Chaucer Glossary
This glossary does not include all Middle English words, but hopefully contains a
selection of those you are most likely to find troublesome. Because of the great
variation in Middle English spelling it has not been possible to include all the likely
spellings of a particular word, and only the most common versions are listed. Where
the same or very similar words can be used both as nouns and verbs, they are
distinguished by (n) and (v) in the list.
A
abedde
abhomynable
abyde
abye, abegge, abeye
accompte, acounte
accordaunt
acomplice
adoun
aferd, afered
affeccioun
afferme
affraye (n)
affraye (v)
agaynward, ayenward
agaste
ay
algate, algatis
als
amende
amyd, amydde
amorwe
anyght
anon, anoon
apayd, apayed
aperceyve
apert, appert
aperteneth
areste, arresten
aright
array, aray
assaye, asay
auctorite, autorite
avaunt, avant
avysioun, avision
in bed; to bed
disgusting, detestable
to wait, be patient
to pay for
to count, reckon up, evaluate
in accord with
to fulfill, satisfy
downwards, down, below
afraid
emotion, feeling, desire
confirm
assault; outcry, uproar; fear
to startle, frighten, disturb
back again
to frighten; be frightened
always, forever; progressively
in all ways, entirely; all the time, continuously
also, moreover; as
to remedy, correct; make amends
in the middle of
in the morning; the next morning
at night; by night
at once, straight away
pleased, satisfied
to perceive; comprehend
plain, clear; not secret
befits, is suitable to; concerns
to stop; seize, restrain
correctly, truly
preparation; arrangement; condition, appearance
to test, tempt
legal power; authority
to boast
dream, vision
B
bale
benedicite
suffering, misery
(may God) bless you
benygne, benyngne
berd
bet
bidde
byde
bye, beye
bifalle, befalle
biforn, byfore
bigyle, begyle
biheste, biheeste
bisy, besy
bysynesse, besynesse
bistowe
bitake, betake
bithynke, bethynke
bytymes, betyme
biwreye, bewrye
bone, boone
borwe
bote, boote
bounte, bownte
brenne
breste
bryd, bridd, byrde
brode, brood
gracious, kind; mild (weather)
beard; joke, trick
better, more
to ask, beg; pray
to stay, remain, wait
to buy, purchase
to befall, happen
before, previously
to deceive, defraud, betray
promise
active, busy; occupied
work, activity, task
to give, bestow
to give, grant, hand over; entrust
to think, reflect, imagine
soon, quickly
to betray; reveal
request, prayer
to borrow
advantage, help, benefit; relief, remedy
goodness, virtue; kindness, benevolence
to burn
to break, burst
bird; girl, sweetheart
wide, broad; large, spacious
C
cache, cacche, kacchen
cas, caas
caste
chaffare
charite
chaunge
chere, cheere
cherl
chese, cheese
chide
clene, cleene
clepe
clere
compaignye, companye
comunly, communely
confort, counfort (n)
conforte, comforte (v)
conseil, counceil (n)
conseile, counceilen (v)
constreyne
contenance, countenaunce
corage, courage
to grasp, seize
situation, circumstance
to throw
trade, business; merchandise
Christian virtue of love, charity
to change, vary
face; appearance, manner; good humour, kindness
rough, common man
to choose, select
to criticize, scold
clean; pure, chaste
to speak, say, call out; call ( a name)
bright, shining
group; fellowship
commonly, ordinarily
assurance, consolation; pleasure, delight
to encourage; console
a meeting, council; body of advisors
to teach, instruct; persuade, advise
to compel, force
behaviour; appearance
heart, feelings; desire, determination; courage
coroune
cors
coveite
covenable
curteis
curteisie, curtesye
crown, garland
body, corpse
to covet, desire
suitable, appropriate
courtly, refined, courteous
courtliness, good manners
D
