Chapter V (1)

[Sidenote: Much sorrow settles upon Jonah.]
Muche sorȝe þe{n}ne satteled vpon segge Ionas,
He wex as wroth as þe wynde towarde oure lorde,
[Sidenote: He becomes very angry.]
So hatȝ ang{er} onhit his hert; he calleȝ
[Sidenote: He prays to God and says: “Was not this my saying,
when Thy message reached me in my own country?]
A prayer to þe hyȝe prynce, for pyne, on þys wyse: 412
“I biseche þe syre now þ{o}u self iugge,
Watȝ not þis ilk my worde þat worþen is nouþe,
Þat I kest i{n} my cu{n}tre, when þ{o}u þy carp sendeȝ,
Þat I schulde tee to þys tou{n}, þi talent to preche? 416
[Sidenote: I knew Thy great goodness, Thy long-suffering,
and Thy mercy.]
Wel knew I þi cortaysye, þy quoy{n}t soffrau{n}ce.
Þy bou{n}té of debonerté & þy bene g{ra}ce,
Þy longe abydy{n}g wyth lur, þy late vengau{n}ce,
& ay þy mercy is mete, be mysse neu{er} so huge. 420
I wyst wel when I hade worded quatsoeu{er} I cowþe,
[Sidenote: I knew these men might make their peace with Thee,
therefore I fled unto Tarshish.]
To manace alle þise mody men þat i{n} þis mote dowelleȝ,
Wyth a prayer & a pyne þay myȝt her pese gete,
& þer-fore I wolde haf flowen fer i{n}-to tarce. 424
[Sidenote: Take my life from me, O Lord!]
Now lorde lach out my lyf, hit lastes to longe,
Bed me bilyue my bale sto{ur}, & bry{n}g me on ende,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 89a.]]
[Sidenote: It is better for me to die than live.”]
For me were swett{er} to swelt, as swyþe as me þynk,
Þe{n} lede lenger þi lore, þat þ{us} me les makeȝ.” 428
[Sidenote: God upbraids Jonah, saying: “Is this right to be so
wroth?”]
Þe sou{n} of oure sou{er}ayn þen swey i{n} his ere,
Þat vpbraydes þis burne vpon a breme wyse:
“Herk renk! is þis ryȝt so ronkly to wrath,
For any dede þat I haf don oþ{er} demed þe ȝet?” 432
[Sidenote: Jonah, jangling, uprises, and makes himself a bower,
of hay and ever-fern, to shield him from the sun.]
Ionas al Ioyles & Ianglande vp-ryses
& haldeȝ out on est half of þe hyȝe place,
& farandely on a felde he fetteleȝ hy{m} to bide,
For to wayte on þat won what schulde worþe aft{er}. 436
Þer he busked hy{m} a bo{ur}, þe best þat he myȝt,
Of hay & of eu{er}-ferne & erbeȝ a fewe,
For hit watȝ playn i{n} þat place for plyande greueȝ,
For to schylde fro þe schene, oþ{er} any schade keste. 440
He bowed vnder his lyttel boþe, his bak to þe su{n}ne,

[Headnote: JONAH IS SHELTERED BY A WOODBINE.]

[Sidenote: He slept heavily all night.]
& þer he swowed & slept sadly al nyȝt,
[Sidenote: God prepared a woodbine.]
Þe whyle god of his grace ded growe of þat soyle,
Þe fayrest bynde hy{m} abof þat eu{er} burne wyste. 444
When þe dawande day dryȝtyn con sende,
[Sidenote: Jonah awakes, and is exceedingly glad of the bower.]
Þe{n}ne wakened þe wyȝ vnder wodbynde,
Loked alofte on þe lef þat lylled grene;
Such a lefsel of lof neu{er} lede hade, 448
For hit watȝ brod at þe boþem, boȝted onlofte,
Happed vpon ayþ{er} half a ho{us} as hit were,
A nos on þe norþ syde & nowhere non elleȝ,
Bot al schet i{n} a schaȝe þat schaded ful cole. 452
[Sidenote: The prophet, under its gracious leaves, is protected
from the sun’s rays.]
Þe gome glyȝt on þe grene g{ra}ciouse leues,
Þat eu{er} wayued a wynde so wyþe & so cole;
Þe schyre su{n}ne hit vmbe-schon, þaȝ no schafte myȝt
Þe mou{n}tau{n}ce of a lyttel mote, vpon þat man schyne, 456
Þe{n}ne watȝ þe gome so glad of his gay logge,
Lys loltrande þer-i{n}ne, lokande to toune,
So blyþe of his wodbynde he balt{er}es þer vnde[r],
Þat of no diete þat day þe[22] deuel haf, he roȝt; 460
& eu{er} he laȝed as he loked þe loge alle aboute,
[Sidenote: Jonah wishes he had such a lodge in his own country.]
& wysched hit were i{n} his kyth, þer he wony schulde,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 89b.]]
On heȝe vpon Effraym oþ{er} ermo{n}nes hilleȝ,
“I-wysse a worþloker won to welde I neu{er} keped.” 464
& quen hit neȝed to naȝt nappe hy{m} bihoued;
He slydeȝ on a slou{m}be, slep slogh{e} vnder leues,
[Sidenote: God prepared a worm, that made the woodbine wither.]
Whil god wayned a worme þat wrot vpe þe rote,
& wyddered watȝ þe wodbynde bi þat þe wyȝe wakned; 468
& syþen he warneȝ þe west to waken ful softe,
& sayeȝ vnte[23] ȝefer{us} þat he syfle warme,
Þat þer quikken no cloude bi-fore þe cler su{n}ne,
& ho schal busch vp ful brode & bre{n}ne as a candel. 472
[Sidenote: Jonah awakes and finds his woodbine destroyed.]
Þen wakened þe wyȝe of his wyl dremes,
& blusched to his wodbynde þat broþely watȝ marred,
[Sidenote: The leaves were all faded.]
Al welwed & wasted þo worþelych leues;
Þe schyre su{n}ne hade hem schent, er eu{er} þe schalk wyst, 476
[Sidenote: The sun beat upon the head of Jonah.]
& þe{n} hef vp þe hete & het{er}ly bre{n}ned;
Þe warm wynde of þe weste wert{es} he swyþeȝ.
Þe man marred on þe molde þat moȝt hy{m} not hyde,
His wodbynde watȝ away, he weped for sorȝe, 480

[Headnote: HE LAMENTS ITS DESTRUCTION.]

