- •L. Tsvet History of the English Language
- •Preface
- •General characteristics
- •1. The history of English as a subject
- •2. Britain under the Romans. Celtic tribes
- •3. The Anglo-Saxon invasion
- •4. Periods of the history of English
- •5. The heptarchy
- •6. The Scandinavians in Britain.
- •Phonological system
- •Correlation of Old English and Gothic Vowels
- •4. The system of consonants.
- •5. Changes in the system of consonants.
- •Morphology. Parts of speech
- •Personal Pronouns
- •Declension of Personal Pronouns
- •1. Verbal categories.
- •2. Strong verbs.
- •Conjugation of oe Strong Verbs
- •3. Weak verbs.
- •The conjugation of the oe verbs dōn and willan
- •Syntax and word stock
- •1. Oe sentence and word order
- •2. Etymology of oe vocabulary
- •1. Borrowings into proto-West-Germanic
- •3. Oe word-formation
- •General characteristics
- •The Scandinavian invasion.
- •The Norman French conquest.
- •Bilingual situation in the country.
- •Prevalence of English over French.
- •Me orthography.
- •Middle english phonetical system
- •Vocalism.
- •Consonantism.
- •Formation of new diphthongs.
- •Morphology
- •3. The Adjective
- •Weak verbs in Middle English
- •Conjugation
- •The Passive Voice.
- •Evolution of the literary english language
- •The reader
- •Beowolf
- •XXII. The Pursuit
- •Alfred the great
- •Wulfstan’s narrative
- •From ohtere’s account of his first vouage
- •Geoffrey chaucer
- •The canterbery tales
- •Symbols
- •Literature
Geoffrey chaucer
c.1340-1400
Geoffrey Chaucer, the greatest Middle English writer, was born in London about 1340. His father was a well-to-do burgher, by occupation a wine-merchant. In 1359 and 1360 Chaucer was in the English army in France, and was taken prisoner in the latter year, only to be released by payment of a ransom to which the King himself contributed a substantial sum.
In 1372 he went to Italy to negotiate a commercial treaty with Genoa. He was thus introduced to Italian life and culture first-hand; but that he met either Petrarch or Boccaccio has never been shown. Upon his return to England he was given a dwelling at Aldgate, London where he lived for the next twelve years.
In 1386 he gave up his residence at Aldgate as well as his office of Comptroller of Customs and Subsidy of Wools, Skins and Hides. He retired to Kent, and took up for a time the life of a country gentleman, being a justice of the peace in Kent and Member of Parliament in 1386.
Chaucer’s writings fall into three periods: the period of French influence (1359-1372), in which he uses the octosyllabilic couplet; to this period belongs “the Boke of the Duchesse”, 1369; the period of Italian influence, especially of Dante and Boccaccio, 1372-1386, in which he leaves off the octosyllabic couplet and uses mainly the heroic stanza of seven lines; to this period belong: ”The house of Fame”, “The Parliament of Foules”, “Troilus and Chryseyde”, “The Legende of Good Women”; the period of his maturity, the English period, 1386-1400, in which he uses the heroic couplet. To this period belong the “Canterbury Tales”, designed about 1387. In connection with the writing of this framework he went to Canterbury on a pilgrimage in April 1388.
“The Canterbury Tales”, comprising about 17 000 lines, is Chaucer’s greatest work. The main Prologue is especially interesting for the vivid picture it presents of contemporary life. A party of twenty nine (eventually thirty-one) pilgrims are assembled at the Tabard Inn, Southwark, about to travel to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury and of each of those the poet draws a striking portrait. They are the following:
1 Knight, 2 Squire, 3 Yoman (servant), 4 Prioress, 5 Nun, 6, 7, 8 Three Priests 9 Monk, 10 Friar, 11 Merchant, 12 Clerk of Oxford, 13 Franklin (free-holder), 14 Sergeant of Law, 15 Haberdasher, 16 Carpenter, 17 Webbe (weaver), |
18 Dyer 19 Tapicer (Marker of tapestry), 20 Cook, 21 Shipman (Sailor), 22 Doctor of Physic, 23 Wife of Bath, 24 Parson (parish priest), 25 Ploughman, 26 Miller, 27 Manciple (steward), 28 Reeve (bailiff), 29 Summoner, 30 Pardoner, 31 Chaucer himself.11
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The canterbery tales
1386
THE PROLOGUE (a modernised version)
The opening is a long, elaborate sentence about the effects of Spring on the vegetable and animal world, and on people. The style of the rest of the Prologue and Tales is much simpler than this opening.