daliaunce
dampnable
debat, debaat
debonaire
dede, deede
deef
deye, dye
deme, deeme
departe
dere, deere
derke
despit, dispit
destourbe
dethe, deeth
devyne
dighte
digne
dignite
dynt, dent
disclaundre
discrecioun
dispende, despende
dispoillen despoile
disport, desport
dom, doom
doute
draughte
drede, dreede (n)
drede
drenche
dresse
sociable conversation; flirting
damnable, worthy of condemnation
quarrel, dispute; conflict
gracious, courteous; also, a gracious person
action, deed
deaf
to die
make a judgement, give a verdict
to separate, divide, break up
honoured, dear, excellent, fine; expensive
dark
disdain, scorn
to hinder, prevent
death
to guess, conjecture
to prespare, arrange
suitable, fitting; honourable; proud, haughty
worthiness, excellence
loud clap (of thunder)
to defame, denounce
sound judgement
to spend, waste (money, time)
to undress, strip; rob
amusement, fun, pleasure
judgement, opinion
uncertainty, doubt
drink
fear, anxiety
to be afraid; hold in awe or reverence
to drown, sink, flood
to place, put, arrange
E
eft
eke, eek
elde, eelde
elles, ellis
emprise
encres, encrees
endite
again, another time; immediately
also
age; old age
otherwise, else
enterprise; difficult task
increase, growth
to write, compose
ensample, ensaumple
entencioun
entende
entente
er
erste
ese, eyse
esy
estat, estaat
ete
everemo, evermoo
everiche
everydele, everydeel
expounen, expowne
expres
example
intention, purpose
to plan, intend, strive
purpose, intention
before, formerly
before, earlier
ease, comfort
comfortable
state, condition; rank, social status
to eat
always, continually
every, each
wholly, completely
to explain, expound
clearly, explicitly
F
face
faile, faylen
fair
fame
fantasye
fare
faste
fecche
feyne
feith
fel, felle
fer, far
feste, feeste
fyn
fynde
flessh
flour
foo
folwe
forme, fourme
forsothe
fortune
foryeve
foule, fowle
fre
fresshe
fruyt
face, expression, appearance
to fail, disappoint
well, neatly, couteously, pleasantly
reputation (good or bad)
imagination; fancy, desire
to go; act, behave
tightly, closely
to fetch, bring
to make up, invent, devise
religious belief; loyalty
fierce, cruel
far, remote, at a distance
to feast, dine
end, conclusion, outcome
to find, discover
human flesh; body; meat
flower; virginity
foe, enemy
to follow
shape, form, appearance
truly, indeed
chance, accident, destiny; Fortune (personified)
to forgive
ugly
free, of noble status
new, unfaded, young;lovely;vigorous
fruit; product, result
G
gaye
gentil
joyous, merry
noble, well-born
gerdoun
gyde
gyse
gladde
gon, goon
goodliche
gost, goost
gostly, goostly
gossip
governaunce
grace, gras
gramercy
graunte
grete, greet
grevaunce
grone, groone
grucche
reward
to lead, direct
custom, manner
joyful, happy
to walk
excellent, beautiful, pleasing
spirit, mind; Holy Spirit; demon
spiritually, devoutly
god-parent; close friend
control, government; behaviour, manner
divine favour; providence
thank you
to grant, allow
big, large; excellent, important
annoyance, pain, sorrow
to groan, complain
to complain, bear a grudge
H
hap
hardily, hardely
han
hede, heed, heved
heigh, heye
hele, heele
hende
hente
herberwe
herye
herken
hertely
heste, heeste
hete, heete, hote
hevene
hevye
hewe
hidouse
hye
hol, hoole
hom, hoom, ham
honde
honge, hange
hote, hoote, hat
hoten
housbondrye
chance, fortune, luck
certainly, surely; boldly
to have
head
high, lofty
health, wellbeing; prosperity; salvation
courteous, gracious, pleasant
to seize, grasp
dwelling place; harbour
to praise, worship
to listen to, hear
heartily, sincerely
command, commandment; vow, promise
heat
heaven
heavy; sad, gloomy
colour, complexion
