Common Chaucerian Words
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" ) |