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 in bed; to bed
abhomynable disgusting, detestable
abyde to wait, be patient
abye, abegge, abeye to pay for
accompte, acounte to count, reckon up, evaluate
accordaunt in accord with
acomplice to fulfill, satisfy
adoun downwards, down, below
aferd, afered afraid
affeccioun emotion, feeling, desire
afferme confirm
affraye (n) assault; outcry, uproar; fear
affraye (v) to startle, frighten, disturb
agaynward, ayenward back again
agaste to frighten; be frightened
ay always, forever; progressively
algate, algatis in all ways, entirely; all the time, continuously
als also, moreover; as
amende to remedy, correct; make amends
amyd, amydde in the middle of
amorwe in the morning; the next morning
anyght at night; by night
anon, anoon at once, straight away
apayd, apayed pleased, satisfied
aperceyve to perceive; comprehend
apert, appert plain, clear; not secret
aperteneth befits, is suitable to; concerns
areste, arresten to stop; seize, restrain
aright correctly, truly
array, aray preparation; arrangement; condition, appearance
assaye, asay to test, tempt
auctorite, autorite legal power; authority
avaunt, avant to boast
avysioun, avision dream, vision

B

bale suffering, misery
benedicite (may God) bless you
benygne, benyngne gracious, kind; mild (weather)
berd beard; joke, trick
bet better, more
bidde to ask, beg; pray
byde to stay, remain, wait
bye, beye to buy, purchase
bifalle, befalle to befall, happen
biforn, byfore before, previously
bigyle, begyle to deceive, defraud, betray
biheste, biheeste promise
bisy, besy active, busy; occupied
bysynesse, besynesse work, activity, task
bistowe to give, bestow
bitake, betake to give, grant, hand over; entrust
bithynke, bethynke to think, reflect, imagine
bytymes, betyme soon, quickly
biwreye, bewrye to betray; reveal
bone, boone request, prayer
borwe to borrow
bote, boote advantage, help, benefit; relief, remedy
bounte, bownte goodness, virtue; kindness, benevolence
brenne to burn
breste to break, burst
bryd, bridd, byrde bird; girl, sweetheart
brode, brood wide, broad; large, spacious

C

cache, cacche, kacchen to grasp, seize
cas, caas situation, circumstance
caste to throw
chaffare trade, business; merchandise
charite Christian virtue of love, charity
chaunge to change, vary
chere, cheere face; appearance, manner; good humour, kindness
cherl rough, common man
chese, cheese to choose, select
chide to criticize, scold
clene, cleene clean; pure, chaste
clepe to speak, say, call out; call ( a name)
clere bright, shining
compaignye, companye group; fellowship
comunly, communely commonly, ordinarily
confort, counfort (n) assurance, consolation; pleasure, delight
conforte, comforte (v) to encourage; console
conseil, counceil (n) a meeting, council; body of advisors
conseile, counceilen (v) to teach, instruct; persuade, advise
constreyne to compel, force
contenance, countenaunce behaviour; appearance
corage, courage heart, feelings; desire, determination; courage
coroune crown, garland
cors body, corpse
coveite to covet, desire
covenable suitable, appropriate
curteis courtly, refined, courteous
curteisie, curtesye courtliness, good manners

D

daliaunce sociable conversation; flirting
dampnable damnable, worthy of condemnation
debat, debaat quarrel, dispute; conflict
debonaire gracious, courteous; also, a gracious person
dede, deede action, deed
deef deaf
deye, dye to die
deme, deeme make a judgement, give a verdict
departe to separate, divide, break up
dere, deere honoured, dear, excellent, fine; expensive
derke dark
despit, dispit disdain, scorn
destourbe to hinder, prevent
dethe, deeth death
devyne to guess, conjecture
dighte to prespare, arrange
digne suitable, fitting; honourable; proud, haughty
dignite worthiness, excellence
dynt, dent loud clap (of thunder)
disclaundre to defame, denounce
discrecioun sound judgement
dispende, despende to spend, waste (money, time)
dispoillen despoile to undress, strip; rob
disport, desport amusement, fun, pleasure
dom, doom judgement, opinion
doute uncertainty, doubt
draughte drink
drede, dreede (n) fear, anxiety
drede to be afraid; hold in awe or reverence
drenche to drown, sink, flood
dresse to place, put, arrange

E

eft again, another time; immediately
eke, eek also
elde, eelde age; old age
elles, ellis otherwise, else
emprise enterprise; difficult task
encres, encrees increase, growth
endite to write, compose
ensample, ensaumple example
entencioun intention, purpose
entende to plan, intend, strive
entente purpose, intention
er before, formerly
erste before, earlier
ese, eyse ease, comfort
esy comfortable
estat, estaat state, condition; rank, social status
ete to eat
everemo, evermoo always, continually
everiche every, each
everydele, everydeel wholly, completely
expounen, expowne to explain, expound
expres clearly, explicitly

