, 151, 376, a side, region

costen (A.N.) to cost. ''pret. s.'' costed, 13. ''part. pas.'' costned, 13

cote (A.S.) 152, a cottage, cot

coten (A.N.) 51, to dress in a coat

†cotinge (A.S.) 468, cutting

coupable (A.N.) 366, guilty, culpable

coupe (A.N.) 44, 95, a cup

coupen (A.N.) to cut out, fashion (?) ''part. past'', y-couped, 370

courben (A.N.) 19, 28, to bend, stoop

courtepy (A.N.) 82, 128, a short cloak of coarse cloth

couthen (A.S.) 87, to make known, discover, publish. pret. kidde, 103, 269

†couuen (A.S.) 473, perhaps an error in the old printed text for connen

coveiten (A.N.) to covet

covent (A.N.) 428, a convent

coveren (A.N.) 238, to recover

cracchen (A.S.) 211, 322, to scratch

crafte (A.S.) craft, art. crafty-men, 121, artisans

creaunt (A.N.) 239, believing

crepen (A.S.) to creep. ''pret. s. crope, pl.'' cropen

cryen (A.N.) to cry. ''pret. s. cried, cryde, 374, pl.'' cryden, cride

croft (A.S.) a small inclosed field, a croft

crokke (A.S.) 412, a pot, pitcher, vessel of earthenware

†crom-bolle (A.S.) 476, a crum-bowl

crop (A.S.) 332, 334, the head or top of a tree or plant; hence the expression "root and crop," still in use

cropiers (A.N.) the housings on the horse's back

croppen (A.S.) 319, to eat (said of a bird), to put into its crop or craw

crouche (A.N.) 109, a cross. Hence is derived the name of the Crutched Friars

†crouken (A.S.) 495, to bend

†crucchen (A.S.) 495, to crouch

cruddes (A.S.) curds

cruwel (A.N.) 269, cruel

ku, pl. kyen (A.S.) 125, a cow

kulle (A.S.) 344, kille, 434, to kill. ''pret. s.'' kilde, 431. ''part. past'', kulled, 339. to kulle, 338

culorum (Lat.) 60, 198, the conclusion or moral of a tale

cultour (A.S.) 123, kultour, 61, a culter, blade

cuppe-mele (A.S.) 90, cup by cup

kutte, 79 (A.S.) to cut. imperat. kut, 75. ''pret. pl.'' kitten, 128

kynde (A.S.) nature, race, kind

kynde (A.S.) natural. kyndeliche, 382, naturally

kyng (A.S.) pl. kynges. gen. pl. kyngene, 21, 400, a king

kyng-ryche (A.S.) a kingdom

kyn, gen. s. kynnes (A.S.) 40, kin, kind. This word is used in the genitive case in such phrases as the following: of foure kynnes thynges, 151, of four kinds of things. othere kynnes men, 177, other kinds of men. none kynnes riche, 213, no kind of rich men, or rich men of no kind. many kynnes maneres, 359, many sorts of manners. any kynnes catel, 400, any kind of property

daffe (A.S.) a fool

daggen (A.S.) 433, to dag, to cut the edges of the garment in jagged ornaments, as was the custom at this period

daren (A.S.) to dare. ''pres. pl.'' dar, 10, 280. ''pret. s. and pl.'' dorste, 11, 42, 253, 393

dawe (A.S.) 380, dawn. ''pret. s.'' dawed, 395

dawnten (A.N.) 319, to tame,—also, to daunt, to fear

decourren (A.N.) 285, to discover, lay open, narrate

dedeynous (A.N.) 156, disdainful

deed (A.S.) dead

deen (A.N.) a dean

dees (A.N.) dice

deef (A.S.) pl. deve, 403, deaf

defende (A.N.) 47, 485, to forbid, prohibit

defien, defyen, defie (A.N. ?) 84, 100, 141, 298, to digest

defyen (A.N.) to defy. ''pret. s.'' defyed, 429

degised (A.N.) 2, disguised

deyen (A.S.) to die. ''pret. s.'' deide, 214. to dye, 352

deyntee (A.N.) 205, dainty, niceness, preciousness

deys, dees (A.N.) 139, 250, the dais, or high table in the hall

deitee (A.N.) deity, godhead

del, deel (A.S.) part, portion. tithe deel, 323, tenth part

delen, dele, deelen (A.S.) 47, 175, 218, share, distribute, give, deal. pres. ye deele, 144

deliten (A.N.) to delight, take pleasure

delitable (A.N.) delightful, pleasant

delven (A.S.) 417, to dig, bury. ''pret. pl.'' dolven, 128. ''part. pas.'' dolven, 128, 293

delvere (A.S.) a digger, delver

demen (A.S.) to judge. pret. demede

dene (A.S.) 373, din, noise

dene (A.N.) a dean

departable (A.N.) 355, divisible

depper (A.S.) 307, deeper

dere (A.S.) 140, 349, 370, to injure, hurt

derely (A.S.) 396, expensively, richly

dereworthe (A.S.) precious, honourable

derk (A.S.) dark

derne (A.S.) 38, 249, secret

destruyen, destruye (A.N.) 361, to destroy. ''pret. s.'' destruyed, 340

dette (A.N.) pl. dettes, a debt

devoir (A.N.) duty

devors (A.N.) 433, divorce

dya (A.N.) 435, dyachylon

diapenidion, 84, an electuary

dido (A..) 256, a trifle, a trick

dighte (A.S.) 134, to fit out, make, dispose, dress. ''pret. s.'' dighte, 396

†digne (A.N.) 472, worthy

digneliche (A.N.) worthily, deservedly

dyk, 417 (A.S.) dych, a ditch

dikere, dykere (A.S.) 96, a ditch or foss digger, ditcher

dymes (A.N.) 326, tithes

dymme (A.S.) 388, dark. adv. dymme, 184, darkly

dymmen (A.S.) 98, to become dim or dark

dyngen (A.S.) 62, 125, 193, 295, to strike, ding, knock

dynt (A.S.) 370, a blow, knock

disalowed (A.N.) 281, ''disallowed, disapproved. disalowyng, 282, disapproving''

discryven (A.N.) to describe

disour (A.N.) a player at dice

disour (A.N.) 120, a teller of tales

dyssheres (A.S.) 96, a female who makes dishes

†distrie (A.N.) 478, to destroy

doel (A.N.) 100, 124, 368, grief, lamentation

doughtier (A.S.) 83, more doughty, more to be feared. doghtiest, 403, bravest. doghtiliche, 371, doughtily, bravely

doke (A.S.) 81, 352, a duck

dole (A.S.) 47, a share, portion. Another form of del.

donet (A.N.) 89, grammar, elements, first principles, from Donatus. See note on l. 7944

domesman (A.S.) 414, a judge

dongeon (A.N.) a fort, the chief tower of a castle

doom, dome (A.S.) pl. domes, judgment

doon (A.S.) to do. ''pres. sing. dooth, pl.'' doon, don. ''pret. s. dide, pl.'' diden, 278, 392, dide, 389. ''part. pas.'' doon, do. ''imperat. pl.'' dooth, 152. to doone, 226, 263

dore-tree (A.S.) a door post

†dortour (A.N.) 463, a dormitory

doted (A.S.) foolish, simple

doughtres (A.S.) daughters

doute (A.N.) fear, doubt

dowen (A.N.) to endow. pret. dowed, 325, endowed

dowve (A.S.) 319, a dove

draf (A.S.) 173, 419, dregs, dirt. Things thrown away as unfit for man's food, particularly the dust and husks of corn after it has been threshed. Chaucer's Parson (C. T. l. 17329) says:—

†drane (A.S.) 493, a drone

drawen (A.S.) to draw. ''pret. s.'' drough, 89, 98. drogh, 280, 437. drow, 376, pl. drowen, 222. ''part. pas.'' drawe, 175

†drecchen (A.S.) 478, 480, to vex, grieve, oppress

drede (A.S.) 434, to dread, fear. ''pres. s.'' he drat, 165. ''pret. s.'' dredde, 280. pl. dradden, 429. imperat. dred, 17

dredfully (A.S.) 352, fearfully, terrified

dregges (A.S.) 419, dregs

dremels (A.S.) 148, 247, a dream

drenchen, drenche (A.S.) 154, 237, to drown. ''pret. pl.'' a-dreynten, 198

drevelen (A.S.) 175, to drivel

drye (A.S.) 276, thirst

drien (A.S.) 16, to be dry, thirsty

drihte (A.S.) 262, lord. drighte, 279

drinken (A.S.) to drink. ''pret. s. drank, pl.'' dronken, 277, dronke, 278. ''part. pas.'' dronken, y-dronke, 354

dryven (A.S.) to drive

droghte (A.S.) 134, a drought, deficiency of wet

dronklewe (A.S.) 156, drunken, given to drink. The word occurs in Chaucer, C. T. l. 7625:—

Again (C. T. l. 12426):—

The word used by Seneca is ebrius

drury (A.N.) 20, courtship, gallantry

duc (A.N.) 414, a duke. pl. dukes, 388

†duen (A.N.) 496, to endue, or endow

ech (A.S.) each. echone (i. e. each one) every one, each

edifie (A.N.) 371, to build

edwyte (A.S.) 99, to reproach, blame, upbraid

eest (A.S.) east

eft (A.S.) 354, 371, again

eggen (A.S.) 19, 386, to egg on, urge, incite

egreliche (A.N.) 334, 418, sourly, bitterly

†ey (A.S.) 464, an egg

eighe (A.S.) 180, 190, 306, pl. eighen, 5, 80, 127, eighes, 33, the eye

eylen (A.S.) to ail

eyr (A.N.) air

elde (A.S.) old age

elenge (A.S.) 12, 179, 425, mournful, sorrowful. elengliche, 231, sorrowfully, in trouble

eller (A.S.) 19, ellere, 168, an elder tree

ellis (A.S.) 6, else, otherwise, at other times

enbawmen (A.N.) to embalm. ''pret. s.'' enbawmed, 352

enblaunchen (A.N.) 301, to whiten over

engyne (A.N.) 384, to contrive, lay a plan, catch

engleymen (A.N.) 298, to beslime

engreyned (A.N.) 29, powdered

enselen (A.N.) to put a seal to

†entayled (A.N.) 462, carved

entre-metten (A.N.) 226, 263, to intermeddle

envenyme (A.N.) venom, poison

er (A.S.) before, formerly

erchdekenes (A.N.) archdeacons

ere (A.S.) pl. eris, the ear

erien, erie, erye (A.S.) 117, 138, to plough. ''pret. pl.'' eriede, 411. ''part. past'', eryed, 117

eerl. pl. erles (A.S.) an earl

ernynge (A.S.) 418, running. see yerne

ers (A.S.) 87, 180, 191, the fundament, podex

erst (A.S.) first, most before, ''superl. of'' er

eschaunge (A.N.) exchange

eschetes (A.N.) 75, escheats

ese (A.N.) ease

eten, ete (A.S.) 386, to eat. ''pret. s.'' eet, 100, 135, 146, 241, &c. pl. eten, 114, 248, ete, 278. ''part. pas.'' eten, 354.

†evelles (A.S.) 465, without evil

even (A.S.) equal. even-cristen, equal christian, or equal by baptism; fellow-christian, evene, 76, evenly, equally. evene forth, 356, equally

†evesed (A.S.) 460, furnished with eaves

evesynge (A.S.) 361, the ice which hangs on the eaves of houses

ewage (A.N.) 29, a kind of precious stone

expounen (A.N.) 290, to expound, explain

fader (A.S.) 361, a father

fayn (A.S.) fain, glad

faiten (A.N.) 144, 308, to beg, idle, to flatter. ''pret. pl.'' faiteden, 3. faityng, 175, deceiving

faiterie (A.N.) 207, flattery, deception

faitour (A.N.) a deceiver, an idle lazy fellow, a flatterer

faithly (A.N.) 400, truly, properly

fallen (A.S.) to fall. ''pres. s.'' he falleth. ''pret. s. fel, 280, 297, fil, 278, 312, 374, fille, 285, 336, pl.'' fellen, felle, 336, 388. ''part. pas.'' fallen, 375

fals (A.N.) false, falseness. falshede, falsehood. falsliche, 390, falsely

fangen (A.S.) 111, fonge, 282, 336, to take, take hold of. ''pret. s. under-feng, 19, under''-fonged, 209. ''part. past, under''-fongen, 115, 211

faren, fare (A.S.) 197, to go, fare. ''pret. s. ferde, 443, pl. ferden, 168 part. past'', faren 77, 123, 228

fare (A.S.) 376, proceeding, manner of going on, fare

fasten (A.S.) to fast

fauchon (A.N.) 295, a sword, falchion

faunt (A.N.) 134, 144, 336, 403, a child, infant

fauntekyn (A.N.) 259, a young child

faunteltee, fauntelté (A.N.) 204, 304, childishness

faute, pl. fautes (A.N.) 179, a fault

fauten (A.N.) to want. pret. fauted, 163

favel (A.N.) 28, 30, deception by flattery, cajolery

feble (A.N.) 355, feeble, weak

fecchen (A.S.) 39, 385, 410, to fetch. ''pres. s.'' I fecche, thow fettest, 390. ''pret. s.'' fet, fette, 36, 104, 202, 385. pl. fetten, 134. ''part. pas. fet, 444, fette water at hise eighen, threw water at his eyes''; to fetch a thing at another, for, to throw, is an expression still in use

feden (A.S.) to feed

fee (A.S.) property, money, fee

feere (A.S.) 367, pl. feeres, feeris, companion

feere (A.S.) 256, 367, 376, fear

feet (A.N.) 26, a deed, fact

feffement (A.N.) 32, enfeofment

feffen (A.N.) 33, 37, to infeof, to fee, present

feynen (A.N.) to feign, dissemble

feyntise (A.S.) 77, faintness, weakness

feire (A.N.) a fair

fel (A.S.) the skin

fele (A.S.) many. fele fold, manyfold

fellen (A.S.) to fell, kill

felonliche (A.N.) 390, like a felon, in manner of a felon

†fen (A.S.) 476, mud, mire

fend (A.S.) pl. fendes, a fiend, devil. fyndekynes, 391, little fiends

fennel-seed (A.S.) 95, the seed of sweet-fennel was formerly used as a spice

fenestre (A.N.) 285, 370, a window

fer (A.S.) far

fere (A.S.) 140, to frighten

ferly (A.S.) pl. ferlies, a wonder, 196, 253, 376

ferie (A.N.) 270, a week-day

ferme (A.N.) 403, adv. firmly

fermed (A.N.) 177, strengthened

fernyere (A.S.) 103, 228, in former times

fernmerye (A.N.) 253, the infirmary

†ferrer (A.S.) 463, further

ferthe (A.S.) 413, fourth

festnen (A.S.) to fasten. ''part. pas.'' fest, 35

festynge (A.N.) feasting

festu (A.N.) 190, a mote in the eye. (festuca, Lat.)

fetisliche, 28, fetisly, 38 (A.N.) elegantly, neatly, featously

fibicches (A.N. ?) 186 (?)

