Le Morte Darthur (1485):Dictionary
| A | B | C | D | E |
| F | G | H | I/J | K |
| L | M | N | O | P |
| Q | R | S | T | U |
| V | W | X |
The following dictionary does also appear alongside the html-edition I provided at http://www.pierre-marteau.com/editions/1485-morte-darthur.html. Do not hesitate to expand this list - I will follow your wishes and expand the html-list accordingly. If you have problems with words not listed here, do consult the OED [1] or list your problematic word bellow and I will offer the translation into modern English. --Olaf Simons 11:24, 6 August 2007 (CEST)
A
abasshe, v. beat down, lower
abate, depress, calm
aboughte, v. pa. t. paid for
abrayde, v. pa. t. got up
accompte, count, reckon
accorde, bring to accord, reconcile
accordement, agreement
actually, actively
acquyte, repay
adoubted, afraid
adrad, afraid
advysyon, vision
affyaunce, affiance, promise
afterdele, disadvantage
aknown, known
allegyeaunce, alleviation
allow, approve
almeryes, chests
amounted, mounted
anguysshly, in pain
anon, at once
apayre, weaken
apparelled, fitted up
appeach, impeach
appealed, challenged, accused
appertyces, displays
araged, (1) enraged, (2) confused
araysed, raised
arase, obliterate
areared, reared
armyvestal, martial
array, plight, state of affairs
arrayed, situated
arsson, n. saddle-bow
askance, casually
assoyled, absolved
assotted, infatuated
assummon, summon
astonyed, amazed, stunned
at, of, by
at after, after
avaunt, boast
avayl at, at an advantage
aventryd, couched
avoyd, quit
avow, vow
avoyded, got clear off
avysed, be advised, take thought
avysyon, vision
away ward, away
awayt of (in), in watch for
awke, sideways
B
bachelor, probationer for knighthood
bacyn, n. hollow vessel
barbycan, gate-tower
barget, little ship
baume, n. balm, annointment
bawdy, dirty
bayne, bath
beamous, n. pl. a kind of trumpets
beclosed, enclosed
become, pp. befallen, gone to
bedasshed, splashed
behest, promise
beholden (beholding) to, obliged to
behote, promise
behyght, promised
benome, deprived, taken away
besauntes, gold coins
beseke, beseech
besene, appointed, arrayed
beskyfte, shove off
bestyal, collective n. animals, horses
betaught, entrusted, recommended
betooke, committed, entrusted
betyde, happened
beverd, quivered
blee, n. complexion
bobaunce, boasting, pride
bole, trunk of a tree
boote, remedy
borow oute, redeem
borowes, pledges
bote, remedy
bounde, ready
bourded, jested
bourder, jester
boyshe, bush, branch of a tree
boystous, rough
braced, embraced
brachet, little hound
brayde, quick movement
breste, burst, break
brethes, breathing holes
broched, pierced
broches, spits
bryef, shorten
brymme, fierce, furious
brysed, hurt, broke
buffet, blow
bur, hand-guard of a spear
burbley, bubbling
burgeis, burgess, townsman
burgene, v. blossom
burgh, n. city castle
busshe(ment), ambush
by and by, immediately
bystad, pp. hard pressed, attacked
bywaryd, expended, bestowed
C
canelbone, collar bone
cankered, inveterate
cantel, slice, strip
careful, sorrowful, full of troubles
cast (1 of bread:) loaves baked at the same time (2) propose
cedle, schedule, note
cere, wax over, embalm
certes, certainly
chafe, (1) heat, decompose, (2) chafed, heated
chaflet, platform, scaffold
champayne, open country
charyot cart
chere, (1) countenance, (2) entertainment
chyerte, dearness
clater, talk confusedly
cleyghte, v. pa. t. clutched
clepyd, called
clypyng, embracing
cogge, broad transport ship
cognoyssaunce, badge, mark of distinction
comforte, strengtten, help
comynal, common
complysshed, complete
con, know, be able
conserve, preserve
conversaunt, abiding in
cordynge, agreement
coronal, circlet
coste, coast, side
costed, kept up with
couche, v. lay
courage, encourage
courtelage, courtyard
covert, sheltered
covetyse, covetousness
covyn, deceit
coyfe, head-piece
credence, faith
creme, oil
croupe, crupper
curteys, adv.courteous, curteyst, most courteous
