ABASICCHAUCERGLOSSARY

(Theonehundredmostcommonwordsaremarkedwithanasterisk)
adoun:downdeye:die
agast(e):afraid;frightendorste:dare,dared
agayn(s):against,towarddout:doubt
ago,ago(o)n:gone;agodout,outof:beyonddoubt
al:alldrede:doubt;dread,fear
*al,albethat:although
alderbest:bestofall*ech:each
*als,also:as,also*echo(o)n:eachone
an:an;on*eek,eke:also
*anon:atonceelles,ellis:else
*artow:artthou,thouartentente:intent,attention
arwe:arrow*er,or:before;formerly
*as:as,asif,likeese:pleasure
*atte:at,atthe*everich:every;everyone
*aventure:chance
*axe:ask*fay,fey:faith
*ay:alwaysfere,feere:companion
fele,feele:many
*been:areferre:farther
benedicite:blessus!fil:fell,happened
*bet:betterflour:flower;flour
*beth:are;(imperative)befor:for;because
bitwixen:between*forthy:therefore
blake:blackforyeve:forgive
blyve:quickly,soonfree:generous,gracious
*brenne:burnliberal
breste,brast:burst*fro:from
bresting:bursting
*but,butif:unlessgame:fun
*gan,gonne:began
*can,kan:know,beablego(on):go
*canstow:canyou,youcangoost:soul,spirit
*cas:happening,chancegyse:guise,manner,way;
*certes:surely,certainlyplan
certeyn:certainly,sure(ly)
chees,chese(n):choose,chose*han:have
chosen*hastow:haveyou,youhave
cheere,chiere:facialexpressionheigh:high
*clepe(n):call*hem:them
*clerk:scholarhemlost(orliste):they
conne:learn,canwanted
conseil:secret,advicehende:readytohand,
coude:couldconvenient,handy;
*coy:quietpleasant,courteous,
gentle
deel:bithente:take,seize,get
delit:delight,pleasure*here:her
deme:judge,supposehewe:hue,color
devyse:tell(of),describe*hight:named,called
*himlest(list):hewants*nere:werenot
*hir(e):her,theirniste:didnotknow
noght:nought,nothing;not
*ich:I*nolde:wouldnot
*ilke:same*nones,nonys:occasion
*noon:none,no
*kan:know;knowhowto;can*noot:knownot
keep(e),kepe:heed*nyce:foolish
*konne:learn;knowhowto;can*nys:isnot

konnyng:skill,knowledgenyste:knewnot
*koude:knew;knewhowto;could
*kynde:nature*o,oo,on,oon,thatoon:one
*of:of;off
*lasse:lessones,onis:once
lese:loseoutrely:utterly,entirely
lest(e):please,pleases,
pleased(impersonal);pace:go,proceed
hem(him)leste,liste;*pardee:(lit."byGod"),acommon
they(he)wantedoath;certainly
lete:leave,forsake,abandonparfit:perfect
lette:forbear,desist,hinderpleyne:complain,lament;full
*le(e)ve:dearpovre:poor
liggen:tolie*prime,pryme:9A.M.
like,liketh:itplease(s)pryvely,prively:secretly
list(e):itpleased,itpleases
*lite:littlequit(te),quyte:requite,repay
lith:lies*quod:said
lust:pleasure,desire
lusty:lusty;joyous;*rathe:early,soon
pleasant;vigorous*rede:advise;interpret;read
reed:counsel;(verb)advise
maad:maderekke(th):heed(s),care(s)
*maistow,maystow:mayyou,youmayright:(adverb):just,quite
*make:mate,husband,makerouthe:pity
maner(e):kindof,manner
maugre:inspiteofsaugh,say,seigh:saw
mede:reward*seistow:yousay
met(te):dreamseith:says
*mo:moreseke:seek
mooste:most;greatest*sely:innocent,simple
*moot(e)(n):may,must,oughtto;sentence:moaning,opinion,
so(also,ever)mootI:asIsentiments,subjectmatter
hopeto*seyde:said
*morewe:morrow,morning*seye:say
*mowe:may*shaltow:youshall
*muche(l):much,many(a)shape,shoope(reflexive):plan,
planned
*nam:amnotshrewe:scoundrel,wretch
namely:especially,specifically*sikerly:certainly,sruely,truly
*namo,namoore:nomore*sith:since;then
*nas:wasnotslawe,yslawe:slain
*nat:notsola(a)s:pleasure,entertainment
*nathelees:nevertheless*somdel:somewhat
*ne:not,norsomtyme:once,sometimes
so(o)re:bitterly,sorelywoodnesse:madness
*sooth,soothfastnesse,sothe:truthwoot,woost:know,knows,knowest;
wostow:youknow,doyouknow
so(o)the,soothly:trulyworthy:distinguished,welltodo;in
speddehim:hastenedgoodsocialstanding
squier:squirewroghte:made,did,worked
stente,stynte:cease,stop,restrainwydwe:widow
sperte:started
steven:voice*yaf:gave
suffre:permit,endure*ycleped:named
sweven,e,es,ys:dream(s)ydo:done
*swich:sauch*ye(n):eye(s)
swynk,swynken:work*yeve,en,est,eth:give,given
syke:sickyifte:gift
*syn:since*ynogh:enough
ysene:seen
task:taketh:takeyvel(e):evil,evilly
*than(ne):then;than*ywis:surely,certainly
thee(n):prosper;somootI

thee:asIhopetoprosper
ther,theras:where
*thilke:this,that,atthat
*tho:those;then
thoght:thought;anxiety
thoughte(impersonal):itseemed
thurgh:through
thynketh(impersonal):itseems
til:until,to
to:to,too
trewe:true
trowe:believe
*tweye:two
*unnethe(s):scarecely
*verray:true,veritable
vileynye:rudeness,shameful
speechordeed
war:aware;be(beth)war(e),
awareyow:beware,takeheed
wende,en,eth:go,pass
*wene,eth:think,thinks
werre:war
what:what;why
wher:where;whether
wheras:where
whichthat:which,who
*whylom:once,onceuponatime,
formerly
*wight:person,thing
wist,wiste:known,knew
wol:will
wood:crazy,demented,wild

EdwinDuncan'sHomePage||EnglishDepartmentHomePage||TowsonUniversityHomePage
eduncan@towson.edu
Lastmodified:September30,1997