F

face face, expression, appearance
faile, faylen to fail, disappoint
fair well, neatly, couteously, pleasantly
fame reputation (good or bad)
fantasye imagination; fancy, desire
fare to go; act, behave
faste tightly, closely
fecche to fetch, bring
feyne to make up, invent, devise
feith religious belief; loyalty
fel, felle fierce, cruel
fer, far far, remote, at a distance
feste, feeste to feast, dine
fyn end, conclusion, outcome
fynde to find, discover
flessh human flesh; body; meat
flour flower; virginity
foo foe, enemy
folwe to follow
forme, fourme shape, form, appearance
forsothe truly, indeed
fortune chance, accident, destiny; Fortune (personified)
foryeve to forgive
foule, fowle ugly
fre free, of noble status
fresshe new, unfaded, young;lovely;vigorous
fruyt fruit; product, result

G

gaye joyous, merry
gentil noble, well-born
gerdoun reward
gyde to lead, direct
gyse custom, manner
gladde joyful, happy
gon, goon to walk
goodliche excellent, beautiful, pleasing
gost, goost spirit, mind; Holy Spirit; demon
gostly, goostly spiritually, devoutly
gossip god-parent; close friend
governaunce control, government; behaviour, manner
grace, gras divine favour; providence
gramercy thank you
graunte to grant, allow
grete, greet big, large; excellent, important
grevaunce annoyance, pain, sorrow
grone, groone to groan, complain
grucche to complain, bear a grudge

H

hap chance, fortune, luck
hardily, hardely certainly, surely; boldly
han to have
hede, heed, heved head
heigh, heye high, lofty
hele, heele health, wellbeing; prosperity; salvation
hende courteous, gracious, pleasant
hente to seize, grasp
herberwe dwelling place; harbour
herye to praise, worship
herken to listen to, hear
hertely heartily, sincerely
heste, heeste command, commandment; vow, promise
hete, heete, hote heat
hevene heaven
hevye heavy; sad, gloomy
hewe colour, complexion
hidouse hideous, terrible
hye to hasten, hurry
hol, hoole whole, entire; unhurt, healthy
hom, hoom, ham home
honde hand
honge, hange to hang
hote, hoote, hat hot; intense, eager
hoten to be named, be called
housbondrye careful management, economy

I / Y (used as a vowel)

ich, y I (personal pronoun)
ydele futile, worthless
ylyke alike, equal, the same
in, inne in, within
ynogh, ynough, ynowe enough, sufficient
ire anger, irritability
irous angry
ysee to see
ywis indeed, surely

J

jalouse, jelous jealous
jape (n) trick, joke
japen (v) to joke, jest; deceive, mock
joly, jolyf merry, cheerful, playful; pretty, attractive
jolitee merriment, pleasure; passion; attractiveness
jugen, juggen to judge
juste fair; exact

K

kene, keene bold, fierce; keen, sharp
kynde nature, humankind, natural form; sort, species
kyndely, kyndelich natural
kirtel, kirtle tunic, simple gown
knave boy, male child; servant; peasant, villain
knytte, knette to join, fasten together
kunne, cunne to know, be informed about; know how to
kunnynge, connynge ability, skill; knowledge, understanding; intelligence

L

labour effort, work
lay religious law, doctrine, belief
lak, lakke lack, want; flaw, fault
langage language, speech, words
lappe loose part of a garment, hem; pocket
large generous, bountiful
lasse, lesse less
laud praise
leche physician, healer
leye, leggen to lay, place
lemman, leman loved one, sweetheart, mistress
lere, leere to learn
lesen, leesen to lose
lewed, lewde ignorant, uneducated
lyen, liggen to lie, recline, remain
lyf life
lyke, lyche like, similar to
londe country, kingdom; farmland; land, the earth
loth, looth displeasing, hateful
lowe, logh, lough low, short; quiet, soft; low in rank, humble
lust, lest, list desire, wish; object of desire
lusty pleasing; vigorous, lively; eager

M

mageste majesty
maydenhede virginity
maister master; teacher
maistrye mastery, dominion; skill; admirable achievement
make mate, spouse
manace menace
manere, maneere manner, form, shape; way, means, method
matere, mateere physical matter; business, subject matter
maugree, malgre despite, in spite of
mede, meede payment, reward; bribe
meynee household, attendants; troop of followers
merye, murye, myrie merry, cheerful, pleasant
mervayle, mervaille marvel, wonder
meschaunce misfortune, bad luck
meschief trouble, misfortune
myght power, strength
mo more, others
moeven to move
morwenynge morning, dawn
mot, moot must
mowe to be able
muche, moche, myche much, greatly