When that April with his showers soote its showers sweet
The drought of March hath piercd to the root
And bathd every vein in such liquor rootlet / liquid
Of which virtúe engendered is the flower;2
5 When Zephyrus eke with his sweet breath West Wind also
Inspird hath in every holt and heath grove & field
The tender cropps, and the young sun young shoots / Spring sun
Hath in the Ram his half course y-run,3 in Aries / has run
And small fowls maken melody little birds
10 That sleepen all the night with open eye Who sleep
(So pricketh them Natúre in their couráges), spurs / spirits
Then longen folk to go on pilgrimáges, people long
And palmers for to seeken strang strands pilgrims / shores
To fern hallows couth in sundry lands,4 distant shrines known
15 And specially from every shir's end county's
Of England to Canterbury they wend go
The holy blissful martyr for to seek, St. Thomas Becket
That them hath holpen when that they were sick. Who has helped them
At the Tabard Inn, just south of London, the poet-pilgrim falls in with a group of twenty nine) other pilgrims who have met each other along the way.
Befell that in that season on a day It happened
20 In Southwark at The Tabard as I lay inn name / lodged
Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage to go
To Canterbury with full devout couráge, spirit, heart
At night was come into that hostelry inn
Well nine and twenty in a company fully 29
25 Of sundry folk by áventure y-fall by chance fallen ...
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all ...Into company
That toward Canterbury woulden ride. wished to
The chambers and the stables weren wide were roomy
And well we weren easd at the best. entertained
30 And shortly, when the sunn was to rest, sun had set
So had I spoken with them every one
That I was of their fellowship anon,
And mad forward early for to rise agreement
To take our way there as I you devise. I shall tell you
35 But natheless, while I have time and space, nevertheless
Ere that I further in this tal pace, Before I go
Methinketh it accordant to reason It seems to me
To tell you all the conditïon circumstances
Of each of them so as it seemd me, to me
40 And which they weren, and of what degree And who / social rank
And eke in what array that they were in; also / dress
And at a knight then will I first begin.
THE PROLOGUE (a 14-th century version)
Here bygynneth the Bock of the tales of Caunterbury
1 Whan that Aprille with his shores soote12
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour13
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
5 Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth14
The tendre croppes15, and the younge sonne16
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne17,
And smale foweles18 maken melodye,
10 That slepen al the nyght with open eye,-
So priketh hem Nature in hir corages19,-
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes20,
To ferne halwes21, kowthe22 in sondry londes;
15 And specially, from every shires ende
Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir23 for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
Bifil that in that seson on a day,
20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay,
Redy to wenden on my piligrimage
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
At nyght were come into that hostelrye.
Wel nyne-and-twenty in a compaignye,
25 Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambers and the stables weren wyde,
And wel we weren esed ate beste.24
30 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
So hadde I spoken with hem everychon,
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
And made forward erly for to ryse,
To take oure way, ther as I yow devyse25.
35 But nathelees, whyl I have tyme and space,
Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
Me thynketh it accordaunt to resound
To telle yow al the condicioun
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
40 And whiche they were, and of what degree,
And eek in what array that they were inne:
And at a knyghte than wol I first begynner.
W.Shakespeare “Love's Labour's Lost”
Love's Labour's Lost dates from 1593-4, and is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies. It appeared at the height of the "inkhorn controversy", and the passage quoted can only be understood in the context of contemporary debates about the nature of the vernacular (see 5.105). The passage selected here is a satire on the extremes of behaviour which appear to have resulted from the controversy. The character Holofernes (a schoolmaster = "Pedant") represents the skilled practitioner of "inkhornisms", while Nathaniel (= "Curate") is the admiring student, making notes for future reference (thus the stage-direction Draw out his Table-booke).
The discussion of the relationship between spelling and pronunciation is interesting, since it explains such PDE oddities as DEBT, DOUBT. The ME forms of these words were dette, doute respectively; the B in the PDE spelling derives from Elizabethan hypercorrection based on Latin debitum, dubitum. Holofernes's veneration for written Latin is such that he wishes these words to be pronounced with the Latin-derived hypercorrect consonants.
