Middle English Vocabulary
Vernacular is the fancy word for the common man's language. You might call it slang or everyday language. It is usually a blend of several types of language dialects and influences in a region. During the 14th century, in England, Middle English became the vernacular. Middle English derived from Old English, Latin, and French. Latin was the language of the aristocracy and the learned. French was the language spoken at Court. English was the common vernacular. As researchers Jocelyn Wogan-Browne, Nicholas Watson, Andrew Taylor, Ruth Evans point out in The Idea of Vernacular, Anglo-Norman English was also an influence during the Middle Ages (107). Chaucer took a big chance by writing The Canterbury Tales in Middle English. However, as you read and begin to formulate your own opinions regarding Chaucer's purpose in writing The Canterbury Tales, you might find this significant.
A lot of people are intimidated by Middle English. However, there is nothing to be worried about. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier. Sometimes it helps to read it out loud to yourself. Sometimes it helps if you try it in a British accent! In addition, since we need to cover other major works in British literature, I have provided you with standard English translations for each textual excerpt that you are responsible for reading. Furthermore, on this page, you will find Middle English vocabulary words and definitions. The MED (Middle English Dictionary) is a good source to utilize as well. Be sure to keep these words in your journal. There will be a quiz at the end of this unit on the terms provided on this page.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/med/lookup.html
1. Hethenesse: (a) The state or condition of being pagan; paganism, heathenism; (b) pagan beliefs or practices; (b) Territory inhabited or ruled by pagans, a heathen country; also, Moslem territory or country; (c) pagan (or Moslem) lands in general; the non-Christian portion of the world; ?also, pagan people
2. Prys: (a) A master of a craft or an art; a leader in an activity; (b) A military leader, officer, commander; also, a military ruler; ~ and (or) duk, leader and (or) commander; ~ of knightes, captain of the guard; commander of a detail; officer in charge of training new recruits;~ of chevalrie, commander of troops; ~ of theves, captain of raiders; ~ werres, commander in war; (c) one who fights in the forefront of an army; (d) a knight.
3. Wight: (a) A living creature, an animate being; any creature, anybody, everybody
4. Vassellage: (a) The behavior, actions, etc. of an ideal vassal; knightly prowess, esp. in military service; also, an instance of such behavior or prowess, a chivalrous deed; renowned reputation for a prowess; (b) skill, ability, wisdom; (c) subjection to the status of vassals, servitude; (d) something characteristic or worthy of a nobleman; (e) preeminence.
5. Eek: (a) An increase, addition, enhancement
6. Gentilesse: (a) Nobility of birth or rank; (b) of birds, plants, fruit: excellence, beauty; (b) nobility of character or manners; generosity, kindness, gentleness, graciousness, etc.; also, good breeding; (c) a noble or gracious action; (d) people of rank, aristocracy, gentry.
7. Apert: (a) Plain, evident, obvious; in ~, in appearance; maken ~, make clear or manifest
8. Parage: (a) Descent, lineage; family, parentage; heritage; rank; (b) heigh (gret) ~, high rank, nobility; (c) nobility, high rank; noble birth or descent; putten upon ~, to stand upon (one's) nobility, refuse to answer the charges of commoners on the grounds of a noble rank; (d) worth, value; (e) in ~, inherently, by the nature of things.
9. Stynte: (a) To cease in one's actions, efforts, etc.; also, of God: bring an action or a process to a stop [quot. c1400(c1378)]; (b) to stop talking, weeping, or singing, pause in speech or narration; remain silent; of sound: stop; ben stinted, of a voice: become quiet; (c) to stop moving, come to a halt; stop in a journey or procession; ben stinted; ~ aside, swerve; ~ bakward, retreat; ~ togeder, ?come together or meet in battle; (d) of actions, events, conditions, emotions, etc.: to come to an end, cease; -- also in absol. constructions [quot. a1450, 1st occurrence]; of the heart: become calm; (e) of storms, thunder: to subside; of the sea or waves: become calm; of the sun: stand still in its course at summer and winter solstice; ben stinted, of a snowstorm: abate; (f) of tears, morbid fluid: to cease to flow; of swelling or sneezing: stop.