hideous, terrible
to hasten, hurry
whole, entire; unhurt, healthy
home
hand
to hang
hot; intense, eager
to be named, be called
careful management, economy
I / Y (used as a vowel)
ich, y
I (personal pronoun)
ydele
ylyke
in, inne
ynogh, ynough, ynowe
ire
irous
ysee
ywis
futile, worthless
alike, equal, the same
in, within
enough, sufficient
anger, irritability
angry
to see
indeed, surely
J
jalouse, jelous
jape (n)
japen (v)
joly, jolyf
jolitee
jugen, juggen
juste
jealous
trick, joke
to joke, jest; deceive, mock
merry, cheerful, playful; pretty, attractive
merriment, pleasure; passion; attractiveness
to judge
fair; exact
K
kene, keene
kynde
kyndely, kyndelich
kirtel, kirtle
knave
knytte, knette
kunne, cunne
kunnynge, connynge
bold, fierce; keen, sharp
nature, humankind, natural form; sort, species
natural
tunic, simple gown
boy, male child; servant; peasant, villain
to join, fasten together
to know, be informed about; know how to
ability, skill; knowledge, understanding; intelligence
L
labour
lay
lak, lakke
langage
lappe
large
lasse, lesse
laud
leche
leye, leggen
lemman, leman
lere, leere
lesen, leesen
lewed, lewde
lyen, liggen
lyf
lyke, lyche
londe
effort, work
religious law, doctrine, belief
lack, want; flaw, fault
language, speech, words
loose part of a garment, hem; pocket
generous, bountiful
less
praise
physician, healer
to lay, place
loved one, sweetheart, mistress
to learn
to lose
ignorant, uneducated
to lie, recline, remain
life
like, similar to
country, kingdom; farmland; land, the earth
loth, looth
lowe, logh, lough
lust, lest, list
lusty
displeasing, hateful
low, short; quiet, soft; low in rank, humble
desire, wish; object of desire
pleasing; vigorous, lively; eager
M
mageste
maydenhede
maister
maistrye
make
manace
manere, maneere
matere, mateere
maugree, malgre
mede, meede
meynee
merye, murye, myrie
mervayle, mervaille
meschaunce
meschief
myght
mo
moeven
morwenynge
mot, moot
mowe
muche, moche, myche
majesty
virginity
master; teacher
mastery, dominion; skill; admirable achievement
mate, spouse
menace
manner, form, shape; way, means, method
physical matter; business, subject matter
despite, in spite of
payment, reward; bribe
household, attendants; troop of followers
merry, cheerful, pleasant
marvel, wonder
misfortune, bad luck
trouble, misfortune
power, strength
more, others
to move
morning, dawn
must
to be able
much, greatly
N
nay
nameliche
namo
namoore
narwe
nat
natheles, nathelees
nede, neede
nempne
nye, nyghe, neigh
noo
noyse
nombre, noumbre (n)
nombren, noumbre (v)
nones, nonys
norice
O
no
namely, especially
no more, no other
no more, never again
narrow, small
not
none the less, nevertheless
need, necessity
to name
near; nearly
no (very emphatic)
noise, sound, clamour
number
to count
occasion; that time, then
to nourish
o
o, oo
obeisant, obeisaunt
obeisaunce
observance, observaunce
occasioun
office
offren
oft, ofte
olde, oold
on, oon
ones, onis, oones
ordinaunce
orison, orisoun
outen
outherwhile
owen
on
one
obedient
homage, act of obedience
duty; ceremony, rite, custom
cause
employment; role, function; religious rite
to make a regious offering
often, frequent, repeated
ols, aged
one
once
decree, order
prayer
display, make public
sometimes
to owe; own; ought to
P
page
payen
paraventure, paraunter
pardee, pardieux
parfit
parten
pas, paas
passioun
peyne, payne
peple, puple, pepil
perce
pes, pees
pile
piled
pyne
plat, platte
pleye
pleyne, playne
pleyne, playn
plesaunce
poure, powren
poure, povere
prechen
preyen, prayen
pres, prees
prest, preest
preve, preeve
pryme
prys
servant, serving boy
to pay
perhaps, by chance
by God! indeed!