D
daffyssh, foolish
daunger (in), under obligation to, in the power of
dawed, (1) revived, (2) dawned
deadly, mortal, human
deal, part, portion
debonair, courteous
deceyvable, deceitful
defaded, faded
defaulte, fault
defende, forbid
defoyled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered
degree (win the), rank, superiority
delybered, determined
delyverly, adroitly
departed, divided
departycyon, departure
dere, a. (1) dear, (2) v. harm
descryve, describe
despoylled, stripped
devoyr, duty, service
disaventure, misfortune
discover, reveal
disheryted, disinherited
disparpyld, scattered
dispencys, expenses
disperplyd, scattered
dispoylled, stripped
distayned, sullied, dishonoured
disworshyp, shame
dole, (1) n. sorrow, (2) n. gift of alms
domyneth, dominates, rules
doted, foolish
doubted, redoubtable
doughty, valliant
draughtes, privities, secret interviews, recesses
drenched, drowned
dress, make ready
dressid (1) dressed, (2) raised
dretched, troubled in sleep
dretchyng, being troubled in sleep
dromoundes, war vessels
dure, (1) endure, last, (2) dared, (3) during
duresse, bondage, hardship
dwyned, dwindled
devysed, looked carefully at
dyght, prepared
dyndled, trembled
E
eased, entertained
efte, after, again
eftures, passages
elate, adv. proud, high spirited
eme, uncle
emprised, undertook
enbrayde, upbraid, admonish
enbusshement, ambush
enchaffed, enchafed, heated
enchieve, achieve
endlong, alongside of
enewed, painted
enforce, constrain
engyne, device
enqueste, enterprise
ensure, assure
entermete, intermeddle
erraunte, wandering
estates, ranks
even handes (on), at an equality
even long, along
everyche, each, every one
F
fayter, vagabond
fare, behave, carry on, happen
faren, pp., treated
faute, v. lack
fealte, oath of fidelity
fear, frighten
fordyd, destroyed
feutred, feutryd, v. pa. t. set in socket
fewter, dedicated rest fo a lance on amour
flang, (1) flung, (2) rushed
flatlynge, prostrate
flete, float
flemed, put to flight
foote hote, hastily
forblede, spend with bleeding
force, n. and v. (1) force (2) n. concern
fordele, advantage
fordo, destroy
fore cast, preconcerted plot
foyled, defeated, shamed
foyned, thrust
foynes, thrusts
foynynge, thrusting
fur fared, v. pa. t. worsted
forfende, forbid
forfoughten, weary with fighting
forhewen, hewn to pieces
foriusted, tired with jousting
forthynketh, repents
fortuned, happened
forward, vanguard
forwounded, sorely wounded
free, noble
froward, away from
G
gad, n. wedge or spike of iron
gaynest, readiest
gar, v. cause, force, garte, pa. t.
gentyly, noble
gerfaukon, a fine hawk
germayne, closely allied
geste, deed, story
glayve, sword
glasting barking
glatysaunt, barking, yelping
goblets, lumps
graythed, made ready
gree, degree, superiority
greed, pp., pleased, content
gresys, steps
grovellynge, on his face
grymly, ugly
gwerdonless, without reward
gysarm, halberd, battle-axe
H
haberion, hauberk with leggings attached
hale & how, a sailor's cry
halp, v. pa. t. helped
halsed, embraced
halsing, embracing
hand fast, betrothed
handsel, earnest-money
hangers, testicles
hauberk, coat of mail
haute, high, noble
hauteyn, haughty
hayr, a hair-shirt
harneis, armour
heavy, sad
hem, them
her, their
herbegeours, messengers sent to prepare lodgings
hert of greese, fat deer
hete, (1) n. heat, (2) v. and n. hate, rebuke
hit, it
holden, pp. held
holpe, v. pa. t. helped
holtys, woods
hors lytter, horse-drwawn stretcher
houghbone, rear thigh bone
houseld, to be given the eucharist
hoved, hovered, waited about
hurled, dashed, staggered
hurtle, dash
hyde, (1) v. hide, (2) n. skin
hye, v. hurry
(on) hyghe, aloud
hyghte, hyte called
hylled, covered, concealed
I/J
iaper, jester
iapes, jests
iesseraunte, a short cuirass
incontynent, forthwith
ind, dark blue
K
kepe, sb., care
kempys, champions
kinde, nature
kyndely, natural
knouleche, knowledge, message
know, acknowledge
