Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 1959

close

adawe: adverb Out of existence. Only in to do (also bring) (a person) adawe: to put (a person) to death; to do away with, kill OED

close

afte: adverb Back; wenden on ~, pervert MED

close

aknow: verb (1.) Obs. (Eng. regional (north.) in later use). trans. To know, recognize; to come to know, understand. Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

aland: noun (1.) A draught-horse, a cart-horse: an old horse or one of little value Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

aport: noun Bearing, demeanour Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

an-inne: preposition Within OED

close

appeal: verb (1c) To accuse of a heinous crime whereby the accuser has received personal injury or wrong, for which he demands reparation OED

close

avale: verb intr. Of persons: To defend; to come, go, or get down; to dismount, alight OED

close

aver: noun (1.) A draught-horse, a cart-horse: an old horse or one of little value Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

awreak: verb trans. To punish or take vengeance upon (an offence, misdeed) OED

close

bach: noun (1) A stream or its valley; vale, dale, hollow; cou ~, cow pasture MED

close

bedene: adverb In one body or company, together OED

close

bee: noun (2) 1. A ring or torque of metal, usually meant for the arm or neck; but in one case at least used of a finger-ring. Obs. OED

close

beetle: noun¹ 1. a. An implement consisting of a heavy weight or ‘head,’ usually of wood, with a handle or stock, used for driving wedges or pegs, ramming down paving stones, or for crushing, bruising, beating, flattening, or smoothing, in various industrial and domestic operations, and having various shapes according to the purpose for which it is used; a mall OED

close

begouth: verb (1.) pa.t. of begin, also used as pa.p. Gen.Sc. for Eng. began Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

bemoan: verb 2. refl. To lament or bewail one’s lot OED

close

bern: noun (1) 2. (a) Soldier; esp., a knight; ~ of armes, man-at-arms; breneid ~, a mailed warrior; (b) a nobleman, a lord; — often equated with baroun baron MED

close

breme: adjective and adverb Obs. exc. poet. and dial. (brim) in sense A. 6. A. adj. I. Celebrated, brilliant, clear, loud, distinct OED

close

betony: noun prop. A plant (Stachys betonica) of the Labiate order, having spiked purple flowers and ovate crenate leaves. In former days medicinal and magical virtues were attributed to it OED

close

belimp: verb (2.) To happen, occur, befall. Freq. with person as indirect object. (In Old English with dative of person). Also with to. OED

close

bemean: verb Obs. 1. trans. To mean, signify, import; 2. Obs. rare. intr. To mediate, intercede OED

close

belive: adverb and adjective With speed, with haste, quickly, eagerly OED

close

beset: verb, 3a. fig. To encompass, surround, assail, possess detrimentally: a. said of temptations, dangers, difficulties, obstacles, evil influences OED

close

bespit: verb trans. To spit upon, cover or defile with spitting. Rarely intr. with upon. (Cf. BESPETE v.) OED

close

bield: noun (3b) A means of help or succour OED

close

bill: noun (1) A weapon of war mentioned in Old English poetry, a kind of broadsword, a falchion OED

close

bin / binne: adverb and preposition Within, inside of; in, into OED

close

bird: noun (1c.) transf. A young man, youngster, child, son OED

close

biren: verb [OE ge)byrian, & cp. OI byrja. In ME this verb, a synonym of bihoōven, occurs almost exclusively in the NM and the N, and only in the 3rd person.] 1b. With personal subj.: (a) to be under obligation, be in duty bound (to do sth.), ought (to do) MED

close

biwilen: verb To trick or delude (sb.), as by witchcraft, cunning, or insincerity. MED

close

bloke: verb Obs. intr. To turn pale OED

close

bōlen: verb To serve (a cow) with a bull MED

close

bolning: noun Swelling, state of being swollen; concr. a swelling, a tumour OED

close

bolts-head: noun (2.) Chem. A globular flask with a long cylindrical neck, used in distillation OED

close

bout: adverb and preposition Obs. or dial. A. adv.¹ Outside, without; out OED

close

britnen: verb 3. (a) To tear or cut (sb.) to pieces; rend, slash; slay; ~ to dethe, ~ to noȝt, kill; destroy (the soul); (b) to go to pieces, be annihilated MED

close

busk: noun (1a) =BUSH: A woods, grove; thicket, underbrush; bank and ~, hill and (wooded) dale; under the ~, in (the shelter of) the woods; (b) rank growth MED

close

busk: verb (1) Now rare (Sc., Irish English, and Eng. regional (north.) in later use). I. To prepare, and related senses. 1. a. trans. (refl.). To prepare or equip oneself; to make oneself ready. OED

close

buten: adverband preposition BOUT adv., Outside, without; out; prep., Outside of, without OED

close

chalker: noun A long, white night-shirt Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