Lines 24-5 are corrupt in the First Folio. P. Alexander ed., The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Glasgow: Collins, 1951) reads: Hol. 'Bone'?- 'bone' for 'bene'. Priscian a little scratch'd; 'twill serve. The reference to Priscian, clearly not understood by the printers of the First Folio, is to the sixth-century Latin grammarian Priscianus, whose works on the Latin language, notably the Institutiones grammaticae, were immensely influential throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Actus Quartus Enter the Pedant, Curate and Dull Pedant. Satis quid sufficit. Curat. I praise God for you sir, your reasons at dinner haue beene sharpe & sententious: pleasant without scurrillity, witty without affection, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresie: I did conuerse this quondam day with a companion of the Kings, who is intituled, nominated, or called, Dom Adriano de Armatha. Ped. Noui hominum tanquam te, His humour is lofty, his discourse peremptorie: his tongue filed, his eye ambitious, his gate maiesticall, and his generall behauiour vaine, ridiculous, and thrasonical. He is too picked, too spruce, too affected, too odde, as it were, too peregrinat, as I may call it. Curat. A most singular and choise Epithat, Draw out his Table-booke, Peda. He draweth out the thred of his verbositie, finer than the staple of his argument. I abhor such phanaticall phantasims, such insociable and poynt deuise companions, such rackers of ortagriphie, as to speake dout fine, when he should say doubt; det, when he shold pronounce debt; d e b t, not det: he clepeth a Calf, Caufe: halfe, hawfe; neighbour vocatur nebour; neigh abreuiated ne: this is abhominable, which he would call abhominable: it insinuateth me of infamie: ne inteligis domine, to make franticke, lunaticke? Cura. Laus deo, bene intelligo. Peda. Bome boon for boon prescian, a little scratcht, `twil serue.
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reasons: REMARKS sententious: PITHY; pleasant: JOCULAR affection: AFFECTATION opinion: ARROGANCE; strange: FRESH intituled: RANKED
(peremptorie: OVERBEARING; filed: POLISHED ambitious: DESIRING thrasonical: BOASTFUL, from the Latin personal name Thraso (see Terence, Eunuchus) peregrinat: PEDANTIC verbosity: ELOQUENCE staple: FIBRE phantasims: FANTASTIC BEINGS poynt deuise: EXTREMELY PRECISE rackers: TORTURERS fine: MINCINGLY insinuateth: IMPLIES
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A
xfter adv., prp., after |
aZen a., own |
ān, num., one |
and prn., and |
æniZ prn., any |
ær adv., prp., ere |
xt prp., at |
B
bxk-bord na, left side of a ship |
bæl na, bale |
be-, bi-, (pref) - be- |
bēaZ pt. sg., see buZan |
be-bēodan str. 2, bid, command |
be-bycZan w. 1, pay, exchange, buy & sell |
bēon an. v. (prep. ag. beo, bist, bith, pl. beoth; pt. wxs, etc. from wesan) be |
beorZ not used in litersture between the 14th and 16th cent., barrow (burial-mound); mountain, hill; barrow |
beorht, briht, bryht bright |
bī, biZ adv. & prep. (dat., instr), bi, (usu.) be, prp., near, along, by (place, time, accordance, means); concerning, according to |
biorh = beorZ |
byrne fa, corslet, coat of mail |
bord na, board (plank, table): side of a ship; shield |
brentinZ ma, ship |
brēost, fo. / na, breast |
brēost-Ze-hyZd, fi., thought |
brim na, brim |
brūcan str.2, brook: use, enjoy |
būan an. v. (pt. būde w., pp. Zebūn, - būd) (intr.) stay, dwell |