knowlechynge, acknowledgment, confession
kytte, v. pa. t. cut
L
langerynge, sauntering
lapped, took in her lap
large, generous
largenesse, liberality
lasse, v. lessen, diminish
latoen, latten, brass
launde, waste plain
layne, conceal
lazar cote, leper-house
learys, n. pl. cheeks
lecher, fornicator
legeaunce, n. allegiance
leche, physician
lemman, lover
lerne, teach
lete, v. (1) cause to, (2) hinder
leve, (1) n. permission v. leave, (2) v. love a. dear
lever, rather
lewdest, most ignorant
long, n. lung, v. belong, be appropriate
long on (upon), because of
loos, praise
lotles, without a share
love day, day for settling disputes
loving, praising
lunys, leashes, strings
luske, lubber
lustes, inclinations
lycours, lecherous
lyef, dear
lyefer, more gladly
lymme meal, limb from limb
lyst, desire, pleasure
lythe, joint
M
makeles, matchless
makers, authors, poets
male ease, discomfort
male engine, evil design
male fortune, ill-luck, mishap
marches, berders
masse peny, offering at mass for the dead
matchecold, machicolated, with holes for defence
maugre, prep. in spite of
maymes, wounds
medele, melee, general encounter
medled, mingled
melyon, million
meve, move, bring, inspire, propose
meyny, retinue
mykel, much
mynever, ermine
mischieved, hurt
mo, more
more and lasse, rich and poor
mote, v. must
motys, n. pl. horn blasts
mountenaunce, amount of, extent
moche, much
myschevous, painful
myscomforte, discomfort
myscreauntes, unbeliever
myssaye, (1) revile, (2) missaid
N
naked, unarmed, bare
namely, especially
ne, nor
nedely, needs, on your own compulsion
nobley, nobility, splendour
noysed, reported
nold, would not
noselynge, on his nose
not for thenne, nevertheless
notoyrly, notoriously
noyous, hurtful
nyghe, near
nylle, will not, nylt, 3rd. pers.
nys, (ne is), is not
nyst, (ne wist), knew not
O
obeyssance, obedience
or, ere, before
orgule, haughtiness
orgulist, haughtiest
orgulous, orgulus, proud
orgulyte, pride, arrogance
other, or
ouches, jewels
ought, owned, belonged to
out cepte, v. pa. t. singled him out
outher, or
oute taken, except
over, all too
over evening, last night
over get, v. overtake
over hylled, pp. covered
over longe, prep. along
over slyp, pass
overthwarte, prep. across, over, v. bring to fall, cross n. surprise
overthwartly, adv. askew
overthwart and endlong, by the breadth and length
P
palfroy, n. horse trained in the special pace suitable for women
paltockes, n. pl. short coats
parage, descent
pareylle, like
parter, n. marshal
passing, surpassingly
paynture, painting
paynym, pagan
paytrellys, breastplate of a horse
pees, n. peace
pensel, pennon
peramour, lover
percloos, partition
peron, tombstone
perygot, falcon
pleasaunce, pleasure
plenour, complete
poyntelynge, aiming
porte, gate
posseded, possessed
potestate, governor
precessours, predecessors
presse, throng
pretende, claim
pretendith, belongs to
profre, offer
pryckynge, spurring
pryker, hard rider
pryme, 6 am
puyssaunce, power
purfyl, trimming
purfyled, embroidered
purvey, provide
pyght, pitched
pyke, steal away
pyked, stole
pyllars, plunderers
pyllynge, plundering
Q
quarels, n. (1) quarrels (2) arrowheads
questynge, barking
quyck, alive
quyt, (1) repaid, (2) acquitted, behaved
R
raced, (rased) tore
rake, herd (of bulls)
raynes, (1) reins (2) a town in brittany famous for its cloth
raumppynge, raging
raunge, rank, station
ransakyd, searched
rasshed, fell headlong
rasshynge, rushing
rasure, n. obliteration
rasyng, rushing
raundon, impetuosity
rere, raise
rechate, n. note of recall
recomforted, comforted, cheered
recounter, rencontre, encounter
recover, rescue
rede, (1) a. red, (2) v. advise, counsel
redounded, glanced back
relygyon, religious order
reneye, deny
reporte, refer
resemblaunt, semblance
retrayed, drew back
rightwys, rightly
rofe, pp. see ryve
romed, roared
roted, practised
rownsepyk, a branch
ryvage, shore
ryve, v. stab, split, tear, ryed, pa. t. rofe pp.