Clent: noun Clent Hills, south of Birmingham, where Kenhelm was murdered

close

con: verb (1a) To know. Obs. = CAN v.1 1 – 2 (pa. tense and pple. rarely cunde, conde.) OED

close

corse: noun †1. a. A living body; = CORPSE n. 1. Obs. OED

close

derken: verb (5, 6) 5 (a) Of eyes: to become blurred or blind; also fig.; (b) of a person, the mind: to grow confused or befuddled; 6 (a) To keep or lie still (as if in darkness or hiding); linger apprehensively; (b) to lie in wait, lurk MED

close

drechen: verb (1) To injure (sb.), wrong, kill; damage (sth.), destroy; oppress (people, a country); afflict, torment, torture; ~ abrod, to scatter (an army) in defeat; (b) to disturb (sb.), trouble, annoy; grieve (sb.), frighten; of care, disease, love, sin, etc.: distress (sb.); (c) to lower (oneself), debase; (d) to delude (sb.), fool; (e) to speculate, ?worry about something MED

close

dree: verb 2. a. To endure, undergo, suffer, bear (something burdensome, grievous, or painful) OED

close

drublie: adjective Turbid; clouded Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

drut: noun Darling, love, friend OED

close

dole | dool | dule: noun (2) Grief, sorrow, mental distress OED

close

eadi: adjective (2) Happy, fortunate, well-omened. Also, Blessed, saintly; said of persons and their actions OED

close

ei: noun =EGG OED

close

ender: adjective Only in phrase, this ender day, night, year, indicating a day, etc. recently past OED

close

ennoy: noun A troubled state of mind, grief, vexation; also concr. a cause of trouble OED

close

envire: verb = ENVIRON v. 1. trans. a. To form a ring round, surround, encircle OED

close

erd: noun The land where one dwells; native land, home; a region, country OED

close

eterminable: adjective That cannot be terminated; without termination or end; eternal OED

close

eath: adverb Easily, without difficulty OED

close

egleche: adjective ? Valiant OED

close

enhaste: verb Obs. trans. To hasten, hurry; also refl. OED

close

erendrake: noun Obs. A messenger, ambassador OED

close

fallow: adjective¹ 1. Of a pale brownish or reddish yellow colour, as withered grass or leaves. Obs. exc. of the coat of an animal; now chiefly in FALLOW-DEER n. OED

close

fele: adjective and adverb In predicative use: Much, many, numerous. Also in compar.: More in number, more numerous OED

close

fere: noun A companion, comrade, mate, partner; whether male or female OED

close

fere: noun 3. An equal. a. Of a person: Peer; also in phrase, without (peer or) fere OED

close

ferly: adjective and noun 3a. Strange, wonderful, wondrous, marvellous OED

close

ferly: verb 1a intr. To wonder OED

close

fester: noun In early use = FISTULA n.; subsequently, a rankling sore, an ulcer. In mod. use: ‘A superficial suppuration resulting from irritation of the skin’ (Quain Dict. Med. 1882) OED

close

fold: noun 1. Obs. 1.a. The surface of the earth; the ground OED

close

fond: verb [FAND | FOND] trans. To put to the proof, try, test (a person or thing); to make trial of (one’s strength, skill); to taste (food, etc.); in early use with gen. OED

close

forcy: adjective Obs. Chiefly north. Full of force, powerful, strong OED

close

fraist: verb Obs. 1. trans. To try, put to the proof, test OED

close

friar: noun †1. = BROTHER n., in fig. applications; esp. in Old French phrase beu frere ‘fair brother’. Obs. OED

close

frith: noun (2) With uncertain meaning, denoting a wood of some kind, or wooded country collectively, esp. in poet. phrases associated with fell, field OED

