The following is a list of Chaucerian words you should find helpful. They are arranged within their parts of speech.
NOUNS
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
array |
condition, arrangement |
|
lust |
pleasure, desire |
|
bane |
destruction, killer |
|
lym |
limb |
|
boote |
remedy |
|
mete |
food |
|
conseil |
counsel, advice |
|
paas |
slow walk, pace |
|
deel |
part, bit |
|
rede |
advice |
|
degree |
rank, social condition |
|
routh |
pity |
|
devyse |
trick, device |
|
sleighte |
trick |
|
drede |
doubt, fear |
|
sooth |
truth |
|
ensample |
example |
|
vilenye |
churlishness |
|
estaat |
condition in life, rank |
|
viage |
expedition, voyage |
|
forward |
agreement |
|
werre |
war |
|
foule/fowel |
bird |
|
jape |
joke, trick |
ADJECTIVES
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
certeyn |
sure, certain |
|
povre |
poor |
|
fer, ferrer, ferrest |
far, farther, farthest |
|
siker |
certain, trusty |
|
fetis |
well made, graceful |
|
verray |
true |
|
feyn |
glad, willing |
|
wode/wood |
mad, crazy |
|
gentle |
noble |
|
hye/heigh |
high |
|
ny, near, next |
near, nearer, nearest |
|
hende |
handy, tricky, courteous |
|
leef |
dear |
|
looth |
hateful, loath |
VERBS
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
axe |
ask |
|
helpen, heelp/help, yholpe |
help, cure |
|
brenne |
burn |
|
lesen |
lose |
|
bresten, braste, ybrest |
burst |
|
reknen |
to reckon |
|
chesen, chees, ychose |
choose |
|
rennen, ran, yronne |
run |
|
clepen |
call |
|
rekne |
reckon |
|
deme(n) |
judge, consider |
|
wene |
suppose, consider |
|
dighten, dighte |
prepare, adorn, equip |
|
wedden |
pledge, marry |
|
duren |
endure, last |
|
wilnen |
desire, want |
|
fallen, fil/fel, yfalle |
happen, befall |
|
yeven/yiven, yaf, (y)yeven |
give |
|
gyen |
guide, direct |
|
witen, wot, wiste |
know |
|
highte |
be called [also p.p of hoten, to promise] |
ADVERBS
Notice that many adverbs retain an old -s, -es genitive ending
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
after |
according to |
|
nedes |
by necessity |
|
agayns |
towards |
|
ones |
once |
|
agon |
ago, long ago |
|
overal |
everywhere |
|
atones |
at once, immediately |
|
owher |
anywhere |
|
ay |
ever, forever |
|
unethe(s) |
hardly |
|
blyve |
quickly |
|
there |
where |
|
certes |
truly, certainly |
|
yliche |
alike |
|
eft |
again |
|
yond |
yonder |
|
er |
ere, before, earlier |
|
whilom |
once, formerly |
|
erst |
first, at first |
DEMONSTRATIVES
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
ech, iche |
each |
|
everich |
each |
|
everichon |
every one |
|
ilk |
each |
|
swich |
such, some |
|
thilke |
the same, that same |
CONJUNCTIONS
Be aware that a number of Chaucer's conjunctions do not survive in Modern English, and those that do often have different meanings.
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
al |
although, even if |
|
for, for that |
because |
|
als, al so |
as |
|
for to |
in order to |
|
and, and if |
if |
|
other, outher |
or |
|
but, but if |
if, unless |
|
or... or |
either... or |
|
eek/eke |
also |
|
sin/syn |
since |
|
forthy |
therefore |
|
sithe(n) |
since |
|
forwhy |
because |
|
ther(as) |
where |
|
wher |
whether; also used to introduce a question |
PREPOSITIONS
These are the most common Chaucerian prepositions that differ in form or meaning from Modern English.
|
Middle English |
Modern English |
|
after |
according to. after |
|
maugree |
despite |
|
agayn, agaynes |
against, toward |
|
of |
by (when used as the agent of a passive) |
|
at |
Of, from, at |
|
atte |
at the |
|
thurgh |
through |
|
biforn |
before |
|
til |
toward |
|
bitwix, bitwinen |
between |
|
up |
upon |
|
fro |
from |
|
with |
by (when used as agent of a passive) |
|
inwith |
within |
|
withouten |
without (also as an adverb "outside" ) |