†fichewes (A.S.) 468, a kind of weasel, called a fitchet in Shropshire

†fyen (A.N.) 487, to say, fy! The exclamation, fy! was originally one of disgust, occasioned by anything that stunk, according to the old distich (MS. Cotton, Cleop. B. ix, fol. 11, v$o$. of the thirteenth cent.):—

fiers (A.N.) proud, fierce

fighten (A.S.) to fight. ''pret. s.'' faught, 391, 402. pl. foughten. ''part. pas.'' y-foughte, 126, 336

fyle (A.N.) 86, a daughter, girl, apparently used here in the sense of a common woman; as they say now in French, elle n'est qu'une fille, she is no better than a strumpet

fyn (A.N.) 403, fine, clever

fynden (A.S.) to find, to furnish. ''pres. s.'' he fynt, 73, 146, 305, 367. ''pret. s.'' fond, foond, 219, 304, 312

fir (A.S.) 360, fire. fuyr, fire

fithele (A.N.) 272, to fiddle. fithele, 165, a fiddle

flappen (A.S.) to strike with a flail or with any flat loose weapon. ''pret. pl.'' flapten, 128

flatten (A.N.) to slap. ''pret. s.'' flatte, 104

flawmbe, flaumbe (A.N.) 360, 362, a flame

flawme (A.S.) 243, to emit a fetid exhalation (?)

flawmen (A.N.) 361, to flame. flawmynge, 360, flaming

fle, 40, fleen, 168, 366 (A.S.) to fly. ''pret. s.'' fleigh, 40, 351, 353, 402, 435. pl. flowen, 42, 128. fledden, 42

fleckede (A.S.) 222, spotted

flesshe (A.S.) flesh

fleten (A.S.) 237, to float, swim involuntarily

flittynge (A.S.) 206, disputing, flyting

flobre (A.S. ?) 274, to slobber (?)

florisshe (A.N.) 291, to adorn

floryn (A.N.) 74, a florin (a gold coin)

†flurichen (A.N.) 479, to flourish

fode (A.S.) food

†foynes (A.N.) 468, a kind of marten, of which the fur was used for dresses

fold, foold (A.S.) 24, 141, 243, the world, the earth

fole (A.S.) a foal

follede, 321, baptized. see fullen

†folloke (A.S.) 489 (?)

folvyle (A.N.) 410 (?)

folwe, folwen (A.S.) 355, to follow. ''pres. pl.'' folwen. ''pret. s.'' folwed, folwede, 353. pl. folwede, 301. ''part. past'', folwed

folwere (A.S.) a follower

fonden (A.S.) 238, to try, tempt, inquire. ''pret. s.'' fonded, fondede, 315, 344, 353

fondynge (A.S.) 291, a temptation, undertaking

fongen, see fangen

foot (A.S.) a foot. foote, 354, on foot

for (A.S.) for, for that, because; for-thi, because, therefore

for-, in composition in verbs derived from the Anglo-Saxon, conveys the idea of privation or deterioration, and answers to the modern German ver-. It is preserved in a few words in our language, such as forbid, forbear, forlorn, &c. The following instances occur in Piers Ploughman:—

for-bete (A.S.) to beat down, beat to pieces, or to death, beat entirely. ''part. past'', for-beten, 436

for-bode (A.S.) denial, forbidding

for-biten (A.S.) 332, to bite to pieces

for-doon, for-do (A.S.) 78, 163, 371, to undo, ruin. ''pret. s.'' for-dide, 340, 390. ''part. past'', for-do, 262, for-doon, 371

for-faren (A.S.) 303, to go to ruin, perish, to fare ill

for-freten (A.S.) 332, to eat to pieces

†for-gabben (A.N.) 488, to mock

for-yeten (A.S.) 362, to forget. ''pret. s.'' for-yat, 205

for-gyven (A.S.) to forgive. ''pret. s.'' 374. ''part. pas.'' for-gyve, 365

for-glutten (A.S.) 178, to devour, swallow up

for-pynede (A.S.) 126, pined or starved to death, wasted away, niggardly. Chaucer, C. T. l. 1453:—

And C. T. l. 205:—

In this latter place Tyrwhit seems to interpret it as meaning tormented

for-shapen (A.S.) to unmake. ''pret. s.'' for-shapte, 365

for-sleuthen (A.S.) 103, to be spoilt from lying idle

for-stallen (A.S.) 68, to hinder, forestall, stop

for-sweren (A.S.) 170, to perjure, swear falsely. ''part. pas.'' for-sworen, 418, forsworn

for-thynken (A.S.) 167, to repent, beg pardon

for-wandred (A.S.) 1, worn out with wandering about

for-wanye (A.S.) 79, to spoil

†for-werd (A.S.) 476, 494, worn out

for-yelden (A.S.) 133, 257, to make a return for a thing, repay

forbisne (A.S.) 152, an example, similitude, parable

forceres (A.N.) 186, coffers

fore-ward, for-ward, for-warde (A.S.) 65, 119, 206, a bargain, promise

for-goer (A.S.) 39, a goer before

for-goers (A.S.) 31, people whose business it was to go before the great lords in their progresses, and buy up provisions for them

formest (A.S.) 186, 403, first, foremost

†formfaderes (A.S.) 498, first fathers

formour (A.N.) 160, 358, a creator, maker

forreyour (A.N.) 430, a scout, forager

forster (A.N.) 354, a forester

†forytoures, 465, perhaps an error of the press in the old edition for fautoures

forwit (A.S.) 87, prescience, forethought, anticipation

fostren (A.S.) 360, to foster

foulen (A.S.) 414, to defoul

fowel (A.S.) a fowl, bird

fraynen (A.S.) to ask, inquire, question. ''pret. s.'' frayned, 18, 109, 151, 341, 370

†fraynyng (A.S.) 452, questioning

frankeleyn (A.N.) 398, a large freeholder, in rank in society classed with, but after, the miles and armiger. See Tyrwhit's note on the Canterbury Tales, l. 333

frayel (A.N.) 252, a wicker basket. See note. In the romance of Richard Cœur de Lion, l. 1547, King Richard says:—

fraytour (A.N.) 192, 463, a refectory

freke (A.S.) 74, 87, 130, 132, 188, 203, 246, 250, 341, man, fellow

frele (A.N.) frail

freletee (A.N.) 46, frelete, 367, frailty

fremmed (A.S.) 303, strange

frere (A.N.) a friar, brother

frete (A.S.) 265, to fret

frete, freten (A.S.) 33, to eat, devour. ''pret. s.'' freet, 381

fretien (A.S.) to adorn. ''part. p.'' fretted

fryth (A.S.) 224, 241, 355, an inclosed wood

frythed (A.S.) 112, wooded

frounces (A.N.) 265, wrinkles

fullen (A.S.) 322, to full cloth

fullen (A.S.) 176, to become full

fullen (A.S.) to baptize. ''pret. s.'' follede, 321. ''part. past'', y-fulled, 398

fullynge (A.S.) 244, 322, 398, baptizing, baptism

furwe (A.S.) a furrow

fust (A.S.) 356, the fist

gabben (A.N.) 53, to joke, trifle, tell tales. gabbyng (A.N.) 423, joking, idle talk

gadelyng (A.S.) 434, gedelyng, 165. pl. gedelynges, 171, gadelynges, 68, a vagabond. In Anglo-Saxon the word gædeling means a companion or associate, apparently without any bad sense. Thus the romance of Beowulf speaks of the armour of one of the heroes:—

This, and most of the other similar Anglo-Saxon words, applied to their heroes and warriors, became degraded under the Anglo-Normans. We may mention as other examples the words, fellow, renk, grom, wye, &c.

†gaynage (A.N.) 462, profit

gaynesse (A.N.) 178, gaiety

galoche (A.N.) 370, a shoe. The word occurs in Chaucer

galpen (A.S.) 252, to belch

gamen (A.S.) play

gangen, gange (A.S.) to go

†garites (A.S.) 463, garrets

garnementz (A.N.) 379, garments, ornaments

gare (A.S.) to make or cause to do a thing. ''pret. s.'' garte, 22, 80, 135, 321, gart, 84, gerte, 428

gate (A.S.) 67, 171, 383, way, going. go thi gate, 351, 445, go thy way. this ilke gate, 354, this same way

yate (A.S.) 385, 406, a gate

geaunt (A.N.) 384, a giant

gentile (A.N.) 26, 174, 175, gentle, genteel

gentilliche (A.N.) 44, beautifully, finely, genteelly

gentrie (A.N.) 370, gentility

gerl (A.S.) pl. gerles, girles, gerlis, 17, 184, 369, youth of either sex. In the Coventry Mystery of the Slaughter of the Innocents (p. 181) one of the knights engaged in the massacre says:—

gerner (A.N.) a garner

gesene (A.S. ?) 262, rare, scarce

gesse (A.S.) a guess. up gesse, 102, upon guess, by guess

gest, pl. gestes (A.N.) a deed, history, tale

gest (A.S.) 312, a guest

geten, gete (A.S.) to get. ''pres. pl.'' geten. ''pret. s. gat, thow gete, 386, 389, 390, getest, 390, part. past'', geten, 375, gete, 403

yiftes (A.S.) 49, gifts

gyle (A.S.) guile, deceit

gilour (A.S.) a deceiver

gyn (A.N.) 384, a trap, machine, contrivance

gynful (A.N.) 186, full of tricks or contrivances

gynnen (A.S.) to begin. ''pret. sing.'' gan, 2. pl. gonne, 158, gonnen, 262. gynnyng, beginning. The preterite is frequently used as an auxiliary verb to form with others a kind of imperfect or preterite, as, gan drawe, 352, drew; gan despise, 374, despised

gyen (A.N.) 39, to rule

gyour (A.N.) 421, 429, a ruler, leader

girden (A.S.) 40, to cast, strike. ''pret. s.'' girte, 99. In the second Towneley Mystery of the Shepherds, p. 115, Mak says, "If I trespas eft, gyrd of my heede."

gyterne (A.N.) 260, a gittern, a musical instrument, resembling, or identical with, the modern guitar

gyven (A.S.) to give. ''pres. pl.'' gyven. ''pret. sing.'' gaf, yaf, 387. ''part. past'', yeven, y-gyve, 37

gyven (A.S.) 436, to fetter, bind in gyves

†gladdyng (A.S.) 481, merry (?)

gladen, 404, gladie, 384 (A.S.) to gladden, cause joy to. ''pret. s.'' gladede, 435

†glaverynge (A.N.) 454, 492, smooth, slippery, flattering

glazene (A.S.) 435, made of glass (?) See note

glee (A.S.) the performance of the minstrel or jongleur

gle-man (A.S.) 98, 165, a minstrel

glede, glade (A.S.) 94, 361, a spark, glowing ember

†gleym 479 (?)