būZan str.2 bend (usu. intr.), stoop, give way, turn, bow |
būtan adv., prp., but; outside, of, about, besides, except |
būton = būtan |
C, K & Q
cēosan str.2 (pt. pl, curon, pp. Ze-coren) choose (pt. chose, pp. chosen) |
cyn’ nja. kin, kind; tribe, clan, people; kin, generation |
cyninZ, cynZ ma, king |
cyr’, cir’ mi, turn, occasion, time; char |
cyrran, cirran wi, char, turn, change; return (intr.) |
cunnan pt.-prs. (prs. sg. can, canst, can, pt. cuþe w,; pp. cunnon. Ze- & a. pp. cuþe) can, pt. could (coude): know, be able. |
cuþ a/pp, cude pt., see cunnan |
cweþan str. 5, quoth, say, speak |
D
dxZ ma, day |
dōm ma, doom, judgement, decree, sentence, doom; decision; condition |
dōn an. v.; do (pt. did, pp. done): do (as princip: v. and as a substitude for another v.) make, use, put, keep; concider; OE. Ze-don (perfective): (also) reach, arrive at. |
dorste pt., see durran |
drīvan str. 1, drive |
dryhten dri/, ma, lord, God |
durran pt.-pr. (prs. sg. dear, pl. durron; dorste w.) dare |
E
ēa f-root, an. - steam of water, river |
eal - al’, prn. & adv., all |
ealne-weZ, ealneZ, adv. always |
ēast adv. east |
ēast-rihte, -ry adv., ‘east-right’, due east, straight eastwards |
ēce a. eternal |
ellen na., zeal, courage, strength |
ende mja., end |
ende-lāf fo. last remnant, heritage |
eorl ma, earl: noble-man, chief, earl; man, brave. |
F
fandian w. 2 fond/: search out, explore, try; prove; tempt |
faran str. 6, fare, go, travel; fare; suffer; behave |
fēaw a & adv., few |
feor adv. & a., far |
feorran, -e, adv. &a; farren: from afar, at a distance, far away; far |
feorh-leZu, fīn/o. life |
fēower infl. num, four |
fif infl., num, five |
fyrrest adv./a, sup.; see fyr ‘adv. |
fiscoþ, /aþ ma. fishing |
flōd ma, flood: stream, flood, river; sea |
for-swāpan sr.7, sweep away, drive off |
forþ adv., forth: forward, away, continuously |
for-þæm cnj., therefore; for, because, since (reason), for-þæm-þē, etc, for, because: þæm /ā/,=dat & þon = inst., of þxt (see sē) |
fram adv. & prp., from: forth; away, from, since |
frxtwa, /e, fwo. pl., ornaments, treasures, armour (ornamented) |
frxtwian w. 2 & frxtwan w. 1, adorn |
frēa mn., lord, master |
fremman w. 1, advance (tr), promote, perform; benefit, do good |
frōd a., wise, old |
Z
Zaderian, Zadr/, w., 2 gather: Zador together; cf. (Ze-) Zada – comrade, companion |
Zār-wiZa mn., ‘spear-fighter’ warrior: fighter - wiZan, str.1 fight |
Ze-būn see būan |
Ze-mynd remembrance, memorial |
Ze-nip darkness, mist |
Zē nū, Zena adv., still, further |
ZeonZ, ZunZ, iu/, a., - young: “recent”; |
Zesealda, Zeselda subst. (one of the same dwelling) companion, comrade |
Ze-siZlan = siZlan |
Ze-strynan see strynan |
Ze-witan see witan |
Ze-wyrcan see wyrcan |
Zīet = Zyt |
Zylden a., golden |
Zyt adv., yet; still, besides, further, again |
Zōd a., good |
Zold-fāh, -fāZ, a., shining with gold |
Zomel a., old, aged, ancient |
H
hām me, home |
hāt a., hot |
hatan str. 7, name, order, command, vow, promise; (pass) be called |
hē prn., he (obj. him) |
heah a., (acc. m. heane, /hne) high |
healf fa, half |
heals/ a/ ma, neck, throat |
heaþo-mære a., ‘battle-famuos’, renowned/ famed in battles |
heaþo-wylm mi., ‘battle-swelling’, fierce flame: w. boiling swelling, stream, billow; ardour; -weallan str. 7 seethe, toss |
helm ma., helm: protector, helmet |
hēr adv., here |
his,/y/ prn. 3. sg., m./n. gen. se hē (m.) & hit (n) |