perfect, complete
to divide, share, separate
pace, speed
passion, suffering, martyrdom; feeling, emotion
punishment, penalty; pain; effort
people
to pierce
peace
to rob, plunder
bald; thin, scanty
pain, misery
flat, blunt
amusement, game
to lament, complain
clear, simple, sincere
pleasure, amusement, delight
to gaze intently, pore over; peep
poor
to preach
to pray, beseech, plead
crowd, throng
priest
to test; prove, demonstrate
6.00am; the hours from 6.00-9.00am
price, value; prize, reward
pryve, privy
propre
purveiaunce
secret; private, confidential
(one’s) own; individual, peculiar
foresight, providence; arrangement, preparations
Q
quake
queynte
quelle
quyke
quiten
to tremble
ingenious, clever; tricky, contrived; pleasing thing
to kill
living, lively
to pay; reward; pay back, be avenged
R
rathere, rathir
recchelees
red, reed (n)
red, reed (v)
redy
refut
regne, reigne
rekene, rekne
remembraunce
reneye
renne
renoun
repaire
repreven
requeren
resoun, reson, raison
retourne
reule, rewle (n)
reulen (v)
reven
rewen
riche
roial, real
route, rowte
routhe, rowthe
routhelees
rowne
rude
earlier, sooner; rather
reckless, careless, negligent
advice, counsel
to read, study; advise
ready
refuge
kingdom, country
to recount, tell; reckon, calculate
memory
to renounce
to run
renown, fame
return
to blame, reprove
to ask, request
reason, judgement
to return
rule; code of behaviour
to rule, govern; conduct oneself
to rob, steal, take away
to have mercy on, feel pity for
rich, wealthy, splendid
royal
company, crowd
pity, compassion; pitiful sight or occurrence
without compassion, pitiless
to whisper
rough, wild; humble, ignorant
S
sad, sadde
sal
sapience
sauf
savacioun
serious, sober; steadfast, trustworthy
shall, must
wisdom
safe, secure; except for, save for
salvation; safety, preservation
savynge
savour
sawe
scathe, skathe
science
secree
seyn, seyen
seken
selde, seeld
sely
selve
semblaunt
semely, semly
sentence
seson, sesoun
seuretee, seurtee
shamefast, schamefast
shende, sheend
shette
shrewe
syde
sike, siken
siker
sikerly
syn
sithe, sithen
sklendre, sclendre
slen, sleen
sleighe
sleighte, slyghte, sleghte
slepen
smal, smale
smyten
sobre
sodeyn
softe
sojourne
solace
solempne
somdel, somdeel
somtyme
sondry
sone, soone
sore, soore
sorwe
sothe, soothe
soveraynetee
speche
spede
spende
except for
taste; smell
saying; speech, what is said
misfortune, pity
knowledge, branch of learning
secret, confidential information
to say
to seek, look for
seldom
innocent; hapless, wretched, poor
same
semblance, outward appearance
seemly; impressive
meaning, significance; theme; opinion, decision
season
safety, security; pledge, collateral, guarantee
modest; embarrassed
to ruin, destroy
to shut
scoundrel
side; behalf
to sigh
safe; sure, true, certain
truly, certainly
since
since, since that time
lean, slender; weak, feeble
to slay, kill
sly, cunning
trickery, cunning; adroitness, skill; ingenious plan, trick
to sleep
small
to strike; cut
grave, serious; sober, abstemious
sudden, unforeseen
gently, tenderly, easily
to remain, dwell
to comfort, give pleasure
splendid, impressive; dignified, important
somewhat
once, formerly; sometimes, at times
various, differing
soon, quickly, immediately
sore, painful
sorrow, lamentation
truth
sovereignty, mastery
speech, talk, conversation
to succeed, prosper; hasten, hurry; help, give success to
to spend, expend; pass time
spille
sprynge
stat, statt
sterte
sterve
stevene
stif
stille
stynte
ston, stoon
stonde
stounde
straunge, estraunge
streit
stryve
subtil, subtille, soutil
suffisaunt
suffre, soffre
swich, siche
swynke
swithe
swoote, swote
to put to death, kill; die
to spring, rise up, leap
condition, rank, estate