close

gestening: noun Entertainment as a guest, lodging, hospitality. Also, a banquet, feast. OED

close

gend: adjective Foolish, simple OED

close

gradely: adverb 2. Carefully, exactly; properly; quite, really; well OED

close

graith: verb trans. To make ready, prepare, put in order, repair; also, to procure OED

close

grede: noun A cry; outcry; noise OED

close

grill: adjective (2.) Cruel, painful, bitter, severe, terrible, dreadful OED

close

grutching: noun (1) a. The action of the verb GRUTCH v.; murmuring, complaining; murmur, complaint, reluctance OED

close

guk: interjection [Imitative or fanciful.] a. An imitative sound or mocking term Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

gup: interjection a. A cry of anger or chiding addressed to a horse OED

close

hale: noun A halo Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

halke: noun A corner, recess, hiding-place OED

close

hance: verb reward〈OE hanse

close

hayward: noun An officer of a manor, township, or parish, having charge of the fences and enclosures, esp. to keep cattle from breaking through from the common into enclosed fields; sometimes, the herdsman of the cattle feeding on the common OED

close

heild: verb Sc. Obs. 1. trans. To cover; to shield, protect; to hide OED

close

hen: noun (2) (a) A poor man; (b) a rascal; ?a niggard; (c) as personal name MED

close

hen, henne: adverb = HENCE adv. : of place, time, or inference MED

close

hend: adjective and adverb Near, at hand OED

close

hery: verb trans. To praise, glorify, exalt, honour, worship OED

close

hidels: noun (a) A secret place, hiding place; refuge; also, a hollow in a stalk of grain; (b) in (on) ~, in secrecy, in private, secretly; putten into ~, to conceal (sb.); (c) ~ place, hidden place MED

close

hiems: noun² Obs. Winter; esp. in poet. personification OED

close

hinder: adj.¹ and noun.² A. adj.¹ 1. Situated behind, at the back, or in the rear; posterior. (Notwithstanding its comparative form, it does not differ in sense from hind, but is more frequently used. Cf. YON adv., YONDER adv., adj., pron., and n.) hinder gate, postern gate. 2. Of time. a. Last past, ‘last’; as in this hinder day yesterday, this hinder night last night, yesternight. OED

close

hore: noun Obs. Dirt, filth, defilement, foulness OED

close

hōrien: verb (2) (a) To defile (sb. or sth.), defoul, pollute; (b) to be or become physically corrupted or rancid; also fig. [quot.: c1390]; (c) ppl. horied, of a person: defiled, corrupted; of an animal: ceremonially unclean. MED

close

i-long: adjective adj., Situated behind, at the back, or in the rear; posterior. (Notwithstanding its comparative form, it does not differ in sense from hind, but is more frequently used) OED

close

keach: verb trans. To take up (water, etc.) with a shallow vessel; to scoop up, ladle out: = CLEACH v. 3 OED

close

kenned: adjective Known OED

close

kinrick: noun = kingdom n., in various senses OED

close

knape: noun Obs. exc. dial. †1. A male child, a boy (= KNAVE n. 1); a lad, young man, youth, fellow. Obs OED

close

lardiner: noun 2. An official who has charge of a larder OED

close

layk: noun Sport, entertainment [ON leikr] Tolkien 1967, 193

close

lay: noun (3.) Law; esp. religious law; hence, a religion, a faith OED

close

leally: adverb Loyally, faithfully, truly OED

close

lease: verb (1) trans. and intr. To glean. †Also with up. (In Old English used in wider sense: to gather, collect.) OED

close

lede: noun Obs. 3. a. sing. A man, person; esp. one of the ‘men’ or subjects of a king or chief; a subject. Also poet. in Old English, a king OED

close

Lenten: noun and adjective Spring; = LENT noun 1 OED

close

leam: noun Now Sc. and north. dial. Light, flame; a flash, ray, or gleam of light; brightness, gleam OED

close

lend: verb (1a) To arrive, come. Also refl. OED

close

leoden: noun (1a) A people, nation, race. Also, persons collectively, ‘people’ OED

close

licham: noun (a.) The body; the living body; also, the body as the seat of desire and appetite OED