10. Sweven: (a) A dream experienced in sleep; a dream-vision, prophetic dream; also, a supernatural vision appearing to one in a waking state; -- freq. without article; in (on) ~, in a dream; (b) with selected verbs: abreiden oute of ~, swengen oute of swevenes, to wake up suddenly; dremen (haven, isen, meten, sen, taken) ~, dream a dream, have a dream or vision; also, impers. me (him) mete ~, him thought (tok) ~, etc.;expounen (jugen, recchen, reden, undon) ~, interpret a dream; heren ~, hear an account of a dream; seien ~, give an account of a dream, tell a dream; sheuen a ~, reveal a dream; tellen ~, describe or relate a dream; also, interpret a dream [quot. c1440(?a1400), 1st]; turnen ~, reverse the events predicted by a dream; waiten swevenes, consider the import of dreams, mark or take note of dreams; (c) in comparisons, as a symbol of ephemerality or insubstantiality; (d) a literary account of a dream, a dream or vision told in literary terms; (e) sleep [1st quot. could also be construed as (a)].
11. Discrecioun: (a) The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, moral discernment or judgment; (b) the ability to make sound decisions, practical judgment; (c) the ability to perceive and understand, rational perception; (d) Discretion personified; (e) yeres (age, time) of ~, the age at which a person is presumed capable of making decisions on his own.
12. Pestilence: (a) Wickedness, iniquity, evil; harm; chaier of ~, the bench of infamy, seat of wickedness; men bering (of) ~, wicked men; tonge of ~, a wicked tongue; (b) an evil; a sin, mischief, harm; ~ of lecherie, the vice of lechery; (c) a disaster, calamity.
13. Bountevous: (a) Good, virtuous, worthy; (b) knightly, valiant; (c) of things: excellent.
14. Lecherie: Inciting to lasciviousness. (Lasciviousness: inclined to lustfulness).
15. Predicacioun: (a) Preaching; a sermon; also, an exhortation; a doctrine preached [quot.: Spec.Sacer.]; (b) preaching personified; (c) a statement; esp. a notable affirmation of belief or opinion; (d) bok of predicaciounes, Aristotle's Categories.
16. Avarice: (a) Greed (both in acquiring and in withholding), acquisitiveness; esp., avaritia, the fifth of the seven deadly sins; (b) the vice of withholding one's goods, unwillingness to give, miserliness [contrasted to the opposite vice of prodigality and also to the virtue of generosity]; (c) immoderate desire (for knowledge, glory, power, etc.).
17. Sepulture: Burying, burial; the act or rite of burial; also fig.
18. Bicched: Vile, wretched; wicked, acursed, damned; ~ bones, cursed bones, i.e. dice; -- used contemptuously or in profanity.
19. Clepe: A call or cry.
20. Visage (a) The face as a region or part of the body; in ~, of sun, wind: getting in (someone's) eyes; in swink and swete of ~, through bodily exertion, with toil; wel vernished of ~, with face flushed or sweat-dampened from drink; (b) the face as the aggregate of features, one's physical appearance or looks; also, one's coloring, the complexion of the face; knouen bi (in) the ~, to know (sb.) on the basis of his facial features, recognize by sight; (c) the face as a reflection of character or state of mind, countenance, mien; double (doutous, fals) ~, two visages, a deceptive or hypocritical manner, duplicity, two-facedness; also person. [quot. c1490]; word with two visages, an equivocal or deliberately ambiguous utterance or manner of speaking, dissembling; beren (maken, sheuen) ~, to display or maintain (a certain) demeanor, have (a particular) aspect or manner; casten doun ~, assume a dejected appearance, look glum; (d) the face as a metonymy for the person or personality, the essential self; the face as a metonymy for conscious awareness, perception, the eyes or faculty of sight; ~ to ~, in person, face to face; biforen (toforen) ~, under (someone's) gaze, to (someone's) sight; also, in or into the presence (of sb.), before (sb.); blind ~, sightlessness; in ~, directly (at sb.), in or into (someone's) eyes; also, within (someone's) view, face to face (with sb.) [quot. a1470]; casten up the ~, fig. to direct the attention (of one's heart toward God); hiden ~, conceal (one's) nature or identity; meten in the ~, confront (enemies) face to face; sheuen ~, reveal (one's true nature).