†gloppynge (A.S.) 456, sucking in

glosen (A.N.) to gloss, paraphrase, comment

gloton (A.N.) a glutton

glotonye (A.N.) gluttony

glubben (A.S.) to suck in, gobble up. ''part. pas. y-glubbed, 97, sucked in''. glubbere, 162, a glutton

gnawen (A.S.) to gnaw

†gode (A.S.) 476, a goad

goky (A.S.) 220, a gawky, clown

goliardeis (A.N.) 9, one who gains his living by following rich men's tables, and telling tales and making sport for the guests. See on this word the Introduction to the Poems of Walter Mapes. It occurs in Chaucer, C. T. l. 562

gome (A.S.) 257, 263, 267, 288, 308, 312, 350, 354, 382, 403, a man

gomme (A.N.) gum

goon (A.S.) 37, to go. ''pres. s.'' he gooth, 354. pl. gon, goon, 303. ''pret. sing.'' wente. pl. wenten, 233, 351

goost (A.S.) spirit, ghost

goostliche (A.S.) 427, spiritually

gorge (A.N.) 176, 177, the throat, mouth

gos (A.S.) pl. gees, a goose

gothelen (A.S.) 97, 252, to grumble (as is said of the belly)

gowe (A.S.) 14, a phrase of invitation, i. e. go we, let us go

graffen (A.N.) 85, to graft

†graith (A.S.) 453, 464, the truth (?)

graithe (A.S.) 27, ready, prepared

graithen (A.S.) to prepare, make ready. †''part. pas.'' y-greithed, 462, 487. graythed, 494

graithly (A.S.) 386. graythliche, 482, readily, speedily

graunt (A.N.) 353, great

graven (A.N.) to engrave. ''part. pas. grave, 73, engraved''

gravynge (A.N.) engraving, sculpturing

graven (A.N.) 206, to put in grave

greden (A.S.) 32, 47, to cry out, shout, make a noise. ''pret. s.'' thow graddest, 421, he gradde, 335, 448

gree (A.N.) 375, pleasure, will

greete (A.S.) 100, to lament

greyne (A.N.) 412, 415, a grain, seed

greten (A.S.) 97, 379, to greet. ''pret. s.'' grette, 186, 344, 446

gretter (A.S.) greater

greven (A.N.) 354, to grieve

grys (A.S.) 14, 68, 134, pigs. See the story of Will Gris in the Lanercost Chronicle

grys (A.N.) 308, a kind of fur

†grysliche (A.S.) 485, fearfully

grom (A.S.) 99, a man: hence the modern groom

grote (A.N.) 51, a groat, a coin of the value of four pennies

grucchen, grucche (A.S.) to grudge

hailsen (A.S.) to salute. ''pres. s.'' hailse, 83. pret. hailsed, 148, 151

hayward (A.N.) 415, a man employed to watch and guard the inclosed fields, or hays. An illustration of this word will be found in the passage from Whitaker's text given in the note on l. 2473

hakke (A.S.) 420, to follow, run after, cut along after

half (A.S.) half, side

halie (A.S.) 156, to hawl

hals (A.S.) the neck

halwe (A.S.) 327, to hallow, consecrate, make holy

hamlen (A.S.) †''part. pas. y-hamled, 468, to tie or attach'' (?)

handy dandy (A.S.) 69, the expression still used in Shropshire and Herefordshire

hange, honge (A.S.) 348, 384, to hang (intransitive). ''pret. s.'' hanged, 19

hange, hangen (A.S.) 39, 392, to hang (transitive). ''pret. pl.'' hengen, 25

hanylons (A.N.) 181, the wiles of a fox. See Sir Frederick Madden's Glossary to Gawawyn (v. hamlounez), who quotes the following lines from the Boke of St. Albans:—

hanselle (A.S.) 96, gift, reward, bribe. It is used in the alliterative poem on the Deposition of Richard II, p. 30:—

hardy (A.N.) 413, bold, hardy, courageous. hardier, 354, more bold

hardie (A.N.) 321, to encourage, embolden

harewe (A.S.) 412, a harrow

harewen, harewe (A.S.) 412, 414, to harrow. pret. harewede, ib.

harlot (A.N.) 175, 270, 271, 303, 354, a blackguard, person of infamous life. The word was used in both genders. It appears to have answered exactly to the French ribaud, as Chaucer in the Romance of the Rose translates roy des ribaulx, by king of harlots. Chaucer says of the Sompnour (C. T. l. 649):—

This passage gives us a remarkable trait of the character of the ribald, or harlot, who formed a peculiar class of middle-age society. Among some old glosses in the Reliquiæ Antiquæ (vol. i, p. 7), we find "scurra, a harlotte." In the Coventry Mystery of the Woman taken in Adultery (p. 217), it is the young man who is caught with the woman, and not the woman herself, who is stigmatised as a harlot.

harpen (A.S.) to harp. ''pret. pl.'' harpeden, 394

harrow (A.N.) 430, an exclamation, or rather a cry, said to have been peculiar to the Normans, the origin and derivation of which have been the subject of much discussion among antiquaries. It was the cry which every one was bound to raise and repeat, when any murder, theft, robbery, or other violent crime, was attempted or perpetrated, in order that the offenders might be hindered or secured. It was afterwards used in any great tumult or disorder, and became a general exclamation of persons wanting help. (See Ducange, in v. Haro.) In the Towneley Mysteries (p. 14), when Cain finds that his offering will not burn, he cries:—

haspen (A.S.) to clasp. y-hasped, 26

hastilokest (A.N.) 424, most quickly, speedily, hastily

haten (A.S.) to call, order. ''pres. s.'' I hote. ''pret. s.'' highte, heet, 445. ''part. pas. y-hote, hoten, hote, called, ordered''

haten (A.S.) to be called or named. ''pres. s. hatte, is called, I hatie, 260, am called''. ''pret. s. highte, was called''

hater (A.S.) 273, dress

haterynge (A.S.) 299, dressing, attire

hatien (A.S.) 179, to hate

haven, have, han (A.S.) to have. ''pres. pl.'' han. ''pret. s. hadde, pl.'' hadden, hadde

haver (A.S.) oats, 134, an haver cake, an oat-cake

heed (A.S.) the head. See heved

heele (A.S.) health

heep (A.S.) a heap

heeth (A.S.) 322, heath

hegge (A.S.) pl. hegges, a hedge

heigh (A.S.) high

†heyne (A.N.) 466, hatred (?)

heyre (A.S.) hair. gen. heris, 193, hair's

hele, heele (A.S.) health

hele (A.S.) 150, a heel

helen, (A.S.) 87, 445. helien, 241, to conceal, hide

helen, heele, 355 (A.S.) to heal. ''pret. s.'' heeled, 337. an helyng, 355, in healing, in the course of recovering his health

helpen, helpe (A.S.) to help. ''pret. s. halp, 403, 418, pl.'' holpen, 123. ''part. pas.'' holpen, 75, 303, 338, holpe, 115

hem (A.S.) them

hemselve (A.S.) themselves

hende (A.S.) 308, gentle, polite. hendenesse, 398, gentleness, worthiness. hendely, hendiliche, 44, politely, gently

hennes (A.S.) hence, from this time

henten, hente (A.S.) to take, seize. ''pret. s.'' hente, hent, 435

heraud (A.N.) a herald

herberwe (A.S.) a harbour

herberwen (A.S.) to harbour, shelter. ''pret. s.'' herberwed, 352

heremite (A.N.) a hermit

heren, here (A.S.) to hear. ''pret. s.'' herde. imperat. y-heer, 356

herne (A.S.) 42, 393, a corner

herte (A.S.) the heart

heste (A.S.) a commandment

†hethen (A.S.) 475, hence

†hetheved (A.S.) 469, head

hethynesse (A.S.) 321, heathenness, paganism, idolatry

heved (A.S.) a head. heed, 352

hewe (A.S.) 110, pl. hewen, 71, 273, 281, a husbandman, a workman

hewe, pl. hewes (A.S.) 224, hue, colour

hiden (A.S.) to hide. ''pret. s.'' hidde, 354. ''part. pas.'' y-hudde, 199

†hyen (A.S.) 475, to hie, go. ''pret. s.'' hiede, 444

hyere (A.S.) higher

hii (A.S.) they

hil (A.S.) pl. hulles, a hill

hilen (A.S.) 113, to cover over. ''pret. s. hiled, 241, pl.'' hileden, 223

hynde (A.S.) 311, a doe, female deer

hyne (A.S.) a servant, serf, rustic, labourer

hyne, 72, 268, a hen (?)

hippynge (A.S.) 351, hopping

hire (A.S.) their

hir (A.S.) of them. gen. pl. of he. hir neither, 67, neither of them. hir eyther, 212, 446, either of them. hir noon, 237, none of them. hir oon fordooth hir oother, 373, one of them destroys the other of them

his (A.S.) pl. hise, his

hitten (A.S.) to hit. ''pret. s.'' hite, 86, hitte, 96

†hod (A.S.) 476, a hood

†hok-shynes (A.S.) 476, crooked shins. hok seems almost superfluous: the shin towards the hock or ancle?

holden (A.S.) to hold. ''pres. s. he halt, 354, 357, pl.'' holde, 15, holden, 18. ''pret. s. heeld, 156, 206, pl.'' helden, 294, 418, 438. ''part. pas.'' y-holden, 358, holden, y-holde, 440, 441

hool (A.S.) pl. hole, 392, whole, entire. hooly, wholly. holly, 396, wholly. †hollich, 452, wholly

homliche (A.S.) 179, from house to house

hoom (A.S.) home. the viker hadde fer hoom, 424, the vicar had far to go home

hoor (A.S.) pl. hore, 144, hoary. as hoor as an hawethorn, 341

hoord (A.S.) a hoard

hoors (A.S.) 367, hoarse

hoot (A.S.) 360, hot

hopen (A.S.) 329, to expect, hope

hoper (A.S.) 120, the hopper of a mill

hore (A.S.) 75, pl. hoores, 299, hores, 303, a whore

†hornes (A.S.) 461, corners

hostele (A.N.) 355, to give lodging, to receive into an inn

hostiler (A.N.) 352, 355, the keeper of a hostelry or inn

hostrie (A.N.) 352, a hostelry, inn

houpen (A.S.) 127, to hoop, shout

houres (A.N. heures, Lat. horæ) the Romish service

housel (A.S.) 419, the sacrament of the Eucharist

houselen (A.S.) to receive the Eucharist. ''part. past'', housled, 396, 424, houseled, 419

hoven (A.S.) 13, to tarry, hover, dwell. ''pret. s.'' hoved, 374

howve (A.S.) pl. howves, 13, 60, 435, a cap or hood

hucche (A.S.) 72, a hutch, chest

huge (A.S.) 216, great

hukkerye (A.S.) 90, huckstry

hunten (A.S.) to hunt. ''part. pas.'' y-honted, 41

huppe (A.S.) 327, to hop

huyre (A.S.) 111, hire, wages

ic, ich, ik (A.S.) I

†ich (A.S.) each. †ichon, 479, each one. See ech

ydel (A.S.) idleness, vanity. on ydel, in vain

†iis (A.S.) 476, ice

ilke (A.S.) same

impe (A.N.) 85, a sprig, twig growing from the root of a tree

impen, ympen (A.N.) 85, to graft. †''part. past, ymped, 469, grafted''

in-going (A.S.) 115, entrance

inne (A.S.) the adverbial form of in

inne (A.S.) a lodging, hence our inn

inwit (A.S.) 160, 162, 364, conscience, interior understanding. with inwit and outwit, 263

yren (A.S.) 288, iron

ysekeles (A.S.) 361, icicles

jangeleres, jangleris (A.N.) 3, 175, praters

jangle (A.N.) 9, 33, 74, 136, 164, 251, 337, 339, to jangle, to talk emptily, to prate

janglynge (A.N.) 169, 419, jangling, empty talking, nonsense

jape (A.S.) 433, a jest

japen (A.S.) 19, 33, 260, to jest, mock, cajole. ''part. past'', japed, 371

japer (A.S.) pl. japeres, japeris, 3, 164, 175, a jester, mocker

Jewe, gen. pl. Jewen, 19, Jewene, 384, 402, a Jew

jogele (A.N.) 260, to play the minstrel, or jongleur

jogelour (A.N.) 121, 175, a minstrel, jongleur, one who played mountebank tricks

jouke (A.S.) 336, to rest, dwell

joute (A.N.) 86, a battle, combat

jugge (A.N.) a judge

juggen (A.N.) 290, 427, to judge

jurdan (A.N.) 251, a pot. At a later period the word was only applied to a chamber-pot, as in Shakespeare

juste (A.N.) 251, justes, 351, 352, 370, a joust, battle, tournament

justen, juste (A.N.) 336, 370, 374, to joust, tilt (in a tournament). ''pret. s.'' justed, 340, justede, 380

justere (A.N.) 396, one who goes to jousts, engages in tournaments

justice (A.N.) 404, to judge

juttes (A.N. ?) 201, low persons

juventee (A.N.) 402, youth

juwise (A.N.) 392, judgment, from judicium

lachesse (A.N.) 153, negligence

ladde (A.S.) pl. laddes, 398, a low common person

†laiche (A.S.) 486, to catch, obtain. see lakke

layk (A.S.) 287, play

laiken (A.S.) 11, to play. The writer of the romance of Kyng Alisaunder, in describing a battle (Weber, p. 159), says,—

i.e. there was playing with the sword. Weber, in his Glossary, has very wrongly explained it by licking. It is the Anglo-Saxon poetic phrase, sweorda ge-lác, the play of swords

lakke (A.S.) 189, a fault, a lack, or something deficient or wanting

lakken, lacche (A.S.) 31, 40, 130, 220, 262, 309, 333, to obtain, catch, take. ''pret. s.'' laughte, 357, 388, 434. ''part. act.'' lacchynge, 21

lakken (A.S.) 85, 130, 185, 189, 208, 214, 234, 263, 307, 309, 329, 411, to mock, to blame, or reproach. ''pret. pl.'' lakkede, 294. ''part. pas.'' y-lakked, 29

lakken (A.S.) 46, 218, 219, 262, 310, 365, 423, to lack, to be wanting. ''pret. s. lakkede, 402, was wanting''

lambren (A.S.) 307, lambs. So Lydgate (Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell), p. 169,—

lang (A.S.) long

lape (A.S.) 426, to lap, as a dog

large (A.N.) 398, largess (?)

lasse (A.S.) less

late, lete (A.S.) 76, 386, to let. ''pres. s.'' leet, 305, 384. ''pret. s. leet, 25, 74, 127, 209, 346, pl.'' leten, lete, 294, 393. ''subj. s.'' late

†lath (.) 476. Perhaps an error of the old edition for lay?