hit prn. 3. sg. n. (dat. hine, gen. his, acc. & dat. also refl.) 1. hit - it, (obj.) & 2. his (uninflected it also used as poss.) its: -hi- (see hē) |
hlaford ma., lord; master, lord |
hlæw, hlāw m/na ( -low in place-names; as Triplow): hill, mound: burial mound, barrow |
hlifian w. 2, rise high, overhang |
hord na., hoard; ‘treasure” |
hreþer na.,bosom, heart |
hrinZ ma, ring; circle |
hū adv., how |
huntoþ ma, hunting; what is caught by hunting, game |
hrones-nxss - proper name, “whale’s cape”, “whalle’s head-land, - bluff” |
hwxl-hunta mn., “whalle-fisher, whaler |
hwxþer adv., prn., cnj., whether (prn., which of two): OE: which of two; whether |
hwōn a, &adv., little, few; a little, somewhat |
I
ic prn. 1. sg. I |
in prp., in; into, in, during |
is prs. 3. sg., is, see bēon |
L
land na, land: country |
lxZe see licZan |
lanZ a., long |
lætan str. 7, let; leave, allow to remain, allow; let, cause to; regard as |
lēod mi., man (one of a specific people); chief, prince; (pl.) people |
licZan str. 5, lie |
lond = land |
lonZ = lanZ |
M
mxZ prs., see maZan |
mæZ ma., kinsman |
maZan pt. - prs., may, might |
man m-root, man; human being, person (male/fem.) |
maþm ma, object of walue; gift; present |
meaht prs. 2. sg. & meahte pt., see maZan |
mehte pt., see maZan |
meotod = metod |
metod, / ud, meo/ ma., fate; creator: metan str. 5 |
micel, my/ a. & adv., much: large, great; (adv) greatly, much |
mihte pt., see maZan |
min poss. prn., mine & my, myself |
mōste pt, see mōt prs. |
mōt prs. must; may, have/has opportunity to, (rarely) must |
N
nān prn., none; no |
nē neg. adv. & cnj., not, nor, neither ... nor |
Ze-nip na., darkness, mist, cloud |
nysse = ne wisse see witan |
norþ adv., north |
norþan-wind ma., “wind from the north”, north wind |
Norþ-man m-root, inhabitant of the north, Scandinavian, esp. Norwegian |
norþmest a & adv., northmost |
norþ-rihte, -ry-/ adj., “directly northwards”, (due) north |
norþweard a., northward: north + weard |
nōse fn., ness, promontory; nose |
nū adv., now |
O
of adv. & prp, off & 2 of: away, off, from, off, out of, of (separator, removal, departure, origin, material); concerning, about |
ofer adv. & prp. (+ acc. / dat.) over: (adv.) on high, above (place, quantity), to/on the other side; (prp.) over, above, beyond, past, across, contrary to |
oþþe or; oþþe … oþþe- either ...or |
oþer other, second; oþer … oþer, the one … the other |
R
riht, /y, /e/ a., right: right, strraight, direct |
riht-norþan-wind ma., “direct wind from the north”, direct north wind |
S
sæ m/fi., sea; lake, sea |
sæde, sæZde pt., see secZan |
sæ-liþend mna., “sea-traveller”, seaman, sailor |
sēwol, sāwl, sāul fo, soul |
sceolde pt., see sculan |
sculan pt.-prs., shall & should: owe; be obliged, have to; (impers.) be necessary; (prs. also) must, shall; (pt. also) should; |
sē, f.; sēo, n.; þxt, Dem. prn. (also used as real) & def. art. that, the; that, the, who, which; from that time, afterwards |
sēcan w. 1. seek; “visit” |
secZan w. 3., say (pt. said); say, tell |
sēo prn./art., see sē |
sī, sy sbj., see wesan |
siZlan w. 1 & seZlian w., sall |
siþþan, sy/, seo/on adv. &cnj. since, adv., cnj. & prp. |
soþ-fxst a., sootheast; truth-fast, true, trustworty, truthful |
starian w. 2, stare |
stēor-bord na., starboard |
stycce-mxlum adv., piecemeal, to pieces; here and there |
stōw fwo, place, locality |
strynan w. 1, acquire, beget |
sum a., prn., some; one; certain |
sumor mu, summer |
