1522 That he would prefer to abstain from his desire
1523 cherlissh churlish
1524 franchise generosity gentillesse nobility
1529 That he would rather be shamed – and that would be a pity
1531 I have wel levere I much prefer
1532 departe separate
1534 Quit paid, fulfilled serement oath
1537–8 plighte pledge repreve Of reproach for
1546 is she fare she went
1548 siker sure wel apaid pleased
1550 What why endite write
1557 forlorn wasted
1560 pured refined, pure wighte weight
1562 I cannot see that I am anything but ruined
1563 nedes of necessity
1566 But unless
1571 soor aching cofre money-chest
1574 of his gentillesse out of kindness
1575 graunte him dayes of allow him time for
1576 make avant boast
1578 quit paid
1580 Even if I were to go begging in nothing but my tunic
1581 wolde ye vouchesauf if you would grant seuretee security
1582 respiten grant a respite to
1583 were I wel I would be in a good position
1587 holden covenant kept the agreement
1594 reherce repeat
1598 als also
1599 looth hir was reluctant she was
1602 apparence illusion
1606 This al and som this is the long and the short of it
1608 dide gentilly til oother acted nobly towards the other
1614 As if you had just arrived on earth (lit. crept out of the ground)
1622 free generous
3 Fulfild of filled with
4 strong of well provided with
8 wight creature
9 soverein supreme
13 When it pleases me. Who can imitate me
14 bete hammer
15 grave engrave
17 Outher either
19 formere creator
20 vicaire-general deputy (n.)
