Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 1997

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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

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afte: adverb Back; wenden on ~, pervert MED

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

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

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aport: noun Bearing, demeanour Dictionary of the Scots Language

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an-inne: preposition Within OED

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

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

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

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

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

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bedene: adverb In one body or company, together OED

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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bloke: verb Obs. intr. To turn pale OED

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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

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drublie: adjective Turbid; clouded Dictionary of the Scots Language

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drut: noun Darling, love, friend OED

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

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

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ei: noun =EGG OED

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

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

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

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

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

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eath: adverb Easily, without difficulty OED

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egleche: adjective ? Valiant OED

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

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erendrake: noun Obs. A messenger, ambassador OED

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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

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

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

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

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

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ferly: verb 1a intr. To wonder OED

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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gend: adjective Foolish, simple OED

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

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

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grede: noun A cry; outcry; noise OED

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

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

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

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

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hale: noun A halo Dictionary of the Scots Language

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

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hance: verb reward〈OE hanse

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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

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

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

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

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hend: adjective and adverb Near, at hand OED

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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kenned: adjective Known OED

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

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

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

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

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

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leally: adverb Loyally, faithfully, truly OED

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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nist: noun = NIGHT OED

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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overgart: adjective Immoderate; excessive; presumptuous OED

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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pured: adjective That has been made pure OED

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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resplendishant: adjective Obs. Resplendent; brilliant OED

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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semenaunt: noun Appearance, ‘false semblant’ OED

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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tholemodely: adverb Patiently, submissively, meekly OED

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

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

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tprot: noun Obs. An expression of contempt OED

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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

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

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trichard: noun A deceiver, a cheat OED

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tricline: noun A dining room MED

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unlated: adjective Sc. Obs. Undisciplined OED

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

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uprist: noun Rising from the dead; resurrection OED

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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

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

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

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

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

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wastern: noun A wilderness OED

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

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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

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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

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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

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welkin: noun †1. A cloud. Obs. OED

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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

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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

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

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wrecheful: adjective Vengeful; revengeful. OED

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

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

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yelp: verb intr. To boast, speak vaingloriously OED

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