†latun (A.N.) 462, a mixed metal of the colour of brass

laughen (A.S.) 439, to laugh. ''pret. s.'' lough, 423. ''part. pas.'' lowen, 82.

launde (A.N.) 155, 183, 312, a plain, a level space clear of trees in the midst of a forest, a lawn

lave (A.N.) 273, to wash

lavendrye (A.N.) 306, washing

†lavoures (A.N.) 462, lavers, ewers, basins to receive water

leauté (A.N.) loyalty

leche (A.S.) 443, a physician

lechecraft (A.S.) 336, 435, the art of healing, medicine

lechen (A.S.) 261, to cure. ''pret. s.'' leched, 337

leden, lede (A.S.) 355, 393, to lead. pret. s. ladde, 352. ''part. act.'' ledynge. ''part. pas.'' lad, 160, 246

ledene (A.S.) 242, 243, speech, language. This is applied, as here, to birds, by Chaucer, C. T. 10749:—

ledes (A.S.) 326, people attached to the land, peasants

leef (A.S.) dear, love. his leef, his dear

leef (A.S.) 301, pl. leves, a leaf

leelly (A.N.) 19, lelly, 45, 146, loyally, faithfully. leele, lele, loyal. lelest, 349, most loyal

leere, lere (A.S.) 15, 173, countenance, mien, complexion

leggen (A.S.) 30, 133, 235, 306, 426, leyen, 374, to lay, to bet (to lay down a wager). ''pret. s.'' leide, 352, 372, 432, leyde, 98, 436

legistre (A.N.) 139, a legist, one skilled in the law.

ley, pl. leyes (A.S.) 138, a lea (Lat. saltus)

leye (A.S.) 360, 364, flame

leme (A.S.) 376, 377, brightness

lemman (A.S.) pl. lemmannes, 303, a sweetheart, a mistress

lene (A.S.) lean

lenen, lene (A.S.) to give; hence our lend. pret. lened, 269. ''part. past'', lent, 275

lenen (A.S.) to lean. ''pret. s.'' lened, 369

lenge (A.S.) 27, 421, to rest, remain, reside long in a place. ''pret. s. lenged, 151, †pret. pl. lengeden, 469, dwelt, remained''

Lenten (A.S.) Lent

lenten (A.S.) 369, a linden tree

leode (A.S.) 352, people, a person, whence our lad

lepen (A.S.) 41, 236, to leap. ''pret. s.'' leep, 10, 41, lope, 71, lepe, 107, lepte, 434. pl. lopen, 14, 22, 86, lope, 74. ''part. pas.'' lopen, 88

leperis (A.S.) leapers. lond leperis heremytes, hermits who leap or wander over different lands

lered (A.S.) 45, learned, educated, clergy

leren (A.S.) 146, to teach. pres. he lereth. pret. lerned, 146, 412, lered, 292, 336, 410

lerne (A.S.) 350, 351, 437, 441, to learn. ''part. pas.'' y-lerned, 141

lesen (A.S.) to lose. ''pres. s.'' lese, lees, 107, 148. ''part. act.'' lesynge. ''part. pas.'' lost, lore, 374, y-lorn, 388

lese (A.S.) 121, to glean. The word is still used in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

lesynge (A.S.) 66, 387, 388, a lie, fable, falsehood

lethi (A.S.) 184, hateful

letten, leten, lette (A.S.) 352, 435, to hinder, to tarry, ''pret. s.'' lette, 368, letted, 335. ''part. past'', letted, 418. lettere, 19, a hinderer. lettyng, a hindrance

lettrede (A.N.) 49, lettered, learned. y-lettrede, learned, instructed

lettrure (A.N.) learning, scripture, literature

leve (A.S.) 385, leave, permission

leve (A.S.) pl. leeve, dear, precious. levere, dearer, rather. leveste, levest, 364, dearest

leved (A.S.) 300, leaved, covered with leaves

leven (A.S.) 299, 301, to leave. ''part. s.'' lafte, 447

leven (A.S.) to dwell, remain. pret. lafte, 440. †''pret. s. lefte, 473, dwelt, remained''.

leven, leeve (A.S.) to believe, 304, 319. ''pret. s.'' leeved, 435. leved, 393. pl. leveden

lewed (A.S.) 26, 420, lay, ignorant, untaught, useless. lewed of that labour, 237, ignorant of, or unskilful in, that labour. lewednesse, 45, ignorance, rusticity

lewté (A.N.) loyalty

lyard (A.N.) 352, 368, a common name for a horse, but signifying originally a horse of a grey colour

libben, libbe (A.S.) 275, to live. ''part. act.'' libbynge

lyen (A.S.) to lie. ''pres. s. 2 pers.'' thow lixt, 86. pret. thow leighe, 393, thou didst lie

liere (A.S.) a liar

lif (A.S.) pl. lives, life

liflode (A.S.) living, state of life

lift (A.S.) 316, air, sky

lige (A.N.) 76, 390, liege

liggen, ligge (A.S.) 361, to lie down. ''pres. s.'' I ligge, he lith, lyth, 355, thei ligge, 421. ''pret. sing.'' lay. ''part. act.'' liggynge. ''part. pas.'' leyen, 45, y-leye, 82, y-leyen, 198, 399

lighten (A.S.) to alight, descend, or dismount from. ''pret. s.'' lighte, 352

lightloker (A.S.) 112, 237, 321, more lightly, more easily

lik, lich, y-lik (A.S.) 389, like, resembling. liknesse, likeness, y-liche, 401

liche (A.S.) 173, the body. Chaucer, C.T. l. 2960, speaks of the liche-wake, or ceremonies of waking and watching the corpse, still preserved in Ireland:—

In the romance of Alexander (Weber, p. 145), the word is applied to a living body (as in Piers Ploughman):—

likame, lycame (A.S.) the body

liken (A.S.) 455, to please, to like (i. e. be pleased with). liketh, 17, 262. ''pret. s.'' liked

likynge (A.S.) 203, pleasure, love, liking

likerous (A.N.) 133, nice, voluptuous, lecherous

likne (A.S.) 175, 190, to imitate, to mimic, to make a simile

lyme (A.S.) 436, limb

lyme-yerd (A.S.) 170, limed twig

lymitour (A.N.) 85, 445, a limitour, a begging friar

lynde (A.S.) 24, 155, the linden tree

lippe (A.S.) 324, a slip, portion

liser (A.N.) 89, list of cloth (?)

lisse (A.S.) 160, 383, joy, happiness, bliss

liste (A.S.) to please, list. pret. list, 356, it pleased

listre (A.S.) 85, a deceiver

lite (A.S.) 262, little

litel (A.S.) little. litlum and litlum, 329, by little and little, the uncorrupted Anglo-Saxon phrase. See note

lyth (A.S.) 341, a body

lythe, lithen (A.S.) 155, 270, to listen to

lyven, lyve (A.S.) to live. ''pr. pl.'' lyveden, 2. ''part. act.'' lybbynge. See libben

lyves (A.S.) alive. lyves and lokynge, 405, alive and looking. See note on l. 5014

lyveris (A.S.) 235, livers, people who live

lobies (A.S.) 4, loobies, clowns

loft (A.S.) high, height. bi lofte and by grounde, 372, in height and in ground-plan. o-lofte, aloft, on high

lok (A.S.) 27, a lock

loken (A.S.) 388, to look, to over-see, 148. ''pret. s.'' lokede, 276

lollen (A.S.) 240, to loll. ''part. pas.'' lolled, 239. ''part. act.'' lollynge, 346

lolleris (A.S.) 308, lollards. The origin of this word is doubtful, but it seems to mean generally people who go about from place to place with a hypocritical show of praying and devotion. It was certainly in use long before the time of the Wycliffites, in Germany as well as in England. Johannes Hocsemius (quoted by Ducange, v. Lollardi) says, in his chronicle on the year 1309, "Eodem anno quidam hypocritæ gyrovagi, qui Lollardisive Deum laudantes vocabantur, per Hannoniam et Brabantiam quasdam mulieres nobiles deceperunt," &c. The term, used in the time of Piers Ploughman as one of reproach, was afterwards contemptuously given to the church reformers. The writer of the Ploughman's Tale, printed in Chaucer, Speght, fol. 86, appears to apply it to wandering friars:—

lomere (A.S.) 439, more frequently

lond-buggere (A.S.) 191, a buyer of land

†lone (A.S.) 493, a loan (?)

longen (A.S.) to belong

loof (A.S.) a loaf

loone (A.S.) 442, a loan. lenger yeres loone, a loan of a year longer, a year's extension or renewal of the loan

loore (A.S.) 79, 244, teaching, lore, doctrine, science

loores-man, lores-man (A.S.) 164, 318, a teacher

loos (A.S.) 219, honour, praise

lorel (A.N.) 147, 294, 351, 369, a bad man, a good-for-nothing fellow. Chaucer, in his translation of Boethius, uses it to represent the Latin perditissimus. Compare the description of the lorel in the Ploughman's Tale (Speght's Chaucer) fol. 91:—

losel (A.N.) 5, 124, 176, 303, a wretch, good-for-nothing fellow. It appears to be a different form of the preceding word. loselly, 240, in a disgraceful, good-for-nothing manner

losengerie (A.N.) 125, 176, flattery, lying

lothen (A.S.) to loath

looth (A.S.) loath, hateful. lother, 318, more loath. lothliche, hateful

lotebies (A.S. ?) 52, private companions, bed-fellows. In the romance of the Seven Sages (Weber, p. 57) it is said of a woman unfaithful to her husband:—

Chaucer uses the word (in the romance of the Rose, l. 6339), in a passage rather similar to this of Piers Ploughman:—

In the original the word is compaigne

lotien (A.S.) 354, to lurk, lie in ambush

louke (A.S.) 384, to lock

louren (A.S.) to lower

lous, lys (A.S.) pl. a louse

louten (A.S.) 50, 181, 182, 300, to make a salutation, reverence. ''pret. s.'' louted, 294, 470

lovyen, lovye, lovien (A.S.) to love. hym lovede, 356, it pleased him

lowen (A.S.) to condescend (?) pret. lowed, 8

luft (A.S.) 69, fellow, person

†lullyng (A.S.) 455, lolling (?)

lurdayne (A.S.) 375, 436, a clown, rustic, ill-bred person

lusard (A.N.) 389, a lizard, crocodile

lussheburwes (A.N.) 316, base or adulterated coins; which took their name and were imported from Luxemberg. See note on l. 10322

luten (A.N.) to play on the lute. ''pret. s.'' lutede, 395

luther (A.S.) 316, 390, bad, wicked

macche (A.S.) 248, 249, companion, match-fellow

macche (A.S.) 360, a match

macer (A.N.) 47, one who carries a mace

mayen (A.S.) to be able (it is seldom or never used in the infinitive mood). ''pres. s. may, pl.'' mowen, mowe. ''pret. s. myghte, pl.'' mighte

y-maymed (A.S.) 359, maimed

mayn-pernour, (A.N.) 71, 380. See the next word

mayn-prise (A.N.) 70, 346, a kind of bail, a law term. "It signifieth in our Common Law the taking or receiving a man in friendly custodie, that otherwise is or might be committed to prison, and so upon securitie given for his forth coming at a day assigned: and they that doe thus undertake for any, are called mainpernours, because they do receive him into their hands." . The persons thus received were allowed to go at large

mayn-prise (A.N.) 75, 426, meynprise, 39, to bail in the manner described under the foregoing word

mair (A.N.) 290, pl. meires, 150, a mayor

maistrie (A.N.) 66, a mastery, a feat of science

make (A.S.) 50, 222, 230, a companion, consort

maken, make (A.S.) to make. ''pret. s.'' made. ''part. pas.'' y-maked, 2. maad, 71, 248

make (A.S.) 229, to compose poetry. See note

makynge (A.S.) 229, writing poetry

male (A.N.) 91, a box, pack

†malisones (A.N.) 493, curses

mamelen (A.S.) 78, 226, to chatter, mumble

menacen (A.N.) to menace, threaten

manere (A.N.) manner

mange (A.N.) 132, to eat

mangerie (A.N.) 209, 328, an eating, a feast

manlich (A.S.) 92. humane. manliche, manfully, humanely

mansed (A.N.) 30, 74, 190, 233, 438, cursed, excommunicated

marc (A.N.) 161, a mark (a coin)

marche (A.S.) 159, 321, a border. The word is preserved in the term "Marches of Wales," "Marches of Scotland"