22 cure control
24 axe ask
25 been ful of oon acord are completely in harmony
26 worship honour
33 peinture colouring
35 limes free beautiful limbs
38 burned hete burnished heat
42 to preise to be praised discrecioun discernment
43 goost spirit
46 attemperance moderation
47 mesure restraint bering behaviour
50 facound eloquence plein unadorned
51 countrefeted affected
52 after hir degree according to her position in society
54 Sowninge in conducing to
55 Shamefast modest
56 in bisinesse active
58 Bacchus had absolutely no control over her mouth
59 dooth … encresse causes to increase
60 gresse fat
61 unconstreined unconstrained
62 sik hir feined pretended to be sick
64 treten of folye engage in foolish behaviour
66 occasions of opportunities for daliaunces flirtations
69 yoore for a long time
70 loore practice
71 woxen is has become
72 olde lif old age
73 han in governaunce have in your care
74 Ne taketh … no displesaunce do not be displeased
75 governinges authority
77 honestee chastity
78 freletee frailty
79 wel inow very well the olde daunce all the old tricks
82 slake tire
83 forlaft abandoned
84 likerousnesse unlicensed behaviour
86 kepeth wel keep guard
90 taketh kepe take note
91 soverein pestilence the greatest evil
92 bitrayseth betrays
95 Youre yours charge responsibility surveaunce surveillance
97 Beth war take care
99 perisse perish
100 abeye pay for
102 to-rent torn in pieces
103 ensample example
106 kepte hirself governed herself
109 longeth to befits
110 bountevous virtuous
111 out sprong spread
112 bountee goodness
115 Which is sorry at other men’s prosperity
116 unheele misfortune
118 upon a day one day
120 manere custom
124 avisinge him ful faste pondering deeply
125 forby ther past the place where
128 prively secretly
129 for in spite of
130 feend devil
131 slighte cunning
133 meede bribery
134 speede be successful
135 strong of well provided with
136 Confermed securely established
137 wiste knew
140 was who was
141 for subtil to be cunning
143 secree wise secretly ensure give assurance
145 lese lose
146 assented agreed reed plan
147 maked him gret cheere made much of him
150 Fro point to point in every detail
151 Parfourned put into effect ful subtilly very cunningly
153 highte was called
156 historial thing notable a well-known historical fact
157 sentence substance sooth true
158 gooth … faste aboute is earnestly intent on
159 hasten hurry on
162 consistorye law-court
163 domes judgements
164 a ful gret pas quickly
166 As dooth me right give me justice bille petition (n.)
167 pleine upon make a complaint against
170 sooth true
172 diffinitif conclusive
173 Lat do him calle have him summoned
174 al right full justice
175 wite learn
176 rad read out
177 sentence content
179 Sheweth declares
182 expres again directly opposed to
183 thral bondswoman, serf
184 stole stolen
186 so that provided that greve displease
189 Yeld give back
199 deme adjudge, rule
200 save keep
201 warde guardianship
202 awarde determine
207 sette him seated himself
208 leet … calle had called
209 asshen ashes
211 stikinge piercing
212 converte swerve
215 bore born
216 wherfore on any account
218 endere ender (one who ends)
224 sentence decision
226 smiten of cut off
227 say saw
229 al the cas the whole event
234 borste burst
238 leiser time
239 compleine a litel space lament a little while
241 slow slew
242 trespas offence
244 solempnitee celebration
245 aswowne in a swoon
246 agon over
252 softe gently
255 hente seized
257 yet still doom judgement
260 in thraste thrust their way in
263 suspect suspicion
264 chalanging false accusation
266 wisten knew
267 For which therefore
269 Theras where
271 demed sentenced
273 So preide made such entreaties
274 hadde been bigiled would have been undone
275 moore and lesse great and small
276 consentant of accessory to
279 degree social rank
280–81 worm pangs (lit. serpent) agrise Of revolt from privee secret
282 but except
283 lewed uneducated lered educated
284 noot
does not know
285 rede advise conseil counsel
287 as he were wood as if he was mad
290 devise imagine
292 Algate nevertheless sely innocent
293 Alas, she paid too high a price for beauty
294 alday constantly
300 prow benefit
303 passe over is no fors it does no harm to move on
304 cors person
305 urinals … jurdones glass vessels used by physicians (n.)
306 ipocras cordials galiones medicines (n.)
307 boiste box letuarye medicine
309 theen prosper
310 prelat prelate
311 terme jargon, technical language
312 erme grieve
313 cardinacle see n.
314 By corpus bones by God’s bones (n.) triacle medicinal potion
315 corny tasting strongly of malt
318 beel ami dear friend
319 japes jokes
321 ale-stake inn-sign (g.)
324 ribaudye obscenity
325 leere learn
326 wit wisdom
328 honeste proper
330 peine me make an effort hautein loud
331 round loudly
332 kan al know everything
333 theme text oon the same
334 Avarice is the root of all evil
335 pronounce announce whennes whence
336 bulles papal edicts alle and some one and all
337 The bishop seal on my ecclesiastical licence
338 warente safeguard
340 destourbe of hinder from
343 patriarkes patriarchs, high-ranking bishops
345 saffron season with saffron, add spice to predicacioun preaching
346 stire incite
348 Ycrammed crammed cloutes rags
349 wenen believe
350 latoun brass shulder-bon shoulder-bone
352 tak of my wordes keep pay attention to my words
355 worm snake ystonge stung
358 pokkes pustules scabbe scab (a disease affecting sheep) soor disease
360 Taak kepe pay attention to
361 goodman householder oweth owns
362 wike week
365 stoor livestock
368 Lat maken his potage have his soup made
369 mistriste mistrust
370 defaute sin
372 mitein mitten, glove
376 So that provided that grotes groats (g.)
377 o one
380 yshriven confessed
382 cokewold cuckold
386 a in
387 assoille absolve
389 gaude trick
390 mark sum of money equivalent to
392 lewed lay is doun set have sat down
394 japes tricks
395 peine I me I exert myself
396 est and west in all directions bekke nod
397 dowve dove berne barn
398 yerne busily
401 free generous
403 entente aim
405 rekke nevere do not care at all beried buried
406 goon a-blakeberied go astray, go to perdition (lit. go picking blackberries)
409 for plesance of in order to please
410 been avanced win promotion
412 noon oother weyes in no other way debate quarrel
413 smerte sharply
414 asterte escape
415 defamed slandered
416 trespased done offence
420 In this way I pay back people who offend the likes of me
421 hewe appearance
423 devise describe
424 coveitise covetousness
427 again against
430–31 twinne From forsake, renounce soore bitterly
435 ensamples illustrative anecdotes
437 lewed uneducated
439 trowe ye do you think
440 for because
441 wilfully voluntarily
446 idelly unprofitably
447 countrefete imitate
449 Even if it were given by the poorest peasant
451 sterve die
455 liking pleasure
456 corny tasting strongly of malt
458 by resoun with reason at youre liking to your liking
461 wont accustomed
463 whilom once
464 haunteden folye indulged in dissipation
465 hasard gambling stewes brothels
466 giternes gitterns (lute-like instruments)
467 dees dice
468 over hir might more than their capacity
472 othes oaths dampnable worthy of damnation
473 grisly horrible
474 to-tere tear to pieces
475 rente tore
476 lough laughed
477 tombesteres female tumblers, acrobats
478 Fetis elegant smale slender frutesteres female fruit-sellers
479 wafereres wafer-sellers
484 luxurye lechery
485 unkindely unnaturally
486 unwitingly unknowingly
487 niste did not know
488 soghte were to examine
489 replet filled
490 heste command
491 sleen slay
495 dronkelewe a drunkard
496 woodnesse madness yfallen in occurring in shrewe villain
497 Persevereth lasts
499 confusioun ruin
500 original cause
503 Aboght paid for vileinye wickedness
507 it is no drede there is no doubt
510 Eet ate defended forbidden
512 pleine complain
513 wiste a man if a man knew
515 mesurable moderate
517 shorte throte short stretch of the gullet
519 to-swinke labour away
520 glotoun glutton deintee mete delicious food
522 wombe stomach
526 rede red (wine)
527 privee latrine (n.)