A lot of people are intimidated by Middle English. However, there is nothing to be worried about. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier. Sometimes it helps to read it out loud to yourself. Sometimes it helps if you try it in a British accent! In addition, since we need to cover other major works in British literature, I have provided you with standard English translations for each textual excerpt that you are responsible for reading. Furthermore, on this page, you will find Middle English vocabulary words and definitions. The MED (Middle English Dictionary) is a good source to utilize as well. Be sure to keep these words in your journal. There will be a quiz at the end of this unit on the terms provided on this page.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/med/lookup.html
1. Hethenesse: (a) The state or condition of being pagan; paganism, heathenism; (b) pagan beliefs or practices; (b) Territory inhabited or ruled by pagans, a heathen country; also, Moslem territory or country; (c) pagan (or Moslem) lands in general; the non-Christian portion of the world; ?also, pagan people
2. Prys: (a) A master of a craft or an art; a leader in an activity; (b) A military leader, officer, commander; also, a military ruler; ~ and (or) duk, leader and (or) commander; ~ of knightes, captain of the guard; commander of a detail; officer in charge of training new recruits;~ of chevalrie, commander of troops; ~ of theves, captain of raiders; ~ werres, commander in war; (c) one who fights in the forefront of an army; (d) a knight.
3. Wight: (a) A living creature, an animate being; any creature, anybody, everybody
4. Vassellage: (a) The behavior, actions, etc. of an ideal vassal; knightly prowess, esp. in military service; also, an instance of such behavior or prowess, a chivalrous deed; renowned reputation for a prowess; (b) skill, ability, wisdom; (c) subjection to the status of vassals, servitude; (d) something characteristic or worthy of a nobleman; (e) preeminence.
5. Eek: (a) An increase, addition, enhancement
6. Gentilesse: (a) Nobility of birth or rank; (b) of birds, plants, fruit: excellence, beauty; (b) nobility of character or manners; generosity, kindness, gentleness, graciousness, etc.; also, good breeding; (c) a noble or gracious action; (d) people of rank, aristocracy, gentry.
7. Apert: (a) Plain, evident, obvious; in ~, in appearance; maken ~, make clear or manifest
8. Parage: (a) Descent, lineage; family, parentage; heritage; rank; (b) heigh (gret) ~, high rank, nobility; (c) nobility, high rank; noble birth or descent; putten upon ~, to stand upon (one's) nobility, refuse to answer the charges of commoners on the grounds of a noble rank; (d) worth, value; (e) in ~, inherently, by the nature of things.
9. Stynte: (a) To cease in one's actions, efforts, etc.; also, of God: bring an action or a process to a stop [quot. c1400(c1378)]; (b) to stop talking, weeping, or singing, pause in speech or narration; remain silent; of sound: stop; ben stinted, of a voice: become quiet; (c) to stop moving, come to a halt; stop in a journey or procession; ben stinted; ~ aside, swerve; ~ bakward, retreat; ~ togeder, ?come together or meet in battle; (d) of actions, events, conditions, emotions, etc.: to come to an end, cease; -- also in absol. constructions [quot. a1450, 1st occurrence]; of the heart: become calm; (e) of storms, thunder: to subside; of the sea or waves: become calm; of the sun: stand still in its course at summer and winter solstice; ben stinted, of a snowstorm: abate; (f) of tears, morbid fluid: to cease to flow; of swelling or sneezing: stop.