marchen (A.N.) to march, go

mareys (A.N.) a marsh

†masedere (A.N.) 499, more amazed

maugree (A.N.) 131, ill thanks, in spite of

maundee (A.S.) 339, maunday

maundement (A.N.) 348, a commandment

mawe (A.S.) 298, mouth, maw

maze (A.N.) 12, doubt, amazement, a labyrinth

meden (A.S.) 56, to reward, bribe

mede (A.S.) meed, reward

medlen (A.N.) to mix with

meel (A.S.) meal

meene (A.N.) poor, moderate, middle

mees (A.S.) 249, 313, a mess or portion of meat

megre (A.N.) meagre, thin

meynee (A.N.) 178, household, household retinue

meken (A.S.) to make meek, humiliate

mele (A.S.) 262, meal, flour

mendinaunt, pl. mendinauntz (A.N.) a beggar; friars of the begging orders

mene, meene (A.N.) mean, middle

mene (A.N.) 326, a mean

menen (A.S.) to mean. to meene, 15, 18. that is Crist to mene, 399, that means Christ

menen (A.S.) to moan, lament. pret. mened

†menemong (A.S.) 497, of an ordinary quality

menever (A.N.) 433, a kind of fur; the fur of the ermine and small weasel mixed

mengen (A.S.) to mix, meddle

menyson (A.N.) 337, a flux, dysentery

menour (A.N.) a Minorite

menske (A.S.) 54, 455, decency, honour, manliness

mercien (A.N.) to thank

mercy (A.N.) 17, 353, thanks

mercy (A.N.) 360, 361, mercy

mercyment (A.N.) amercement

merk (A.S.) 316, a mark

merke (A.S.) 15, dark. merknesse (A.S.) 377, 379, darkness

merveillous (A.N.) marvellous, wonderful

meschief (A.N.) 197, mishap, evil, mischief

mesel (A.S.) pl. meseles, 51, 144, 337, a leper

meson-Dieux (A.N.) 139, hospitals

messe (A.S.) mass, the Romish ceremony

mestier (A.N.) 138, occupation

mesurable (A.N.) moderate

met (A.S.) 267, measure

mete (A.S.) meat. mete-less, (A.S.) without meat

metels (A.S.) 13, 31, 147, 149, 155, 202, 207, a dream

meten, meete (A.S.) 310, to meet. ''pret. s.'' mette, 351. ''part. pas.'' met, 216

meten (A.S.) to dream. ''pret. s.'' mette, 148, 155, 396. ''part. s.'' metynge, 221

metyng (A.S.) 246, a dream

†meter (A.S.) 476, fitter (?)

meve (A.N.) 153, 228, to move. ''pres. pl.'' ye moeven, 298

myd (A.S.) with

myddel-erthe (A.S.) 221, the world

middes (A.S.) middle, midst

mynistren (A.N.) 231, to administer

mynnen (A.S.) 322, to mind, to recollect

mynours (A.N.) miners, diggers of mines

mys-beden (A.S.) 119, to injure

mysese (A.N.) 16, ill ease

mys-eise (A.N.) 139, ill at ease

mysfeet (A.N.) 224, ill deed, wrong

†myster (A.N.) 484, kind species

mystier (A.S.) more misty, more dark

†myteynes (A.N.) 476, mittens, gloves

mnam, 131, a Hebrew coin

mo (A.S.) more

mody (A.S.) moody. modiliche, moodily

moeble, meble (A.N.) 364, goods

molde, moolde (A.S.) earth, mould

moled (A.N.) 262, 264, spotted, stained

mom (A.S.) 13, a mum, sound

mone (A.S.) 295, lamentation

†monelich (A.N.) 457, meanly

monials (A.N.) 192, nuns (Lat. moniales)

moore (A.S.) 403, greater

moost (A.S.) greatest

moot (A.N.) 113, 417, a moat

moot-halle (A.S.) 73, 74, hall of meeting, of justice

more (A.S.) 300, 330, 331, 334, pl. mores, 416, a root

mornen (A.S.) to mourn. ''pret. s.'' mornede

mortrews (A.N.) 248, 250, 252, a kind of soup

morwe (A.S.) morning, morrow

morwenynge (A.S.) morning

mote (A.S.) 25, to hold courts of justice

motyng (A.S.) 141, judging, meeting for justice

moton (A.N.) 44, the name of a coin. See note on l. 1404

mous (A.S.) pl. mees, a mouse

mouster (A.N.) 267, muster, arrangement

muche (A.S.) 155, 417, great

muchel (A.S.) 401, great, much

muliere, mulliere (A.N.) 343, 344, a wife, woman

murie (A.S.) pleasant, merry, joyful. murye, 1, pleasantly, murier, more pleasant

murthe (A.S.) 382, pleasure, joy, mirth

murthen (A.S.) 362, to make merry or joyful

muson (A.N.) 183, measures (?)

must (A.S.) 391, a liquor made of honey

nale (A.S.) 124, the ale. see atte

namoore (A.S.) no more

naught (A.S.) not, nought

ne (A.S.) not. The negative ne is combined with the verb to will, to be, &c.; as nelle, for ne wille, nel, nyl, for ne wil, nere, for ne were, nolde, for ne wolde, nyste, for ne wiste. It is sometimes combined with other verbs, as naroos, 399, for ne aroos. So we have such expressions as, wol he nele he, 427, i. e. whether he will or he will not

nede (A.S.) need

neddre (A.S.) 82, an adder, venomous serpent

nedlere (A.S.) 96, maker of, or dealer in, needles

neet (A.S.) 411, cattle. Farmers still talk of neat cattle

neghen (A.S.) to approach, to near. ''pret. s.'' neghed, 425, neghede, 438

neigh (A.S.) near, nigh

nempne (A.S.) 397, to name, call. ''pret. s.'' nempned, 397, 404. ''part. pas.'' y-nempned, nempned

nevelynge (A.S.) 85, sniveling

nygard (A.S.) niggard

nymen, nyme (A.S.) 268, 304 426, to take. ''part. pas.'' y-nome, 427

nyppe (A.S.) 379, a point (?)

noble (A.N.) 191, a gold coin of the value of six shillings and eightpence

noght (A.S.) nought, nothing

noyen (A.N.) to injure, annoy, plague

nones (A.N.) 125, the hour of two or three in the afternoon

nonne (A.S.) 86, a nun

noon (A.S.) none

nounpere (A.N.) 97, an umpire, an arbitrator

noughty (A.S.) 130, possessed of nothing

noun (A.N.) 366, no

nouthe (A.S.) now

o (A.S.) 349, one

of-gon (A.S.) 166, to derive (?)

of-walked (A.S.) 258, fatigued with walking

o-lofte (A.S.) aloft, on high

one, oone (A.S.) singly, alone, only. myn one, 154, myself singly

†onethe (A.S.) scarcely. See unnethe

oon (A.S.) one

oost (A.N.) 416, a host, army

openen, opene (A.S.) to open. ''pret. pl.'' opned, 388

ordeigne, ordeyne (A.N.) 415, to ordain

organye (A.N.) 369, a musical instrument. by organye, as an accompaniment to music

ote (A.S.) an oat

oughen (A.S.) to own, possess, owe. ''pret. s.'' oughte, 47

outher (A.S.) other, either, or

over-come (A.S.) to overcome. ''pret. s.'' over-coom, 405

over-hoven (A.S.) 55, 379, to hover or dwell over, hang over

over-hippen (A.S.) to hop over, skip over. ''pret. pl.'' thei over-huppen, 250, 318

over-leden (A.S.) 62, to overlead, tyrannize over

over-spreden (A.S.) to spread over. ''pret. s.'' over-spradde, 408

over-tilten (A.S.) to tilt or throw over. ''pret. s. over-tilte, 428, 433, threw over, dug up''

owene (A.S.) 366, own

paast (A.N.) 275, paste, dough

payn (A.N.) bread

paynym (A.N.) 108, 326, a pagan

pays (A.N.) 340, country

pallen (A.S.) 333, to knock. ''pret. s.'' I palle, 332

palmere (A.N.) 83, a palmer, pilgrim to distant lands

paltok (A.N.) 370, 438, a cloak

panne (A.S.) 69, the scull, head

pardoner (A.N.) a dealer in pardons

parentrelynarie (A.N.) 220, between the lines, interlineal

parfiter (A.N.) 229, more perfectly

parfitly (A.N.) perfectly

parfourne (A.N.) to perform

parisshen (A.N.) 206, 441, a parishioner

parle (A.N.) to talk. ''part. past'', parled, 385

parroken (A.N.) 312, to park or inclose

parten (A.N.) to share, to part. †''part. pas.'' parten, 475

Pasqe (A.N.) 338, Easter

passhen (A.S.) 431, to crush

pawme (A.N.) 356, the palm of the hand

pece (A.N.) 276, a piece

peeren (A.N.) 320, make themselves equal

peeren (A.N.) 11, to appear

pees (A.N.) peace. preide hem be pees, 405, prayed them to be quiet

peire (A.N.) a pair

peiren (A.N.) 50, to diminish, injure. see apeiren

peis (A.N.) 91, weight

peisen (A.N.) 90, to weigh

pelure (A.N.) 420, fur

pens (A.S.) pence

peraunter (A.N.) 202, peradventure, by chance

percell, pl. parcelles (A.N.) 177, 220, 349, a parcel, part

percel-mele (A.N.) 48, piecemeal

percile (A.N.) 134, parsley

pere (A.N.) 139, a peer, an equal

perfourne (A.N.) 251, to finish, complete, to furnish

perillousli (A.N.) dangerously, rudely

y-perissed (A.N.) 359, perished, destroyed

perree (A.N.) 173, precious stones, jewellery

persaunt (A.N.) 24, piercing

person (A.N.) 441, a parson. personage, a parsonage

pertliche (A.N.) 78, openly

pese (A.N.) pease

petit (A.N.) little

picche (A.S.) 123, to pick

pie (A.N.) 150, a magpie

pik (A.S.) a pike

pikstaf (A.S.) 123, a pike-staff

piken (A.S.) to pick

pyke-harneys (A.N.) 440, plunderers

pykoise (A.N.) 61, a hoe

pil, pyl, pl. piles (A.S.) 331, 332, 417, a pile

†pilche (A.S.) 465, a coat of hair or some rude material. We find the word used by Lydgate, ed. Halliwell, p. 154:—

And in Caxton's Reynard the Foxe, cap. v, Reynard having turned hermit, bare "his slayvne and pylche, and an heren sherte therunder."

†pild (A.N.) 500, bald

pilen (A.N.) 422, to rob

pilour (A.N.) 371, 420, a thief

†pylion (A.S. ?) 500, a kind of cap

pyne (A.N.) peyne, pl. peynes, pain, punishment

pyne, 78. See wynen

pynynge-stoole (A.S.) 47, literally, a stool of punishment, a cucking-stool

pynne (A.S.) 442, to bolt

piones (A.N.) 95, the seed of the piony, which was used as a spice. In the Coventry Mysteries (ed. Halliwell, p. 22) we find the word joined, as here, with pepper:—

pyries (A.N.) 78, pear-trees

pisseris (A.N.) 438 (?)

pistle (A.N.) an epistle

pitously (A.N.) piteously, for the sake of pity

pleyen (A.S.) to play. ''pret. s. pleide, pl.'' pleiden

pleyn (A.N.) full

pleyne (A.N.) 53, to commiserate, to complain, make a complaint

plener (A.N.) 209, 336, full, fully

pleten (A.N.) to plead. ''pret. pl.'' pleteden, 140

platten (A.N.) to fall or throw down flat. ''pret. s.'' platte, 81

plot (A.N.) 263, pl. plottes, 265, a patch

plow-foot (A.S.) 123, a part of a plough

po (A.S.) 243, a peacock

†poynttyl (A.N.) 462, the signification of this word appears to be the square tiles used for paving floors. See Warton's Hist. of Engl. Poetry, ii, 99

poke (A.S.) 150, 259, 275, 288, a sack

poken (A.N.) to urge, push forwards, poke, thrust

pol, 205, polle (A.S.) 261, 430, a head, poll

polshen (A.N.) 105, to polish

pondfold (A.S.) 346, the pinfold or pound

poraille (A.N.) the poor people

poret (A.N.) pl. porettes, 134, 135, a kind of leek

porthors (A.N.) 302, a breviary, (portiforium, Lat.)

pose (A.N.) 365, to place, put as a supposition

possen (A.N.) to push

potente (A.N.) 156, a club, staff

pouke (A.S.) 256, 285, 333, 346, the devil

Poul (A.N.) St. Paul

pounde-mele (A.S.) 41, by the pound

pous (A.N.) 352, the pulse

poustee (A.N.) 79, 228, power, strength

povere (A.N.) poor

†povert (A.N.) 496, poverty

†powghe, terre powghe, 487, a torn sack or poke (?) The imperfect glossary appended to the old printed edition of the "Creed" explains it by tar box

prayen (A.N.) 430, to make prey of, plunder

preessen (A.N.) 286, to hasten, crowd

preyen, preye (A.N.) to pray. ''pret. s.'' preide, preyde

preiere (A.N.) prayer

preynte (A.N. ?) 253 (?)