N

nay no
nameliche namely, especially
namo no more, no other
namoore no more, never again
narwe narrow, small
nat not
natheles, nathelees none the less, nevertheless
nede, neede need, necessity
nempne to name
nye, nyghe, neigh near; nearly
noo no (very emphatic)
noyse noise, sound, clamour
nombre, noumbre (n) number
nombren, noumbre (v) to count
nones, nonys occasion; that time, then
norice to nourish

O

o on
o, oo one
obeisant, obeisaunt obedient
obeisaunce homage, act of obedience
observance, observaunce duty; ceremony, rite, custom
occasioun cause
office employment; role, function; religious rite
offren to make a regious offering
oft, ofte often, frequent, repeated
olde, oold ols, aged
on, oon one
ones, onis, oones once
ordinaunce decree, order
orison, orisoun prayer
outen display, make public
outherwhile sometimes
owen to owe; own; ought to

P

page servant, serving boy
payen to pay
paraventure, paraunter perhaps, by chance
pardee, pardieux by God! indeed!
parfit perfect, complete
parten to divide, share, separate
pas, paas pace, speed
passioun passion, suffering, martyrdom; feeling, emotion
peyne, payne punishment, penalty; pain; effort
peple, puple, pepil people
perce to pierce
pes, pees peace
pile to rob, plunder
piled bald; thin, scanty
pyne pain, misery
plat, platte flat, blunt
pleye amusement, game
pleyne, playne to lament, complain
pleyne, playn clear, simple, sincere
plesaunce pleasure, amusement, delight
poure, powren to gaze intently, pore over; peep
poure, povere poor
prechen to preach
preyen, prayen to pray, beseech, plead
pres, prees crowd, throng
prest, preest priest
preve, preeve to test; prove, demonstrate
pryme 6.00am; the hours from 6.00-9.00am
prys price, value; prize, reward
pryve, privy secret; private, confidential
propre (one’s) own; individual, peculiar
purveiaunce foresight, providence; arrangement, preparations

Q

quake to tremble
queynte ingenious, clever; tricky, contrived; pleasing thing
quelle to kill
quyke living, lively
quiten to pay; reward; pay back, be avenged

R

rathere, rathir earlier, sooner; rather
recchelees reckless, careless, negligent
red, reed (n) advice, counsel
red, reed (v) to read, study; advise
redy ready
refut refuge
regne, reigne kingdom, country
rekene, rekne to recount, tell; reckon, calculate
remembraunce memory
reneye to renounce
renne to run
renoun renown, fame
repaire return
repreven to blame, reprove
requeren to ask, request
resoun, reson, raison reason, judgement
retourne to return
reule, rewle (n) rule; code of behaviour
reulen (v) to rule, govern; conduct oneself
reven to rob, steal, take away
rewen to have mercy on, feel pity for
riche rich, wealthy, splendid
roial, real royal
route, rowte company, crowd
routhe, rowthe pity, compassion; pitiful sight or occurrence
routhelees without compassion, pitiless
rowne to whisper
rude rough, wild; humble, ignorant

S

sad, sadde serious, sober; steadfast, trustworthy
sal shall, must
sapience wisdom
sauf safe, secure; except for, save for
savacioun salvation; safety, preservation
savynge except for
savour taste; smell
sawe saying; speech, what is said
scathe, skathe misfortune, pity
science knowledge, branch of learning
secree secret, confidential information
seyn, seyen to say
seken to seek, look for
selde, seeld seldom
sely innocent; hapless, wretched, poor
selve same
semblaunt semblance, outward appearance
semely, semly seemly; impressive
sentence meaning, significance; theme; opinion, decision
seson, sesoun season
seuretee, seurtee safety, security; pledge, collateral, guarantee
shamefast, schamefast modest; embarrassed
shende, sheend to ruin, destroy
shette to shut
shrewe scoundrel
syde side; behalf
sike, siken to sigh
siker safe; sure, true, certain
sikerly truly, certainly
syn since
sithe, sithen since, since that time
sklendre, sclendre lean, slender; weak, feeble
slen, sleen to slay, kill
sleighe sly, cunning
sleighte, slyghte, sleghte trickery, cunning; adroitness, skill; ingenious plan, trick
slepen to sleep
smal, smale small
smyten to strike; cut
sobre grave, serious; sober, abstemious
sodeyn sudden, unforeseen
softe gently, tenderly, easily
sojourne to remain, dwell
solace to comfort, give pleasure
solempne splendid, impressive; dignified, important
somdel, somdeel somewhat
somtyme once, formerly; sometimes, at times
sondry various, differing
sone, soone soon, quickly, immediately
sore, soore sore, painful
sorwe sorrow, lamentation
sothe, soothe truth
soveraynetee sovereignty, mastery
speche speech, talk, conversation
spede to succeed, prosper; hasten, hurry; help, give success to
spende to spend, expend; pass time
spille to put to death, kill; die
sprynge to spring, rise up, leap
stat, statt condition, rank, estate
sterte to move suddenly or vigorously; leap; tremble
sterve to die
stevene voice
stif strong, hard
stille motionless, still; quiet, silent
stynte to stop, cease (talking or an activity); hesitate, delay
ston, stoon stone, gem; testicle
stonde to stand
stounde time, period of time
straunge, estraunge foreign, strange, unknown; distant, unfriendly
streit narrow, small
stryve to quarrel, contend
subtil, subtille, soutil ingenious, skillful
suffisaunt sufficient
suffre, soffre to allow, permit; endure, suffer
swich, siche such
swynke to work, labour
swithe quickly, immediately
swoote, swote sweet, sweet-smelling