close

liss: noun (2) Tranquillity, peace, rest; joy, delight OED

close

lithe: noun (1) Obs. A calm, lull; fig. respite OED

close

lithe: verb (3) To hearken, listen. Const. dat., or to, unto (at, till). Also, to hear of (a thing) OED

close

lither: adjective (1a) Of persons, their actions, dispositions, etc.: Bad, wicked; base, rascally unjust OED

close

lose: noun (1.) Praise; renown, fame. Also in neutral sense, (good or bad) reputation OED

close

maintour: noun A supporter, helper; (b) a supporter of evil or of evil-doers; ? = maintenour 1. (maintainer) MED

close

monge: noun (a) A mingling, an intermixture; confusion MED

close

mavis: noun (1.) The song thrush, Turdus philomelos. Also in extended use. Now poet. and Brit. regional OED

close

mend: noun (I.1a) Recompense, reparation; penance OED

close

menskful: adjective (and noun) Worshipful, honourable; gracious, beautiful. Of a building: stately OED

close

mind: noun¹ I. Senses relating to memory. 1. The state of being remembered; remembrance, recollection. Chiefly in phrases OED

close

mum: noun (a) Mouth; maugre his ~, in spite of himself; ~ pin, a tooth; (b) mouth of a river, only in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.45]; (c)?as surname MED

close

nēre: noun (a) A rawhide shoe or boot; (b) as a derogatory nickname for a Scot MED

close

neven: noun (a) The kidney of a human being or animal OED

close

nist: noun = NIGHT OED

close

nithing: noun and adjective Now arch. and hist. 1. A coward, a villain; a person who breaks the law or a code of honour; an outlaw. †2. A mean or niggardly person; a miser. Obs. OED

close

noyous: adjective Causing annoyance; vexatious, troublesome; (also) †causing harm or injury (obs.) OED

close

ocker: noun Usu. derogatory. Obs. Chiefly Sc. in later use. The lending of money at (excessive) interest, usury; interest gained from this OED

close

onde: noun (1.) Strong feeling against a person, animus; spite, hatred, envy. In early use also: fear, terror OED

close

ore: noun (2.) Mercy, pardon, forgiveness; source of pardon MED

close

overfret: verb Chiefly Sc. Obs. To adorn richly all over. Chiefly in pass. Also fig. OED

close

overgart: adjective Immoderate; excessive; presumptuous OED

close

palatine: adjective Originally: designating a county or other territory in England (and later other countries) as having a ruler with royal privileges and judicial authority (within the territory) which elsewhere belong to the sovereign alone (now hist.). Later: designating a modern administrative area corresponding to this OED

close

pase: noun (2.) Easter; (formerly also) †Passover (obs.); = PASCH n. OED

close

pay: noun (1.) Satisfaction, pleasure, liking. Obs. OED

close

pease: verb (1a.) trans. To make peace between or reconcile (two or more persons); to reconcile (one person) with another OED

close

pine: noun (1.) Punishment; torment, torture, suffering or loss inflicted as punishment; persecution; spec. a punishment suffered in hell or purgatory; = PAIN n.1 1, 2. Obs. (Sc. in later use.) OED

close

prest: noun (1.) A payment or wages in advance; money paid on account to enable a person to proceed with an undertaking OED

close

priven: verb To deprive (sb.) of (sth.), deny (sb. sth.); ppl. prived, bereaved, bereft of, deprived of; without; (b) ~ of (from), to deprive (sb. of sth.), deny (sth. to sb.), exclude (sb. from sth.); prived of (from), deprived of (sth.), bereft of; lacking, without; ben of god priving, be a robber of goods; (c) to depose (sb.), dismiss; ~ of (from), deprive (sb.) of (power, kingdom, etc.), remove or dismiss (sb.) from (office or position); (d) to take (sth.) away; prevent (sth.), deny, oppose; weaken (the body); -- also without obj. MED

close

pured: adjective That has been made pure OED

close

quede: noun and adjective Obs. A. n. 1. Dung, excrement, filth; 2. Evil, wickedness; mischief; harm. Also: an evil thing, an evil deed OED