preise (A.N.) 97, to appraise, value

†prese (A.N.) 495, to hasten. ''pret. s.'' presed, 460

prest (A.N.) 287, ready. prester, 191, more ready. presteste, 110, readiest, quickest. prestly, readily

preven, preve (A.N.) to prove

prikye (A.S.) 369, to ride over, ride, spur. ''pret. s. prikede, 368, part. past'', y-priked, 430

prikere (A.S.) 159, 191, prikiere, 370, a rider

pris (A.N.) 411, prize, value

prison (A.N.) 140, 315, 372, a prisoner

pryvee (A.N.) private, intimate, confidential

provisour (A.N.) 38, 73, a purveyor, provider

prowor (A.N.) 411, a priest

puffed (A.S.) 78, blown

†pulchen (A.N.) to polish. ''part. past, pulched, 458, pulchud, 460, polished''

pulette (A.N.) a chicken

punysshen (A.N.) 407, to punish

pure (A.N.) pure, simple, unmixed. pure (adv.) 213, purely, simply. purely for-do, 262, altogether destroyed or undone. †puriche (A.N.) 467, purely: perhaps it should be purliche

purfill, purfil (A.N.) 72, 78, embroidery, tinsel

purfilen (A.N.) 28, to embroider

put (A.S.) 195, 284, pl. puttes, a pit, cave

putten, puten (A.S.) 400, to put, place. ''pres. s. putte, pl.'' putten. ''pres. s. and pl.'' putte, 68, 110, 372. ''part. past'', y-put, 290

quatron (A.N.) 90, a quartern

quave (A.N.) to shake, tremble. ''pret. s.'' quaved, 373

queed (A.S.) 285, the evil one, the devil

queste-mongere (A.N. and A.S.) one who made a business of conducting inquests

queynt (A.S.) 390, quenched, destroyed

queyntely (A.N.) 416, quaintly, cunningly

queyntise (A.N.) 385, 417, cunning

quellen (A.S.) to kill. ''part. past, quelt, 337, killed''

†quenes (A.S.) 456, women. The word is used in the modern sense of the word wench

quyk (A.S.) 384, 399, live, alive

quykne (A.S.) 390, to give life to, bring to life. ''pret. s.'' I quikne

quite, quyte (A.N.) 389, 390, to quit, pay off. ''part. past'', quit, 390

quod (A.S.) quoth, says

radegunde (A.S. ?) 430, a disease, apparently a sort of boil

rageman (A.N.) 5, 335, a catalogue, list

ray (A.N.) 89, a ray, streak

†raken (A.S.) 455, to go raking about

rakiere (A.S.) 96, one who goes raking about

rape (A.S.) 97, haste

rapen (A.S.) 65, 101, 124, to prepare. ''pret. s.'' raped, 352

rapeliche (A.S.) 347, rapely, 351, readily, quickly. rapelier, 352, more quickly

rappen (A.S.) 20, to strike, rap

rather, 155, earlier

rathe (A.S.) early. rathest, earliest, first, soonest, most readily

raton (A.N.) a rat

ratoner (A.N.) 96, a rat-catcher

raunsone (A.N.) 390, ransom

rave (A.S.) 380, to rave. ravestow, 380, dost thou rave

ravysshen (A.N.) 399, to ravage, rob, plunder, ravish

raxen (A.S.) 100, to hawk, spit

reaume, reme (A.N.) pl. remes, reames, a realm

recche (A.S.) 67, 204, to reck, care for. ''pret. s.'' roughte, 369

recchelees (A.S.) 369, reckless

rechen (A.S.) 359, to reach. ''pret. s.'' raughte, 5, 76, 153, 335, 369

recoverer (A.N.) 352, a remedy (?)

recrayed (A.N.) 58, recreant (?)

rede (A.S.) red

rede (A.S.) to read

reden (A.S.) to advise, counsel. ''pret. s. redde, 106, pl.'' radde, 71, 84. imperat. reed, 72

redel (A.S.) 257, a riddle

†redelich (A.S.) 498, readily, promptly

redyng-kyng, 96, a class of feudal retainers. See Spelman's Gloss. in v. rodknightes

reed (A.S.) counsel, advice

regne (A.N.) to reign. ''pret. s. regnede, 399, reigned''

regratier, regrater (A.N.) 48, 90, a retailer of wares and victuals

regratrie (A.N.) 48, retailing, selling by retail

reyn (A.S.) rain

reckenen (A.S.) to reckon, count

relessen (A.N.) 46, to forgive

releve (A.N.) 377, to raise again, restore, rally

religious (A.N.) pl. religiouses 192, a monk

renable (A.N.) 10, reasonable

renden (A.S.) 13, to rend, tear. imperat. rende, 76

reneye (A.N.) 210, to deny, be a renegade to. ''part. pas. reneyed, 210, renegade''

renk (A.S.) 12, 101, 149, 231, 238, 280, 369, 385, a man

rennen, renne (A.S.) 353, to run. imperative, ren thow, 230. ''pret. s.'' ran, roon, 277, yarn, 205 (? y-arn). ''part. past'', ronne, 156

renner (A.S.) 72, a runner

renten (A.N.) 140, to give rents to

†rentful (A.S.) 476, meagre, miserable (?)

repen (A.S.) to reap. ''pret. pl.'' ropen, 268

repreven (A.N.) 236, to reprove, blame

rerages (A.N.) 91, arrears

retenaunce (A.N.) 31, a retinue

reve (A.S.) 34, 102, 411, 423, an overseer, a reeve, steward, or bailiff

reve (A.S.) 335, 385, to take from

revere, pl. reveris (A.S.) reavers, people who deprive by force

reward (A.N.) 364, attention, warning

†rewel (A.S.) 473, rule

rewen (A.S.) to rue, to have mercy

rewme (A.N.) 430, a rheumatism, cold

ribaud (A.N.) 108, 286, 339, 372, a profligate low man. The word belonged properly to a particular class in society. See a detailed account of its derivation and signification in a note in my Political Songs, p. 369

ribaudie (A.N.) low profligate talk

ribaudour (A.N.) 121, a teller of low tales

ribibour (A.N.) 96, a player on the ribibe (a musical instrument)

riche, ryche (A.S.) a kingdom. hevene riche blisse, the joy of the kingdom of heaven

richen (A.N.) to become rich

riden, ryde (A.S.) to ride. ''pres. s. ryt, pl.'' riden. ''pret. s.'' rood, 354

rightwisnesse (A.S.) 393, righteousness

ringen (A.S.) to ring. ''pret. pl.'' rongen, 395, 428

ripe (A.S.) 415, to ripen

ripe (A.S.) 100, ready

rise, ryse (A.S.) 352, to rise. ''pret. s.'' roos, 91, 344

risshe (A.S.) 75, a rush (juncus)

rody (A.S.) ruddy, red

roggen (A.S.) to shake (explained in the Prompt. Parv. by agito.) ''pret. s.'' rogged, 335

roynous (A.N.) 430, scabby, rough

rolle (A.N.) 93, to enrol

rome (A.S.) 209, 210, 328, to roam

romere (A.S.) pl. romeris, a person who wanders or roams about

ronges (A.S.) 333, the steps of a ladder

roost (A.N.) 14, roast

†rote (A.N.) practice. by rote, by heart. be pure rote, 473, merely by rote

roten (A.S.) to rot

rotey tyme (A.N.) 222, the time of rut

†rotheren (A.S.) 476, oxen

rounen, rownen (A.S.) 66, 97, to whisper, talk privately

routhe (A.S.) ruth, compassion

rowen (A.S.) to become red, as the dawn of day (?). ''pret. s.'' rowed, 376

rufulliche (A.S.) ruefully

rugge (A.S.) 286, 413, the back. rugge-bone (A.S.) 98, the back-bone

rulen (A.N.) 393, to rule, govern

rusty (A.S.) 121, filthy (?). In the Coventry Mysteries, p. 47, Ham's wife says, "rustynes of synne is cawse of these wawys;" i. e. filthiness of sin is the cause of these waves

ruthe (A.S.) compassion

rutten (A.S. ?) 100, to snore. ''pret. s.'' rutte, 369

ruwet (A.S. ?) 98, a small trumpet

saaf (A.N.) safe

sadde (A.S.) 188, to make serious, steady

sadde (A.S.) 152, serious, grave, steady

sadder (A.S.) 77, sounder

safly (A.N.) safely

saille (A.N.) 260, to leap

salve (A.N.) 337, to apply salves

samplarie (A.N.) 234, type, first copy

saufté (A.N.) safety

saughtne (A.S.) 65, to be pacified, reconciled

saulee (A.N.) 331 (?)

saunz (A.N.) without

saute (A.N.) 260, to jump

sauter (A.N.) the Psalter

savoren (A.N.) 157, to savour

savour (A.N.) 147, knowledge

sawe (A.S.) 147, 165, 378, pl. sawes, 174, a saying, legend, proverb

scathe (A.S.) 46, 70, 71, 298, injury, hurt

scryveynes (A.N.) 193, writers

†se (A.N.) 483, seat

secte (A.N.) 106, 107, 216, a suit

see (A.S.) the sea

seel (A.S.) 348, pl. seles, a seal

seem (A.S.) 45, 67, a seam (of wheat), a measure of eight bushels, originally as much as a horse could carry

sege (A.N.) 443, siege

†seget (A.N.) 489, subject

segge (A.S.) 46, 78, 84, 100, 216, 341, 443, 445, a man

seyen, 290, seye, seyn, seggen, 53, 264, sigge, 208, 302, siggen, 264, 312, 318, 350 (A.S.) to say. ''pres. s.'' I seye, he seith, thei siggen, 320. ''pret. s. seide, pl.'' seiden

seillynge (A.S.) 387, sailing

seynen (A.N.) to sign. ''pret. s.'' seyned, 104

seint (A.N.) a saint

seken, seche (A.S.) to seek; 273, to penetrate. ''pret. s. & pl.'' soughte. ''part. pas.'' y-sought

selde (A.S.) seldom. selden, 365

selen (A.S.) to seal

self (A.S.) ''objec. s. selve, pl. selves self-same''. on the selve roode, 427, on the cross itself

†sely (A.S.) 477, simple, poor

selkouth (A.S.) pl. selkouthe wonderful, strange

selles (A.N.) cells

semen (A.S.) 328, to seem, appear, resemble. †I semed, 460, I looked

semynge (A.S.) 318, resembling

semy-vif (A.N.) 351, half alive, i. e. half dead

sen, 25, see, 32 (A.S.) to see. ''pres. sing.'' thow sest, 15. he seeth, pl. we seen. ''pret. sing. seigh, 77, 147, 200, 247, seyghe, 82, saugh, 29, 77, 347, 376, 437, pl.'' seighe. ''part. pas.'' y-seyen, seyen, 216, 308, 349, seene, y-seighen, 77, seighen, 177, y-seighe, 365

senden (A.S.) to send. ''pret. s. sent, 421, pl.'' senten

serelopes (A.S.) 358, severally, by themselves

serk (A.S.) 81, a shift, shirt

serven (A.N.) to serve

setten (A.S.) to set. ''pret. s. & pl.'' sette. ''part. past'', seten, 248

sewen (A.S.) to follow. see suwen

shaar (A.S.) 61, the blade or share of a plough

†shaf (A.S.) 490, chaff

shaft (A.S.) 161, 225, make, creation

shaken (A.S.) to shake. ''pret. s.'' shook, 268

shallen (A.S.) ''the auxiliary verb. sing.'' I shal, 15. thow shalt, pl. ye shul, 14, shulle, 25, thei shulle, 22—sholde, sholdest, pl. sholden, sholde

shapen, shape (A.S.) to make, create, shape. ''pret. s.'' shoop, 1, 163, 197, 225, 443, shapte, 361, 433, for-shapte, 365. pl. shopen. ''part. past'', mys-shapen, 144, shapen, 280

shappere (A.S.) 358, a maker, creator

sharpe (A.S.) 443, pungent

sheep (A.S.) 1, a sheep, or a shepherd

sheltrom (A.S.) 278, a host, troop of soldiers

shenden (A.S.) to ruin, destroy. ''pret. s.'' shente, 365. ''part. pas.'' shent

shene (A.S.) 394, bright

shenfulliche (A.S.) 59, shamefully, disastrously

shepstere (A.S.) 265, a sheep-shearer (?)

shere (A.S.) a shear

sherreve (A.S.) 31, 51, a shire-reeve, or sheriff

sherewe, shrewe (A.S.) a shrew; a cursed one

shrewednesse (A.S.) cursedness

sheten (A.S.) to shoot. ''pret. pl.'' shotten, 438

shetten, shette (A.S.) to shut. ''pret. s.'' shette

shide (A.S.) 167, 197, a thin board, a billet of wood

shiften (A.S.) to move away. ''pret. s.'' shifte 435

shyngled (A.S.) 168, made of planks or boards

shonyen (A.S.) 87, to shun

†shosen 491 qu. for chosen, i. e. dispose, incline to

shrape (A.S.) 84, to scrape

shryve (A.S.) 441, to shrive, make confession. ''pret. s.'' shrof, 45, 198. ''part. pas.'' y-shryve, 82, shryven, 273

shrift (A.S.) confession

shroudes (A.S.) clothes

sib, sibbe (A.S.) relation, companion. Gossip is God-sib, companion or fellow in God, and was originally applied to the attendants at a christening

sidder (A.S.) 88, wider

sike (A.S.) 355, sick

siken (A.S.) to sigh. ''pret. s.'' siked, 293, sikede, 385

siker, syker (A.S.) sure, secure. sikerer, 237, more secure, more sure

syn (A.S.) 444, since

syngen, synge (A.S.) 408, to sing. ''pret. s.'' songe, I song, 408. pl. songen, 369, 388, 405

sinken (A.S.) to sink. ''pret. s.'' sank, 373. pl. sonken, 278

sisour (A.N.) 31, 32, 38, 51, 75, 434, a person deputed to hold assizes. See Ducange in v. assisarii

sith (A.S.) since. sithen, since, afterwards. sithenes, 121, afterwards. siththe (adv.) since afterwards

sithe (A.S.) 102, time

sitten, sitte (A.S.) to sit. ''pret. s.'' thow sete, 386. I seet, 437. sat, pl. seten, 109

skile (A.S.) 202, 240, 290, 359, 367, 412, reason, argument

†slaughte 456 (?)