T

tarien to delay, keep someone waiting; waste time
teche to teach
tellen to tell; count
thef, theef thief
ther, theere thare there, where
therwith with that, whereupon, immediately
thikke thick, dense; stout, sturdy
thogh though, although
thral, thrall enslaved
tyde tide (of the sea); time
too toe
to-breke to break in pieces, shatter
tobreste to break in pieces, shatter
togidres, togedere together
tomorwe tomorrow
tonne barrel, cask
tormentour tormentor, torturer
touche to touch; touch upon, be concerned with
toune town
travaille, travayle effort, work;suffering
tresoun, treson, traisoun treason, treachery
tretee treaty, agreement; discussion, negotiation
trete to speak about, discuss; negotiate
trew, trewe true, faithful, honest
trouthe, treuthe loyalty to one’s word, fidelity; truth, truthfulness

U

undirtake to undertake, begin an enterprise; declare, affirm, assert
unkynde unnatural, cruel
unkonnynge, unconnyng ignorant, unskillful
unnethe hardly, scarcely
unsely, unseely unfortunate, unhappy
untrewe unfaithful, untrustworthy
unwar unexpected, unexpectedly
usage custom

V

vanysshe to vanish, waste away
veyne, vayne idle, foolish
vengeaunce revenge, punishment
venquysse to vanquish
verray, veray true, faithful; genuine, real; pure, sheer; truly
verraily, verrayliche truly
vertu power; moral excellence, virtue
viage journey, expedition; business, undertaking
vileynye, vilanye rudeness; shame, disgrace; evil, harm, injury
vitaille food
voyden to expel, remove, get rid of, empty
voys voice

W

wayke, weyk weak
waille, waylen to wail lament; bewail, bemoan
wayte to wait, watch for; expect, desire
wake to be or remain awake; pray all night
wanhope despair
war, ware beware; take notice of
wede, weede clothes, clothing
weder, wedir weather
wey, weye path, road; way, manner, means
weylaway, welaway alas!
weyve to abandon, give up
wel, wele, weel well; very much; very
welken, wolken sky
welle well, spring; source
wenche girl, young woman (of low birth); servant girl
wenden to travel, go, leave
wenen, weene to suppose, think, expect
wexen, waxen to grow, increase
whan, whanne when
wherefor why, for which reason
whil time, a short time
whit white; innocent, pure
whoso, whooso whoever, anyone
wy why, indeed
wyd wide, roomy
wydwe, widewe widow
wight creature, person, being
wyke, wowke, weke week
wykke wicked, evil; miserable
wyle stratagem, trick
wilne to wish, desire
wynde to wind, twist; clasp, wrap
wynnen to win, conquer, earn
wys wise, prudent
wisly, wisely certainly, surely
wit mind; intelligence, judgement
wite to know
withal, withalle     withal, indeed
withstonden to withstand, resist
witnesse testimony, evidence
wo, woo woe
wod, wode, wood mad, crazy
woodnesse, wodnesse madness
wombe belly, womb
wommanhede femininity, womanliness
wone (n) custom, habit
wone, wonen (v) to dwell
worthy respectable, worthy; distinguished, excellent
wrappe to wrap, cover, conceal
wrecche wretch, miserable person; exile
wreye, wrie to reveal, betray
wreken to avenge, revenge oneself
wrothe, wroothe angry

Y

yelden to pay; yield, surrender, give up
yeman yeoman, free-born servant; official
yer, yeere year
yerde, yeerd yard, garden
yerne quickly
yeve to give
yift, yefte gift
yis yes (emphatic)
yond yonder
yong, yonge young
yore, yoore long ago, formerly