A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

“These our Ancient Words here set down, I trust will for this time satisfie the Reader.” R. Verstegan, Restitution of Decayed Intelligence , ch. vii (at the end) “Authentic words be given, or none!” Wordsworth, Lines on Macpherson’s Ossian Oxford AT THE CLARENDON PRESS M DCCC LXXXVIII [ All rights reserved ] London HENRY FROWDE Oxford University Press Warehouse Amen Corner, E.C. Contents Preface List of Sources Dictionary A B C D E F G H I (vowel) I (consonant) K L M N O P Q R S Ta-, Te- Th Ti-Ty U, V (vowel) V U (consonant) Wa-We Wh Wi-Wy X Y Ȝ Additions and Corrections Transcriber’s Notes For general information on using the Dictionary, and an explanation of the different types of underlining, see the Transcriber’s Notes at the end of this file. In the body of the Dictionary, italics and boldface are as in the original. PREFACE (By Professor Skeat.) The present work is intended to meet, in some measure, the requirements of those who wish to make some study of Middle-English, and who find a difficulty in obtaining such assistance as will enable them to find out the meanings and etymologies of the words most essential to their purpose. The best Middle-English Dictionary, that by Dr. Mätzner of Berlin, has only reached the end of the letter H; and it is probable that it will not be completed for many years. The only Middle-English Dictionary that has been carried on to the end of the alphabet is that by the late Dr. Stratmann, of Krefeld. This is a valuable work, and is indispensable for the more advanced student. However, the present work will still supply a deficiency, as it differs from Stratmann’s Dictionary in many particulars. We have chosen as our Main Words, where possible, the most typical of the forms or spellings of the period of Chaucer and Piers Plowman; in Stratmann, on the other hand, the form chosen as Main Word is generally the oldest form in which it appears, frequently one of the twelfth century. Moreover, with regard to authorities, we refer in the case of the great majority of our forms to a few, cheap, easily accessible works, whereas Stratmann’s authorities are mainly the numerous and expensive publications of the Early English Text Society. Lastly, we have paid special attention to the French element in Middle-English, whereas Stratmann is somewhat deficient…