10. Sweven: (a) A dream experienced in sleep; a dream-vision, prophetic dream; also, a supernatural vision appearing to one in a waking state; -- freq. without article; in (on) ~, in a dream; (b) with selected verbs: abreiden oute of ~, swengen oute of swevenes, to wake up suddenly; dremen (haven, isen, meten, sen, taken) ~, dream a dream, have a dream or vision; also, impers. me (him) mete ~, him thought (tok) ~, etc.;expounen (jugen, recchen, reden, undon) ~, interpret a dream; heren ~, hear an account of a dream; seien ~, give an account of a dream, tell a dream; sheuen a ~, reveal a dream; tellen ~, describe or relate a dream; also, interpret a dream [quot. c1440(?a1400), 1st]; turnen ~, reverse the events predicted by a dream; waiten swevenes, consider the import of dreams, mark or take note of dreams; (c) in comparisons, as a symbol of ephemerality or insubstantiality; (d) a literary account of a dream, a dream or vision told in literary terms; (e) sleep [1st quot. could also be construed as (a)].
11. Discrecioun: (a) The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, moral discernment or judgment; (b) the ability to make sound decisions, practical judgment; (c) the ability to perceive and understand, rational perception; (d) Discretion personified; (e) yeres (age, time) of ~, the age at which a person is presumed capable of making decisions on his own.
12. Pestilence: (a) Wickedness, iniquity, evil; harm; chaier of ~, the bench of infamy, seat of wickedness; men bering (of) ~, wicked men; tonge of ~, a wicked tongue; (b) an evil; a sin, mischief, harm; ~ of lecherie, the vice of lechery; (c) a disaster, calamity.
13. Bountevous: (a) Good, virtuous, worthy; (b) knightly, valiant; (c) of things: excellent.
14. Lecherie: Inciting to lasciviousness. (Lasciviousness: inclined to lustfulness).
15. Predicacioun: (a) Preaching; a sermon; also, an exhortation; a doctrine preached [quot.: Spec.Sacer.]; (b) preaching personified; (c) a statement; esp. a notable affirmation of belief or opinion; (d) bok of predicaciounes, Aristotle's Categories.
16. Avarice: (a) Greed (both in acquiring and in withholding), acquisitiveness; esp., avaritia, the fifth of the seven deadly sins; (b) the vice of withholding one's goods, unwillingness to give, miserliness [contrasted to the opposite vice of prodigality and also to the virtue of generosity]; (c) immoderate desire (for knowledge, glory, power, etc.).
17. Sepulture: Burying, burial; the act or rite of burial; also fig.
18. Bicched: Vile, wretched; wicked, acursed, damned; ~ bones, cursed bones, i.e. dice; -- used contemptuously or in profanity.
19. Clepe: A call or cry.
20. Visage (a) The face as a region or part of the body; in ~, of sun, wind: getting in (someone's) eyes; in swink and swete of ~, through bodily exertion, with toil; wel vernished of ~, with face flushed or sweat-dampened from drink; (b) the face as the aggregate of features, one's physical appearance or looks; also, one's coloring, the complexion of the face; knouen bi (in) the ~, to know (sb.) on the basis of his facial features, recognize by sight; (c) the face as a reflection of character or state of mind, countenance, mien; double (doutous, fals) ~, two visages, a deceptive or hypocritical manner, duplicity, two-facedness; also person. [quot. c1490]; word with two visages, an equivocal or deliberately ambiguous utterance or manner of speaking, dissembling; beren (maken, sheuen) ~, to display or maintain (a certain) demeanor, have (a particular) aspect or manner; casten doun ~, assume a dejected appearance, look glum; (d) the face as a metonymy for the person or personality, the essential self; the face as a metonymy for conscious awareness, perception, the eyes or faculty of sight; ~ to ~, in person, face to face; biforen (toforen) ~, under (someone's) gaze, to (someone's) sight; also, in or into the presence (of sb.), before (sb.); blind ~, sightlessness; in ~, directly (at sb.), in or into (someone's) eyes; also, within (someone's) view, face to face (with sb.) [quot. a1470]; casten up the ~, fig. to direct the attention (of one's heart toward God); hiden ~, conceal (one's) nature or identity; meten in the ~, confront (enemies) face to face; sheuen ~, reveal (one's true nature).