I don't use Google Translate very often, unless I'm stuck on a language I don't know (and even then I take the translation with a grain of salt). Part of the problem is that the languages are modern usage, not medieval usage.
Instead, I try to find the words or phrases in context-sensitive dictionaries where they give you a list of classical and medieval texts that include the words. This way you can see where they were used in sentences at particular points in history. Often there are four or five example sentences by different writers.
These are excellent language resources.
If I can't find the words or phrases in context-sensitive dictionaries, then I go to Google Books and set the time frame to books published before 1600 or 1550 or 1500 (it depends on the subject matter) and I search within books.
I've discovered there are many words used by a variety of authors that aren't catalogued in language dictionaries but appear to have been common in a certain time or place.
Instead, I try to find the words or phrases in context-sensitive dictionaries where they give you a list of classical and medieval texts that include the words. This way you can see where they were used in sentences at particular points in history. Often there are four or five example sentences by different writers.
These are excellent language resources.
If I can't find the words or phrases in context-sensitive dictionaries, then I go to Google Books and set the time frame to books published before 1600 or 1550 or 1500 (it depends on the subject matter) and I search within books.
I've discovered there are many words used by a variety of authors that aren't catalogued in language dictionaries but appear to have been common in a certain time or place.