534 cod bag, belly
535 donge dung
536 soun sound
537 finde provide for
538 cokes cooks stampe pound
539 see n.
540 likerous talent gluttonous desire
542 mary marrow noght nothing
543 golet gullet soote sweetly
545 by delit delightfully
547 haunteth indulges in delices pleasures
550 striving strife
554 ay continually
556 stiked swin stuck pig
557 honest cure desire for decency
558 sepulture grave
561 conseil secret
564 to selle for sale
567 fumositee vapour
569 weneth thinks
574 soverein outstanding
578 leere learn
583 aviseth yow consider
586 expresly explicitly
587 Of win-yeving about giving wine justise jurisdiction
590 defenden forbid hasardrye gambling
591 lesinges lies
592 forsweringes perjuries
593 Blaspheme blasphemy wast waste
594 catel property
595 It is a disgrace and dishonour
596 To be regarded as a common gambler
598 yholden desolat socially shunned
600 policye administration
602 Yholde considered
606 happede it befell par chaunce by chance
610 stal him stole, went unobtrusively
612 N’I wol nat nor will I defame dishonour
615 me were levere I would prefer
619 tretee negotiation
624 therbiforn previously
627 pley amusement
628 Honeste seemly
632 reprevable reprehensible
633 at al completely
637 swere in doom take an oath in court
638 idel frivolous
639 table tablet (n.)
640 hestes com
mandments
642 in idel in vain
643 rather earlier (in the list) forbedeth forbids
646 that those who
648 forther over besides plat bluntly
650 outrageous unrestrained
653 chaunce number thrown at dice cink five treye three
656 bicched bones cursed bones, i.e. dice
658 dide died
659 Lete leave off
660 telle forth proceed to tell
661 riotoures profligates
662 erst er before prime 9 a.m. (g.) rong was rung
663 Were set hem were seated
664 clinke ring
665 cors corpse
666 knave servant
667 Go bet go quickly
668 heer forby past this place
670 it nedeth never a del it is not necessary
674 Fordronke blind drunk
675 privee sly clepeth call
677 smoot struck
679 pestilence plague
681 were would be
683 everemoore always
684 dame mother
687 Henne from here
688 hine farm labourer page peasant
690 been avised take care
694 by wey and eek by strete everywhere
695 digne noble
697 til to
702 Togidres togetherhir trouthes plight pledged their word
704 ybore born
705 stirte leaped
709 to-rente tore in pieces
710 hente lay hold of
713 povre poor
714 grette (= gretede) greeted
715 God yow se may God protect you
717 carl knave with sory grace bad luck to you
718 forwrapped wrapped up
722 Inde India
725 moot I han I must keep
728 caitif wretch
731 Leeve dear
732 vanisshe waste away
736 heire clowte hair-cloth
738 welked withered
740 vileinye discourtesy
741 But he trespase unless he does wrong
743 Agains in the presence of
744 reed advice
746 wolde would wish
747 abide last
748 wher wherever
752 partest depart lightly easily
755 espye spy
756 abye pay for
758 of his assent in league with him
The Canterbury Tales Page 169