sūþ adv., south |
sūþ-rihte, -ry/ adv., ‘directly southwards’; (due) south |
swā, swx adv. cnj. & particle, so: so; as, so as/ that; swā-swā, so as, so far as, just as |
swilc, /y/, /e/ prn., such; swilc ... hwilc, such ... as; swilc ... swilc, as much... as |
swylt-dxZ ma., death-day; death |
Þ
þā adv. & cnj., then, when, as, etc.; þā þā -. then when; þā he þā ..., þā..., when he then...; þā Zyt, still, yet |
þxm, /a/ prn./art. dat. pl., see sē |
þanc ma., thanks; though, mind, favour, mercy; gratitude, thanks, þances -by the favour, though the mercy, etc. (+ of); |
þanne, (usu./o/), þxnne, adv. & cnj. than; when; then, when |
þxt /a/ þāra adv. & cnj., there; where |
þāra prn. gen. pl., þære dat./gen. sg.f., see sē |
þxs prn. gen. m/n/ (also as adv.), see sē |
þxt cnj., that; so, in order that |
þxt prn. & art., see sē |
þē rel. part. & cnj., see sē; who, which, (in OE, often in combination with sē, etc., or pers. prn-s; as sē þē - he who, where; when; than; (also other meanings, depending upon the context: often added to cnj-s without affecting their meaning) |
þxh, /e/ cnj, though |
þxZn ma, thane |
þēoden ma., “chief of a tribe”, chieftain, ruler, prince, king |
þonan adv. = þanan, thence |
þonne = þanne |
þrīe, þry - three |
þrīm num. dat., see þrīe |
þriest-hydiZ a., ‘bold-minded’, bold, valrous |
U
un-friþ ma., breach of peace, enmity, hostility |
up, upp adv., up (motion) |
ūre (& ūser) prn. poss., our |
W
wxs pt., see wesan |
weZ ma., way: road, way; ealne weZ “all way”, “always” |
wel, wēl adv., well (dial, weel): well, very, much; nearly, surely |
wesan suppl, str. 5, prs, sg. am, art, is, arn, pt. sg. wxs pl. wxren; prs. am, is, are, pt. was, were: see beōn |
west adv., west |
westan-wind ma., “wind from the west”, west wind |
wēste a. ja./jo., waste, desolate |
wēsten nja., waste, wilderness, desert |
West-sæ fi., West-sea; Western Sea, The Atlantic |
wīd a., wide |
wīd-sæ fi., “wide-sea”, open sea |
willan, wyllan. v., will & pt.would; be willing, exercise will |
wind ma., wind |
winter mu., winter |
wyrcan w.1, work, perform, make |
wyrd fi., weird; destiny; connected with fate |
wisse pt., see witan |
wiste pt., see witan |
witan pt.-prs., wit; observe, know |
Ze-witan str. 1, go, move, depart |
wiþ - with: towards, against, opposite, near |
wolde pt., see willan |
word na, word |
wuldor-cyninZ ma., king of glory, glorious king |
A |
al’, all all: OE eal |
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alle see all |
|
anon at once: OE on ān |
|
atte at the |
|
as adv. & conj. |
|
aventure adventure, Fr. |
B |
bathen bathe: OE baþian |
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beste best, OE betst |
|
bifil pt. from bifallen - befall: OE befeallen |
|
by adv. & prep. by |
|
blisful blissful: OE blis + ful |
|
breeth breath: OE bræþ |
C |
chambre chamber, Fr. |
|
corage courage, Fr. |
|
cours course; Fr. |
|
couthe known: OE cuþ from cunnan |
|
crop crop: OE crop |
D |
day day: OE dxZ |
|
devysen devise, Fr; divide, distinguish, contrive, arrange, describe |
|
devout devout, Fr. |
|
droghte drought: OE drūZoþ |
E |
eke also, as well: OE ēaca |
|
ende end: OE ende |
|
engendren engendern, Fr: produce, generate |
|
erly early: OE ær - līc |
|
esed w. from esen – ease, make comfortable, Fr. |
|
every/ everichon every: OE æfre ælic |
F |
fallen fall: OE feallan |
|
felawe fellow: late OE felaZe |
|
ferne far: OE feorran |
|
flour flower, Fr |