S
sacrynge, consecrating
sad, serious
sadly, heartily, earnestly
sale, room
salewe, v. salute, greet
samyte, n. silk stuff with gold or
san(c)greal, holy grail
sarpys, girdles
sawe, (1) v. pa. t. saw, (2) n. proverb, saying
scathe, v. harm, hurt
score, twenty
scrypture, writing, bible
search, probe wounds
seasse, v. cease
selar, canopy
semblable, like
semblaunt, semblance
sendale, fine cloth
servage, slavery
sewar, officer who set on dishes and tasted them
shaftmon, hand breadth
shawe, thicket
sheef, v. pa. t. thrust
sherthursdaye, thursday in holy week
shende, harm
shenship, disgrace
shente, undone, blamed
shoure, attack
shrewe, rascal
shrewde, knavish
skarmusshed, skirmished, fought
skyfte, changed
slade, valley
slake, glen
soyle (to go to), hunting term for taking the water
somme, some
sondes, messages
sorte, company
sperd, bolted
spere, ask, inquire
spered, asked
sperhauk, sparrothawk
sprente, sprinkled
stale, position
starke, thoroughly
stede, place
sterte, started, rose quickly
stonyed, (1) astonished, (2) became confused
stoure, battle
strene, race, descent
straked, v. pa. t. (1) stroke (2) blew a horn
strayte, narrow
stygh, path
stylly, silently
stynte, fixed revenue
sudgerned, v. pa. t. sojourned
sursenglys, saddle girths
swange, v. pa. t. swung
sweven, dream
swough, sound of wind
syb, akin to
sydelyng, sideways
syege, seat
sygnefyed, likened
syker, sure
sykernesse, assurance
syth, since
sythen, afterwards, since
T
talent, desire
tamyd, crushed
tatches, qualities
taylles, taxes
tene, sorrow
terme, period of time
the, (1) the, (2) pron. thee, thyself
thye, thigh
thylk, that same
tho, (1) those, (2) then
thrange, pushed
threstyd, v. pa.t. thrusted
thrulled, pushed
to brast, burst
tofore, before
to morowe, to morne to-morrow
took, gave
to shevered, broken to pieces
thredys, threads
traced, advanced and retreated
trainys, devices, wiles
traverse, adv. slantwise, v. move sideways
tray, grief
treatyce, treaty
tree, n. (1) tree, (2) timber
trenchaunt, cutting, sharp
trest, hunting term trap, point of ambush
truage, tribute
trussed, packed
tyll, (1) until, (2) to
U
ubblye, wafer, host
umbecast, cast about
umberere, the part of the hel et which shaded the eyes
umbre, shade
unavised, thoughtlessly
uncouth, strange
underne, about 9 pm
ungoodely, rudely
unhappy, unlucky
unhylled, uncovered
unneth, scarcely
unsyker, unstable
unwympeled, uncovered
unwrast, untwisted, unbound
upryght, flat on the back
up so doune, upside down
use, usage
utas, octave of a festival
utteraunce, uttermost
V
varlet, servant
venery, hunting
ventayls, breathing holes
voyded, slipped away from
vylayn, man of low birth
vyser, visor, the perforated parts of helmets
W
waggynge, shaking
wayted, watched
waytes, watches
wallop, gallop
wanhope, despair
wappe, ripple
warre, aware
waryson, reward
warne, forbid, refuse
weder, n. weather
wedys, garments
welde, v. wield, rule; carry
wene, v. believe, think, expect, wened, pa. t.
wete, v. know, find out; wote (wyste) pa. t.
where, whereas
wight, brave, strong
wightly, swiftly
withinforth, on the inside
wold or nold, would or would not
wonder, adj. wondrous
wonderly, wonderfully
wood, a. adv. mad, insane(ly), fierc(ly)
woodness, madness
wood shawe, thicket of the wood
worship, honour
worshipped, cause to be honoured
wortes, roots
wote, know
wrake, destruction
wroken, wreaked
wrothe, twisted
wyde where, over wide space
wympeled, with the head covered
wynne, make way
wyte, v. blame
Y
yede, v. pa. t. went
yeftes, n. gifts
yelde, v. yield, yielded, v. pa. t., yelden, pp.
yerde, stick, stem
yeve, v. give
yode v. pa. t. went
yolde, v. pa. t., yielded, yolden, pp.
yole, Yule, Christmas