sleighte (A.S.) 379, 401, a trick, slight

sleen (A.S.) to slay. pres. sleeth. 364, 421. ''pret. s.'' slow, 434

slepen (A.S.) to sleep. ''pret. s.'' sleep, 99, 100, I slepte, 247. pl. slepe, 277

slepying (A.S.) asleep

sleple (A.S.) 155, to sleep gently

sleuthe (A.S.) sloth, idleness

sliken (A.S.) 34, to make sleek, smooth

slombren (A.S.) to slumber. ''pret. s.'' slombred, 1

smal (A.S.) pl. smale, small

smecen (A.S.) to taste, smack. ''pret. pl.'' smaughte, 98

smythyen (A.S.) 61, 62, to do the work of a smith, to forge

so (A.S.) so, as. so soone so, 352, as soon as

soden (A.S.) 312, to boil. ''part. pas.'' y-soden, 321

sodenes (A.N.) 303, sub-deans

softe (A.S.) 1, warm (like the Fr. doux)

sokene (A.S.) 34, a district held by tenure of socage

solas (A.N.) comfort, solace

soleyn (A.N.) 240, one left alone

solne (A.N.) 102, to sing by note

som (A.S.) pl. somme, some

somone (A.N.) 37, sompne, 62, 209, 408, to summon

somonour (A.N.) 31, 51, 75, a somner, an officer employed to summon delinquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts, now called an apparitor

sonde (A.S.) mission, sending

sone (A.S.) a son

songewarie (A.N.) 147, 148, the interpreting of dreams

sonne (A.S.) the sun

sooth (A.S.) truth

soothnesse, sothnesse (A.S.) truth

sope (A.S.) 254, a sop

sope (A.S.) 273, soap

soper (A.N.) supper

sorwe (A.S.) sorrow

sorweful (A.S.) 353, sorrowful

soth (A.S.) true

sothe (A.S.) truth

sotile (A.N.) 184, 186, to apply one's cunning or penetration

sotil (A.N.) pl. sotile, 294, 297, 319, 372, clever, cunning, subtile, difficult to conceive or understand

sotte (A.N.) a fool

souke (A.N.) 209, to suck

souter (A.S.) 101, 201, a shoemaker. †soutere, 494

souteresse (A.S.) 96, a female shoemaker

southdene (A.N.) a subdean

sowen (A.S.) 274, to sow. ''pret. s. sew, 268, 412, pl.'' sewe, 317. ''part. pas.'' y-sowen, 416

spakliche (A.S.) 353, hastily (?)

spede (A.S.) 353, to haste, to speed. ''pret. s.'' spedde, 353

speken, speke (A.S.) to speak. ''pret. s.'' spak

spelonke (LAT.) 311, a cavern

spences (A.N.) 285, expense

spillen (A.S.) (trans.) to mix, spill, spoil, waste, 414 (intransitive) to perish, 303. ''part. pas.'' y-spilt

spire (A.S.) 348, to look closely into, to inquire

spores (A.S.) 370, spurs

spring (A.S.) 79, a sprig, rod

springen (A.S.) to spring. ''pret. s.'' sprong, 277, spronge, 404

stablisse (A.N.) 22, to establish

†stappyng (A.S.) 489, stepping

stede (A.S.) pl. stedes, a place

steere (A.S.) 153, the helm of a ship

steyen (A.S.) to arise, mount. †''pret. s. steigh, 498, arose''

stekie (A.S.) 22, to stick fast

stele (A.S.), 412, a handle

stelen (A.S.) to steal. ''pret. s.'' stale, 268. pl. stolen, 405

sterre, pl. sterne, 310 (A.S.) a star

†styghtle (A.S.) 469, to establish, confirm. Explained in the glossary appended to the old edition by to stay

†stylle (A.S.) 473, quietly, with a low voice

†y-stongen (A.S.) 483, stabbed, pierced

stinken (A.S.) to stink. ''pret. s.'' stank, 328. †styncand, 489, stinking

stynten (A.S.) 22, 186, to stop

stonden, stonde, stande, 354 (A.S.) to stand. he stondeth, it stant, 325, he stant, 372, thei stonden. ''pret. s.'' stood, 204, 247

stoon (A.S.) 328, a stone

stotte (A.S.) 411, an ox of three years old

stounde (A.S.) 155, a short space of time

stoupe (A.S.) 204, to bend, stoop. Chaucer, in the first line of the Nonne Preestes Tale, speaks of,—"A pore wydow somdel stoupe in age."

†straken (A.S.) 456, to proceed directly

†stre (A.S.) 496, straw

streyte (A.S.) straitly, narrowly

streyves (A.N.) 6, estreys, beasts which have strayed, a law-term

striken (A.S.) to strike. ''pret. s.'' strook

struyen (A.N.) 328, to destroy. pret. struyede

stuwe (A.N.) 121, a house of ill fame, a stew. †stues, 488, stews, brothels

†sueres (A.S.) 459, followers

suffren (A.N.) to suffer

sulen (A.N.) to soil. †''part. pas. y-suled, 495, soiled''

suren (A.N.) to assure

surgenrie (A.N.) 336, surgery

surquidous (A.N.) 416, overbearing, arrogant, conceited

suster (A.S.) pl. sustren, a sister

suwen, sewe (A.S.) 203, 454 to follow. ''pret. s. and pl.'' suwed, 353, suwede, 380. ''part. p.'' suwed, 110, sued, 155

swelte (A.S.) 86, to die, to perish. ''pret. s.'' swelted, 431

swerd (A.S.) a sword

sweren, swerye, 275 (A.S.) to swear. ''pret. s.'' swoor, 434, swor, 269. ''part. pas.'' sworen, 328, swore

swetter (A.S.) sweeter

swevene (A.S.) a dream

sweyen (A.S.) to sound. ''pret. s.'' sweyed, 1

swich (A.S.) 385, pl. swiche, such

swynken (A.S.) to labour. ''pret. pl.'' swonken, 2.

swynk (A.S.) labour, work

swithe (A.S.) very, immediately, quickly

swowe (A.S.) 86, to faint, to swoon

tabard (A.N.) 88, a short coat or mantle. "Tabbard, collobium." Promp. Parv. One of the stage directions in the Coventry Mysteries (p. 244) is:—


 * Here xal Annas shewyn hymself in his stage, be seyn after a busshop of the hoold lawe, in a skarlet gowne, and over that a blew tabbard furryd with whyte.

tacches (A.N.) 168, stains, blemishes

taillé (A.N.) 68, a tally, notched stick; an account scored on a piece of wood. See note

tailen (A.N.) to keep an account by notches on a stick, to give a tally for a thing. ''part. a.'' tailende, 156. ''part. pas.'' y-tailed, 102

taken (A.S.) to take. ''pres. s. took, pl.'' token, toke, 398. ''part. pas.'' taken

taken, take (A.S.) to give. ''pret. s. took, 328, pl.'' toke, token, 383

tale (A.S.) an account, reckoning

tale-wis (A.S.) 51, wise in tales

tasele (A.S.) 322, a teasel. The burs of this plant are used in the manufacture of cloth

tasten (A.N.) 266, 374, to feel. ''pret. s.'' tastede, 357

techen (A.S.) to teach. ''pret. s.'' taughte, 19, taghte, 135. ''part. pas.'' taught, 186, y-taught, 436

tellen, telle (A.S.) to count, tell, 405. ''pret. s.'' tolde. pl. tolden

teme, teeme (A.S.) 118, 125, 138, 411, 412, a team of horses

teme (A.N.) 48, 80, 147, 209, a theme

tenten (A.N.) to offer, present, to hold out, stretch forth. ''pret. pl.'' tendeden, 383

tenen, tene (A.S.) 256, 320, to injure. ''pret. s.'' tened, 432

tene (A.S.) 124, 125, 145, 209, 335, anger, hurt

teneful (A.S.) injurious

termes (A.N.) 242, terms, times for their work

teynten (A.N.) to die, tint. ''part. past'', y-teynted, 322

y-termyned (A.N.) 20, judged, determined

thanne (A.S.) then

thecche (A.S.) 410, to thatch

theen (A.S.) to thrive, be prosperous. so thee ik! 90, as I may prosper!

thef, theef (A.S.) pl. theves, 239, 353, 373, a thief. thefliche, 389, thievishly

theigh (A.S.) though

thenke, thynke (A.S.) 211, 228, to think. ''pres. s.'' he thenketh, 407

ther (A.S.) there, where. therafter, 90, in proportion to it. thermyd, herewith

thesternesse (A.S.) 340, darkness

thynke (A.S.) 384, to seem. ''pres. sing. I thynke, me thynketh (it seems to me''). ''pret. s.'' thoghte, 1, 205, thoughte, 404

thirlen (A.S.) to pierce, bore through

thise (A.S.) these

tho (A.S.) those, the

tho (A.S.) then, when

tholien (A.S.) 70, thole, 392, to bear, support, suffer. ''pret. s.'' tholede, 251, 384, tholed, 377. pl. tholed, 373

thonkyng (A.S.) thanking, thanks

thorugh (A.S.) through

thow (A.S.) The second personal pronoun is in interrogative clauses generally combined with its verb, as sestow, seest thou; slepestow, sleepest thou, &c.

thral (A.S.) pl. thralles, 398, a bond-man

threve (A.S.) 333, a bundle

thridde (A.S.) 413, third

thringen (A.S.) to crowd, to throng, to press forward. ''pret. pl.'' thrungen, 108

tyd, tid (A.S.) 265, 334, quickly, promptly, readily

tidy (A.S.) 422, clever, ready, neat

tyen (A.S.) to tie

†y-tight, 461, furnished, provided

tikes (A.S.) 398, low people; literally, dogs. The word is still used in Yorkshire

til (A.S.) 305, to

tilien, tilie, tilye (A.S.) 131, 138, 375, 410, to till the earth. †''part. pas.'' tylde, 461

tilthe (A.S.) 421, tilth, the result or produce of tilling or ploughing

tymbre (A.S.) 223, to build. pret. tymbred, 48

†tymen (A.S.) 494, to compel (?) It appears to be the same word which occurs in the alliterative poem on the Deposition of Richard II, p. 17:—

tynen, tyne (A.S.) 416, to lose. ''part. pas.'' tynt, 377

titeleris (A.S. ?) 442, tattlers

tithe (A.S.) tenth, tithe

tixte (A.N.) 348, text

to (A.S.) too

to-, prefixed in composition to verbs of Anglo-Saxon origin, has the same force as the German zu-, giving to the word the idea of destruction or deterioration:—

to-bollen (A.S.) 82, to overswell

to-breken (A.S.) 156, to break to pieces, break down. ''part. pas.'' to-broke, 139

to-cleve (A.S.) 236, to cleave in pieces, cut open

to-drawen (A.S.) to draw to pieces, or to destruction. pret. to-drowe, 175

to-luggen (A.S.) 41, to lug about, tear

to-rende (A.S.) 180, to be torn or burst to pieces

to-shullen (A.S.) to cut off, destroy. ''part. pas.'' to-shullen, 359

toft (A.S.) an open exposed place, a hill

to-fore (A.S.) before. to-forn 235, before

to-gidere, to-gidres, to-gideres (A.S.) together

†toylyng (A.S.) 495, tugging

tollen (A.S.) 89, to measure out, count

tollers (A.S.) toll-gatherers

tome (A.S.) 39, leisure, time. This form of the word seems to have been in use in the fourteenth century. It occurs at the commencement of the Seven Sages:—

Its occurrence in Piers Ploughman shows that Weber was not right in supposing it a mere alteration of the word time for the sake of rhyme. See also Sir F. Madden's Glossary to Gawayne

tonder (A.S.) 362, tinder

†too (A.S.) pl. ton, 476, 489, a toe

torne (A.N.) 428, to turn. ''pret. s. tornede, 321, torned, 265, turned''

torne, 325, turne, 324 (A.S.) to turn (intransitive)

toten (A.S.) 331, 459, 461, to look, observe, to peep. ''pret. s.'' toted, 471. pl. toteden, 476. ''part. past'', y-toted, 464

touken (A.S.) to dye. ''part. pas.'' y-touked, 322

toune, 315, a tun. Perhaps it should be printed tonne.

tour (A.N.) a tower

travaille (A.N.) to labour

traversen (A.N.) 245, to transgress

treden (A.S.) to tread. ''pret. pl.'' troden, 223. †''pret. s. tredede, 476, trod''

tree, 330 (A.S.) pl. trowes, 300, a tree

tresor (A.N.) a treasure

triacle, tryacle (A.N.) a remedy, a cure

tricherie (A.N.) treachery, cunning, trickery

trie (A.N.) 305, 330, choice, select. trieste, 23, most choice, trieliche, choicely