to move suddenly or vigorously; leap; tremble
to die
voice
strong, hard
motionless, still; quiet, silent
to stop, cease (talking or an activity); hesitate, delay
stone, gem; testicle
to stand
time, period of time
foreign, strange, unknown; distant, unfriendly
narrow, small
to quarrel, contend
ingenious, skillful
sufficient
to allow, permit; endure, suffer
such
to work, labour
quickly, immediately
sweet, sweet-smelling
T
tarien
teche
tellen
thef, theef
ther, theere thare
therwith
thikke
thogh
thral, thrall
tyde
too
to-breke
tobreste
togidres, togedere
tomorwe
tonne
tormentour
touche
toune
travaille, travayle
tresoun, treson, traisoun
tretee
trete
trew, trewe
trouthe, treuthe
to delay, keep someone waiting; waste time
to teach
to tell; count
thief
there, where
with that, whereupon, immediately
thick, dense; stout, sturdy
though, although
enslaved
tide (of the sea); time
toe
to break in pieces, shatter
to break in pieces, shatter
together
tomorrow
barrel, cask
tormentor, torturer
to touch; touch upon, be concerned with
town
effort, work;suffering
treason, treachery
treaty, agreement; discussion, negotiation
to speak about, discuss; negotiate
true, faithful, honest
loyalty to one’s word, fidelity; truth, truthfulness
U
undirtake
unkynde
unkonnynge, unconnyng
unnethe
unsely, unseely
untrewe
unwar
usage
to undertake, begin an enterprise; declare, affirm, assert
unnatural, cruel
ignorant, unskillful
hardly, scarcely
unfortunate, unhappy
unfaithful, untrustworthy
unexpected, unexpectedly
custom
V
vanysshe
veyne, vayne
vengeaunce
venquysse
verray, veray
verraily, verrayliche
vertu
viage
vileynye, vilanye
vitaille
voyden
voys
to vanish, waste away
idle, foolish
revenge, punishment
to vanquish
true, faithful; genuine, real; pure, sheer; truly
truly
power; moral excellence, virtue
journey, expedition; business, undertaking
rudeness; shame, disgrace; evil, harm, injury
food
to expel, remove, get rid of, empty
voice
W
wayke, weyk
waille, waylen
wayte
wake
wanhope
war, ware
wede, weede
weder, wedir
wey, weye
weylaway, welaway
weyve
wel, wele, weel
welken, wolken
welle
wenche
wenden
wenen, weene
wexen, waxen
whan, whanne
wherefor
whil
weak
to wail lament; bewail, bemoan
to wait, watch for; expect, desire
to be or remain awake; pray all night
despair
beware; take notice of
clothes, clothing
weather
path, road; way, manner, means
alas!
to abandon, give up
well; very much; very
sky
well, spring; source
girl, young woman (of low birth); servant girl
to travel, go, leave
to suppose, think, expect
to grow, increase
when
why, for which reason
time, a short time
whit
whoso, whooso
wy
wyd
wydwe, widewe
wight
wyke, wowke, weke
wykke
wyle
wilne
wynde
wynnen
wys
wisly, wisely
wit
wite
withal, withalle
withstonden
witnesse
wo, woo
wod, wode, wood
woodnesse, wodnesse
wombe
wommanhede
wone (n)
wone, wonen (v)
worthy
wrappe
wrecche
wreye, wrie
wreken
wrothe, wroothe
white; innocent, pure
whoever, anyone
why, indeed
wide, roomy
widow
creature, person, being
week
wicked, evil; miserable
stratagem, trick
to wish, desire
to wind, twist; clasp, wrap
to win, conquer, earn
wise, prudent
certainly, surely
mind; intelligence, judgement
to know
withal, indeed
to withstand, resist
testimony, evidence
woe
mad, crazy
madness
belly, womb
femininity, womanliness
custom, habit
to dwell
respectable, worthy; distinguished, excellent
to wrap, cover, conceal
wretch, miserable person; exile
to reveal, betray
to avenge, revenge oneself
angry
Y
yelden
yeman
yer, yeere
yerde, yeerd
yerne
yeve
yift, yefte
yis
yond
yong, yonge
yore, yoore
to pay; yield, surrender, give up
yeoman, free-born servant; official
year
yard, garden
quickly
to give
gift
yes (emphatic)
yonder
young
long ago, formerly