close

queem: verb (3.) To placate, appease (a person, esp. God). Obs. OED

close

queue: noun (1.) (a) ?A line of dancers MED

close

quhirl: noun a. lit. and fig. A (rapid) turn, revolution or rotatory motion, as of a wheel; b. A swift or violent whirling motion, as of wind or water Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

rax: verb intr. To stretch oneself, esp. on waking from sleep or as a preliminary to further action; to rouse, stir oneself. Also: to yawn (obs.) OED

close

recent: adjective Of the mind or its powers, esp. memory: Undiminished; not weakened by the passage of time; in full vigour Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

resplendishant: adjective Obs. Resplendent; brilliant OED

close

reusing: noun Obs. Sorrow, penitence, repentance; an instance of this. Also: pity; mercy OED

close

rice: noun¹ Now chiefly Brit. regional and Irish English (north.). 1. collect. Twigs or small branches growing on trees or bushes; dense growth of bushes; brushwood, thicket. Now Sc. (chiefly Orkney) and rare OED

close

rifler: noun (1.) A robber, a plunderer, a looter OED

close

rime: verb (1.) trans. To count, reckon, enumerate. Also occas. intr. Now only with up. Formerly also: †to recount (obs.) OED

close

ripe: noun (3.) The bank of a river OED

close

riveling: noun (a) A rawhide shoe or boot; (b) as a derogatory nickname for a Scot MED

close

rock: noun (2.) A distaff. Occas. also: a spindle OED

close

ron: noun Obs. A short poem or song, esp. a love song OED

close

sand: noun Obs. 1. a. The action of sending; that which is sent, a message, present; (God’s) dispensation or ordinance OED

close

Sarai: noun Formerly Tsarev; now New Sarai, Mongolia. Encylopedia Britannica

close

saught: noun Obs. (since 14th c. only Sc. and north.). 1. An agreement, covenant; 2. Agreement, freedom from strife, peace OED

close

secre: adjective and noun Not allowed to be revealed, hidden, occult OED

close

seely: noun (2.) Happy, blissful; fortunate, lucky, well-omened, auspicious OED

close

selly: adverb B. adv. Wonderfully, marvellously, strangely OED

close

semenaunt: noun Appearance, ‘false semblant’ OED

close

sen: conjunction 2. Seeing or considering (that) OED

close

sere: adjective B. 2. Divers, various, sundry OED

close

shamble: noun In Old English, a table or counter for exposing goods for sale, counting money, etc. Obs. OED

close

shavaldour: noun [Aberrant form of chevale macronr n., perh. influenced by a local var. or surname in the north of England, which may also have produced AL schavaldor.] A wanderer, vagabond; also, a gentleman robber near the Scottish border; ?also, a minstrel or entertainer; (b) as surname MED

close

Sheer Thursday: noun The Thursday in Holy Week, Maundy Thursday OED

close

shill: adjective and adverb A. Sonorous, resonant, shrill OED

close

sibred: noun Obs. exc. dial. 1. Relationship, kinship, consanguinity OED

close

sicker: adjective and adverb Free from danger or harm; secure, safe OED

close

simnel: noun (1.) A loaf or bun made of fine flour, usu. lighter than wastel; bread of this kind; ~ horn, ~ with the horn, ?a loaf of this bread made with pointed ends or corners; ferthing ~, a loaf of this bread worth one farthing; (b) ~ silver, ?money paid for transporting bread of this kind; (c) in surnames MED

close

sleight: noun †2. Prudence; wisdom, knowledge. Obs. OED

close

souse: noun (1a) Various parts of a pig or other animal, esp. the feet and ears, prepared or preserved for food by means of pickling OED

close

spelen: verb (a) To save, hoard; save (sth.), refrain from using or consuming; ~ stounde, fail to use (an opportunity); ~ wrecche men, save (sth.) for the poor; (b) to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment (on sb.); spare (sb.) pain or suffering; save (sb. from death or pain); also, give (sb.) respite or reprieve; ~ to, spare (sb. from sins); (c) to relieve (a disagreeable situation) MED

close

steek: verb (1c) ? To keep back (the truth). Obs. OED

close

stern | starn: noun (2) Now only Sc. a. = STAR n.1 OED

close

stound: verb trans. To stun as with a blow; to stupefy, benumb; to stupefy with astonishment, bewilder OED