†tryfler (A.S.) 479, a trifler, a deceiver, a good-for-nothing

†troiflardes (A.S.) 494, triflers, idlers

trollen (A.S.) 387, to draw, to drag

tronen (A.N.) to throne

trowe (A.S.) 358, to believe, think, suppose. trowestow, 237, thinkest thou

trufle (A.S.) 236, 378, trefle, 471, a silly tale, trifle, good-for-nothing thing or person

trumpen (A.N.) to sound a trumpet. ''pret. s.'' trumpede, 395

tulien (A.S.) to labour, to till. ''pret. pl.'' tulieden, 277. ''part. act.'' tulying, 277

tweye (A.S.) two

twies (A.S.) twice

†twynnen (A.S.) 480, to couple together

umwhile (A.S.) 97, once, on a time

unbuxome (A.S.) disobedient, inobedient

underfongen (A.S.) 301, to undertake, accept, receive. ''pret. s.'' underfonged, 209

undernymen (A.S.) 214, to undertake, take possession of. ''pres. s.'' undernymeth, 84. ''part. past'', under-nome, 263, 428

under-pight (A.S.) 331, propped up

unhardy (A.N.) 254, 354, not bold

un-hiled (A.S.) 367, uncovered, unroofed

unjoynen (A.N.) 384, to disjoin, separate

unkynde (A.S.) unnatural

unkouthe (A.S.) 148, unknown, strange, foreign

unlosen (A.S.) 356, to unloose

unlouken (A.S.) 380, 384, 385, 388, to unlock

unnethe (A.S.) scarcely

unpynne (A.S.) 385, to unbolt

unsperen (A.S.) 374, 385, to open, undo, unbolt

†un-teyned (A.S.) 481, unfastened (?)

unthende (A.S.) 87, unserved, without sauce

untidy (A.S.) 432, slovenly, not clever

until (A.S.) to

unwittily (A.S.) 49, unwisely, unreasonably

up (A.S.) upon. up so doun, 428, upside down

usen (A.S.) to use

vaunt-warde (A.N.) 430, the avant-guard, the van

veille (A.N.) 104, an old woman

vendage (A.N.) 391, vintage, harvest

venymousté (A.N.) 378, the property of being poisonous or venomous

venym (A.N.) 326, poison

vernycle (A.N.) 109, "diminutive of Veronike. A copy in miniature of the picture of Christ, which is supposed to have been miraculously imprinted upon a handkerchief, preserved in the church of St. Peter at Rome. Du Cange, in v. Veronica. Madox, Form. Angl. p. 428. Testam. Joh. de Nevill, an. 1386. Item Domino archiepiscopo Ebor. fratri meo. i. vestimentum rubeum de velvet cum le Veronike in granis rosarum desuper broudata. It was usual for persons returning from pilgrimages to bring with them certain tokens of the several places which they had visited; and therefore the Pardoner [in Chaucer], who is just arrived from Rome, is represented with a vernicle sewed upon his cappe."—.

verrey (A.N.) 365, verrey, 405, true

verset (A.N.) 239, a little verse

viker (A.N.) 424, a vicar

vicory (A.N.) 420, a vicar

waast (A.N.) 10, a waste, wilderness

wafrestere (A.S.) 115, a maker of wafers for the priests, to be consecrated and administered at the sacrament

wage, wagen (A.N.) 440, to hire, to wage, pay wages, remunerate

wage (A.N.) 71, to be pledge for, to warrant

waggen (A.S.) 332, to shake. ''pret. s.'' waggede, 335, 373, 408

wayte, waiten (A.S.) 89, 147, 157, 260, 269, to watch, look about, wait. ''pret. s.'' waitede, 266. pl. waiteden, 345

waitynges (A.S.) 33, watchings, lookings

walkne (A.S.) 316, air, sky, welkin. wolkne, 357, 383

walnote (A.S.) a wallnut

wayven (A.N.) 113, 435, 482, 491, to waive

waken (A.S.) to awake. ''pret. pl. woken, 277, woke, 405, awoke''

wanhope (A.S.) 34, 94, 140, 238, 366, despair, hopelessness

wanye (A.S.) 141, 153, to fade, wane. ''pret. s.'' wanyed, 294

war (A.S.) ware, aware. y-war, 17

warde (A.N.) 388, a keeper

wardemotes (A.N.) 6, meetings of the ward

wareyne (A.N.) 10, a warren

warisshen (A.N.) 336, to cure

warlawes (A.S.) 497, wizards, sorcerers, warlocks. See Jamieson, on this latter word

warner (A.N.) 96, a warrener, keeper of a warren

warpen (A.S.) to utter, cast. ''pret. s.'' warpe, 82, 99

warroken (A.S.) 66, to girt

waselen (A.S.) to become dirty, dirty one's self. †''pret. s.'' waselede, 476

wasshe (A.S.) 248, to wash. ''pret. s. I wessh, 344, wasshed, 352, pl.'' wesshen, 247. ''part. pas.'' y-wasshen, 167, whasshen, 272, wasshen, 392

wastel (A.N.) 94, a cake, fine bread

watlen (A.S.) to cover with hurdles, to wattle. ''pret. s.'' watlede, 415

wawe (A.S.) 153, a wave

webbe (A.S.) 89, a weaver

webbestere (A.S.) a weaver. wollen webbesters, 14, woollen weavers

wed (A.S.) 91, 346, a pledge

wedden (A.S.) 73, to lay a wager

weder (A.S.) weather. weder-wise, weather-wise

wedes (A.S.) dress, clothes, apparel

weer (A.S.) 209, 330, a doubt, perplexity

weet (A.S.) wet. weet-shoed, 369, wet-shoed

weg (A.S.) 426, a pledge

wey (A.S.) a way

weye (A.S.) 82, a wey of cheese

weyen (A.S.) to weigh. ''part. past'', weyen, 25

weylaway (A.S.) 383, an exclamation of lamenting under suffering

weyves (A.S.) 6 (a law term), animals lost or strayed

weke (A.S.) 360, 362, the wick of a candle

welden (A.S.) 174, 175, 206, to possess. ''pres. s.'' he welt, 178, when he weldeth, 426

wele (A.S.) 381, weal, happiness, good fortune

wellen (A.S.) to boil, to gush out as water from a spring. ''pret. s.'' wellede, 418

welle (A.S.) 296, a spring

welthe (A.S.) 88, a welt

wem (A.S.) 377, a flaw, stain

wenden (A.S.) 306, to go, to wend. ''pres. pl.'' wenden. imperat. weend, 59

wenen (A.S.) 264, 380, to suppose, imagine, think, believe. ''pret. pl. wende, 263, supposed''

wepen (A.S.) to weep. ''pret. s. wepte, 374, pl.'' wepten

wepene (A.S.) 170, membrum virile

wepne (A.S.) a weapon

†werdliche (A.S.) 454, 473, worldly

were (A.S.) 322, to wear

werken, werche (A.S.) to work. ''pres. pl.'' werchen. ''pret. s.'' wroghte. pl. wroughte, wroghten. ''part. act.'' werchynge. ''part. pas.'' wroughte, wroght, y-wroght

†werly (A.S.) 491, worldly

wernard, wernarde (A.N.) 35, 53, persons who lay information against others (?)

wernen (A.S.) to refuse, deny. ''pres. s. werneth, 425, refuses''

werre (A.N.) war

wers (A.S.) worse

†werwolves (A.S.) 478, people turned into wolves by sorcery. An ancient superstition. See note

wesshen (A.S.) to wash

weven (A.S.) to weave

wex (A.S.) 360, 361, wax

wexen, wexe (A.S.) 141, 209, 293, 401, to wax, grow. ''pret. s.'' weex, 63, 94, 202, 278, 294, 336, 369. pl. woxen, 161, 277, 333. ''part. pas.'' woxen, 177, 403

wexed (A.S.) 98, washed (?)

what! (A.S.) 146, an interjection, lo!

whiche (A.S.) which a light, 376, what light

†whit (A.S.) 476, a wight, creature

whiten (A.S.) to make white

†whough (A.S.) 453, how. whou, 481

wicche (A.S.) 372, 373, a witch

wye (A.S.) 109, 223, 245, 248, 283, 352, 354, 388, 405, a man. It is the Saxon wig, and was originally applied to a warrior or hero. I am inclined to think this may be the origin of our present slang term, a guy

wif (A.S.) in the objective, wyve, pl. wyves, a woman, wife

wight (A.S.) 160, active, brave. wightly, actively, bravely, well. wyghtliche, 40, actively. wightnesse, 410, activity, cleverness

wight (A.S.) a creature, being

wike (A.S.) a week. pl. woukes, 336

wikkedlokest (A.S.) 199, most wickedly

willen (A.S.) 400, to will. ''pres. s. wol, wole, pl.'' wol. ''pret. s. wolde, pl.'' wolde. thow willest, 241

wilne (A.S.) 49, to will. ''pr. s.'' wilneth, 20. pl. wilne, 15. ''pret. s.'' wilned, 211, 369

wyn (A.S.) 402, wine

wynen pyne (A.S.) 78, the wine pin, or place where wine was sold (?)

wynkyng (A.S.) 77, 99, dozing, slumbering

wynnen, wynne (A.S.) to win, gain. ''pret. s. wan, 123, 231, pl.'' wonnen, 2. ''part. pas.'' y-wonne, 82, 213, wonne, 410

†wynwe (A.S.) 476, winnowing

wis, pl. wise (A.S.) wise

wisloker (A.S.) 266, more certainly

wissen, wisse (A.S.) 399, to teach. ''pres. sing.'' I wisse. ''pret. sing.'' wissed, 19. ''part. act. wissynge, 205, teaching''

wissen (A.S.) to know. ''pret. sing. wiste, 151, 211, knew part. past'', wist, 381

wit (A.S.) mind, wit, intelligence

witen, wite (A.S.) 373, 377, to know. ''pres. s.'' he woot, 105, 199. ''pret. s.'' woot, 3, 32, 35, 67. to witene, 152, to know. witynge, 418, knowingly

witen (A.S.) 140, 331, to hinder, keep

witen (A.S.) to blame. ''pret. s.'' witte, 17

withdrawen (A.S.) to withdraw. ''pret. s.'' withdrough, 373

withholden (A.S.) to withold, retain. ''pres. s.'' he withhalt, 110

withwynde (A.S.) 108, crosswise (?) as if bound with a withy

witterly (A.S.) truly

witty (A.S.) 196, knowing, wise

†wlon (A.S.) 494, the nap of cloth (?)

wo (A.S.) woe

wodewe (A.S.) 169, pl. widwes, a widow

woke (A.S.) 315, to moisten (?)

wolleward (A.S.) 369, wolward, 497, miserable, plagued

wolves-kynnes (A.S.) 126, of the nature of wolves

wombe (A.S.) the belly

wombe-cloutes (A.S.) 250, tripes

womman, pl. wommen (A.S.) a woman

wone (A.S.) a dwelling-place, residence

woned (A.S.) 306, accustomed, wont

wonyen (A.S.) to dwell. ''pres. s.'' wonyeth, 18. ''pret. pl.'' woneden, 311

woon (A.S.) 435, plenty, abundance

†woon (A.S.) a dwelling

worden (A.S.) to discourse, have words together. ''pret. pl.'' wordeden, 68. wordynge, 351, talking, using words, conversing

worm (A.S.) 222, a serpent

worstow, 420, shalt thou be. See worthe

wort (A.S.) 135, a plant, vegetable

worthe, y-worthe (A.S.) to be, become. to late the cat worthe, 12, to let the cat be. worth, 26, 244, 359, shall be

wowen (A.S.) 69, to woo, court

wower, pl. woweris (A.S.) 206, a wooer

wowes (A.S.) 46, walls

wrathen (A.S.) to be or become angry, wroth

wreken (A.S.) to avenge. ''part. past'', wroken, 39, 437, wroke, 392

wrighte (A.S.) 197, a workman, artist, maker

wringen (A.S.) to wring. ''pret. s.'' wrong, 42, 127

writen (A.S.) to write. ''pret. s.'' wroot, 183, 225, 233, 293, 328, 396. ''part. past'', writen, 349

writhen (A.S.) 358, twisted, clenched

wrooth (A.S.) wroth

wrotherhele (A.S.) 280, ill fate, ill condition

As a consonant; for other words beginning with y, see under g and i

yarken (A.S.) 143, to make ready, prepare

ye (A.S.) yea, yes

yeden (A.S.) to go. ''pret. s.'' yede. pl. yeden, 324, 351, 354

yeepe (A.S.) 203, active, alert, prompt

yelde (A.S.) 419, to yield, pay, give. ''pres. s.'' he yelt, 375. ''pret. s.'' yald, 239, 240. yeldynge

yeme (A.S.) 349, heed, attention

yemen (A.S.) 154, 171, 185, to rule, guide, govern—to heed, take care of

yepeliche (A.S.) 306, promptly

yerde (A.S.) a rod, a yard

yere (A.S.) pl. yeer, a year. yeres-gyve, 154. yeres-yeves, 49, a year's gift

yerne (A.S.) to yearn, desire eagerly

yerne (A.S.) (adverb) eagerly, earnestly, readily

yerne (A.S.) 306, to run. ''pret. s.'' yarn, 205. ''part. act.'' ernynge, 418. See rennen

yis (A.S.) yes

yit (A.S.) yet

ynowe (A.S.) enough. ynogh, 382

yvel (A.S.) evil, wicked. yvele, 87, evilly, wickedly.