|
folk folk: OE folc |
|
forward forward; OE fore-weard |
|
fowel fowl, bird: OE fuZol |
|
ful a. & adv. full, very, quite: OE ful |
G |
goon go: OE Zān |
H |
half half: OE healf |
|
halwe hallow: OE hālZa |
|
haven, pt hadde, prs 3 sg. hath have: OE habban |
|
heeth heath: OE hæþ |
|
helpen, pp holpen help: OE helpan |
|
hem prn. 3, dat. pl. them |
|
her poss. prn. sg. f. her |
|
here poss. prn. pl. their |
|
his poss. prn. sg. his |
|
holt holt: OE holt |
|
hostelrye hostelry, Fr. |
|
hwan when: OE hwanne |
|
which which: OE hwilc |
I |
inspiren inspire, Fr |
L |
lay pt. from lyen lie; OE licZan, lxZ |
|
licour liquor, Fr., liquid |
|
lond land, country: OE land |
|
longen long: OE lanZjan |
M |
maken make: OE macjan |
|
martyr martyr: OE martir |
|
melodye melody, Fr. |
N |
nature nature, Fr. |
|
nyght night: OE niht |
|
nyne nine: OE niZon |
O |
open open: OE open |
|
oure prn., our: OE ūre |
P |
palmere palmer (pilgrim from Palestine with a palmbranch in token of his having been there), Fr. |
|
percen pierce, Fr. |
|
pilgrym pilgrim, Fr., pilgrimage |
R |
redy ready: OE ræde |
|
reste rest: OE restan |
|
risen rise: OE risan |
|
rote root: Sc. |
|
y-runne pp. from rynnen; - run: OE rinnan |
s |
seek sick: OE sēoc |
|
seken seek: OE sēcan |
|
seson season, Fr. |
|
shire shire: OE scīr |
|
shortly shortly: OE scort-lic |
|
shour shower: OE scūr |
|
slepen sleep: OE slæpan |
|
smal small: OE smxl |
|
sondry sundry: OE syndriZ |
|
sonne sun: OE sunne |
|
spoken pp. from speken; - speak, spoken: OE sprecan |
|
stable stable, Fr. |
|
straunge strange, Fr. |
|
strond strand: OE strand |
|
swete sweet: OE swēte/ swōte |
|
swich such: OE swilc |
t |
take take: OE tacan |
|
tendre tender, Fr |
|
thanne then; OE þanne |
|
that cnj. - often added to other cnj-s without affecting their meaning, as whan that-when, if that-if, OE þxt |
|
the dem. prn. & art. the: OE sē |
|
ther there: OE þær |
|
they they, Sc. |
|
toward toward: OE tō-weard |
v |
veyne vein, Fr. |
W |
was, were was, were: OE wesan, wxs, wæron |
|
wel well: OE wel |
|
wenden, wend went, pt. for suppl. go: OE wendan |
|
wyd wide: OE wīd |
|
willen, wolde will, would: OE an.v. willan, wolde |
|
with prn. (+ acc/dat/gen) with: OE wiþ |
Y |
yow you: OE Zē |
ABBREVIATIONS
a. adjective |
ME Middle English |
acc. accusative |
N. ,n. neuter |
A.D. Anno Domini |
na neuter, a-stem |
adv. adverb |
N.E. New English |
an. anomalous |
nom. nominative |
art. article |
num. numeral |
B.C. before Christ |
obj. objective |
Bulg Bulgarian |
O.E. Old English |
c. century |
O.H.G. Old High German |
c.c centuries |
O.Sl. Old Slavonic |
cf. compare |
part. participle |
cnj. conjunction |
pers. person(al) |
dat. dative |
pl. plural |
dem. demonstrative |
poss. possessive |
dial. dialectal |
pp. past participle |
e.g. for example |
pref. prefix |
E.N.E. Early New English |
pres. present |
F., f feminine |
pret. preterite |
fo feminine, o-stem |
princip. principal |
ft. feet |
prn. pronoun |
Fr French |
pt.-prs. preterite-present |
gen. genitive |
Russ. Russian |
Ger Germanic |
sbj. sudjunctive |
Goth. Gothic |
Sc. Scandinavian |
Gr. Greek |
sg. singular |
I.E. Indo-European |
str. strong |
infl. inflected |
sup. superlative |
instr. instrumental |
suppl. suppletive |
intr intransitive |
tr. transitive |
L. Latin |
usu. usually |
M.,m. masculine |
w. weak |
ma masculine, a-stem |
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