close

sty: verb (1) intr. To ascend, mount up, rise or climb to a higher level. Said of persons and things OED

close

swing: verb (1c) Cookery. To beat up, ‘whip’ (milk, eggs, etc.). Obs. OED

close

syne: adv. and conj. Directly or next after that; at the next moment; immediately afterwards; then, thereupon; = SINCE adv. 1 OED

close

tache: noun (1a.) A spot, blotch, blot OED

close

tapet: noun (a.) A piece of figured cloth used as a hanging, table-cover, carpet, or the like OED

close

tent: noun (2.) Attention, heed, care; nearly always in the phrases give tent, to give heed, pay attention (obs.), and take tent, to take heed, take care; with to, to pay attention to, take heed to OED

close

thester: adjective Obs. Dark. lit. and fig. OED

close

thir: demonstrative adjective (1.) Qualifying a plural noun or singular nouns indicating something physically present or near or something which has already been or is about to be mentioned: THESE Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

tholemodely: adverb Patiently, submissively, meekly OED

close

tear: noun³ b. The finest fibre of flax or hemp OED

close

tout: noun (2.) [?] A drinking vessel of some sort. — Len me thy batty towt [Ch. that batye tout] Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

tprot: noun Obs. An expression of contempt OED

close

traist: verb Sc. and north. Obs. 1. trans. To make secure or safe, to commit in trust; hence refl. to commit oneself with security or confidence, to trust, = sense 2 OED

close

trendel: verb Obs. 1. trans. To cause to roll or revolve; to roll: = TRUNDLE v. 1a. OED

close

trichard: noun A deceiver, a cheat OED

close

tricline: noun A dining room MED

close

unlated: adjective Sc. Obs. Undisciplined OED

close

unseely: adjective Unfortunate, unhappy, miserable, wretched; deserving pity OED

close

uprist: noun Rising from the dead; resurrection OED

close

ure: noun (1) in ure: In or into use, practice, or performance. Often with vbs., as bring, come, have, and esp. put (freq. c1510–1630) OED

close

vere: noun (1) The season of spring; springtime OED

close

wale: noun (1.b) a paragon of beauty or excellence, someone chosen for virtue MED

close

wandreth: noun Misery, distress, hardship; adversity, poverty OED

close

wang: noun Obs. exc. dial. †1. The cheek. Obs. OED

close

wastern: noun A wilderness OED

close

way: noun (1) gen. A track prepared or available for travelling along; a road, street, lane, or path OED

close

we: pronoun In indefinite usages, often in statements relating to the human condition generally: (2a) we, one, people, everybody; also used conventionally in prayers, carols, etc. MED

close

ween: verb Obs. exc. arch. 1. trans. In regard to what is present or past: To think, surmise, suppose, conceive, believe, consider. In Middle English often with well OED

close

weir: noun 1. Warfare. a. A state or period of hostilities and combat existing between political groups, esp. realms or nations; also, specif. the warlike activity appropriate to knights, and also sometimes applied to the skills involved (see (3) below and cf. some quots. in 2 (1)). b. Hostilities, strife, etc. between (groups of) individuals pursuing private enmities. Dictionary of the Scots Language

close

welkin: noun †1. A cloud. Obs. OED

close

wothe: noun and adjective Obs. A. n. The condition of being exposed to or liable to injury or harm; danger, peril; hurt or harm; a cause of harm or injury OED

close

wray: verb¹ Obs. 1. a. To accuse, denounce, or inform on (a person); to expose (one) by revealing or divulging information, etc., to one’s harm, prejudice, or discredit; to charge with a crime, offence, fault, etc.; = BEWRAY v. 2. OED

close

wreche: noun (1) Retributive punishment; vengeance; = WREAK n. 1. OED

close

wrecheful: adjective Vengeful; revengeful. OED

close

wrother-heal: noun unfortunately, disastrously. Cf. HAIL n.2 2, hale n.1 b. OED

close

yaud: noun (1b) (attrib. or adj.) Of a horse: Worn out OED

close

yelp: verb intr. To boast, speak vaingloriously OED

close

yisse: verb Obs. trans. (in Old English const. gen. or dat.) and intr. To covet [fom which: yissing n. coveting, covetousness] OED