[Sidenote: He is exceedingly angry, and prays God that he may
die.]
“With hatel ang{er} & hot, het{er}ly he calleȝ:
A! þ{o}u maker of man, what mayst{er}y þe þynkeȝ
Þ{us} þy freke to forfare forbi alle oþ{er},
W{i}t{h} alle meschef þat þ{o}u may, neu{er} þ{o}u me spareȝ? 484
I keu{er}ed me a cu{m}fort þat now is caȝt fro me,
My wod-bynde so wlonk þat wered my heued,
Bot now I se þ{o}u art sette my solace to reue;
Why ne dyȝtteȝ þ{o}u me to diȝe; I dure to longe?” 488
[Sidenote: God rebukes the prophet.]
Ȝet oure lorde to þe lede lansed a speche:
[Sidenote: “Dost thou well,” He says, “to be angry for the
gourd?”]
“Is þis ryȝt-wys þ{o}u renk, alle þy ronk noyse,
So wroth for a wodbynde to wax so sone,
Why art þ{o}u so waymot wyȝe for so lyttel?” 492
[Sidenote: Jonah replies, “I would I were dead.”]
“Hit is not lyttel,” q{uod} þe lede, “bot lykker to ryȝt,
I wolde I were of þis worlde wrapped i{n} moldeȝ.”
[Sidenote: God asks if it is to be wondered at that He should
help His handy work.]
“Þe{n}ne byþenk þe mon, if þe for-þynk sore,
If I wolde help my honde werk, haf þ{o}u no wonder; 496
[Sidenote: Is not Jonah angry that his woodbine is destroyed,
which cost him no labour?]
Þ{o}u art waxen so wroth for þy wod-bynde,
& trauayledeȝ neu{er} to tent hit þe tyme of an howre,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 89a.]]
Bot at a wap hit here wax & away at an oþ{er},
& ȝet lykeȝ þe so luþ{er}, þi lyf woldeȝ þ{o}u tyne; 500
[Sidenote: God is not to be blamed for taking pity upon people
that He made.]
Þe{n}ne wyte not me for þe werk þat I hit wolde help,
& rwe on þo redles þat remen for sy{n}ne.
Fyrst I made he{m} myself of mat{er}es my{n} one,
& syþen I loked he{m} ful longe & hem on lode hade; 504
& if I my trauayl schulde tyne of t{er}mes so longe,
[Sidenote: Should He destroy Nineveh the sorrow of such a sweet
place would sink to His heart.]
& type dou{n} ȝonder tou{n} when hit turned were,
Þe sor of such a swete place burde synk to my hert,
So mony malicio{us} mon as mo{ur}neȝ þ{er}-i{n}ne; 508
[Sidenote: In the city there are little bairns who have done no
wrong.]
& of þat sou{m}me ȝet arn su{m}me such sotteȝ for madde,
As lyttel barneȝ on barme þat neuer bale wroȝt,
& wy{m}men vnwytté þat wale ne couþe
Þat on hande fro þat oþ{er} for[24] alle þis hyȝe worlde, 512
[Sidenote: And there are others who cannot discern between their
right hand and their left hand.]
Bitwene þe stele & þe stayre disserne noȝt cu{n}en,
What rule renes i{n} rou{n} bitwene þe ryȝt hande
& his lyfte, þaȝ his lyf schulde lost be þer-for;
[Sidenote: There are also dumb beasts in the city incapable of
sinning.]
& als þer ben dou{m}be besteȝ i{n} þe burȝ mony, 516
Þat may not sy{n}ne i{n} no syt hem seluen to greue,
Why schulde I wrath wyth hem, syþe{n} wyȝeȝ wyl torne,
& cu{m}[25] & cnawe me for ky{n}g, & my carpe leue?
Wer I as hastif a[s] þ{o}u, heere were harme lu{m}pen, 520
Couþe I not þole bot as þ{o}u þer þryued ful fewe;
I may not be so mal[i]cio{us} & mylde be halden,

[Headnote: GOD JUSTIFIES HIS MERCY AND FORBEARANCE.]

[Sidenote: Judgment must be tempered with mercy.]
For malyse is noȝ[t] to may{n}tyne boute mercy w{i}t{h}i{n}ne;
Be noȝt so gryndel god man, bot go forth þy wayes.” 524
[Sidenote: He that is too hasty to rend his clothes must
afterwards sit with worse ones to sew them together.]
Be preue & be pacient, i{n} payne & i{n} Ioye,
For he þat is to rakel to renden his cloþeȝ,
Mot efte sitte w{i}t{h} more vn-sou{n}de to sewe he{m} togeder.
[Sidenote: Poverty and pain must be endured.]
For-þy when pou{er}té me enpreceȝ & payneȝ i{n}-noȝe, 528
Ful softly w{i}t{h} suffrau{n}ce saȝttel me bihoueȝ,
[Sidenote: Patience is a noble point, though it displeases oft.]
For þe penau{n}ce & payne to preue hit i{n} syȝt,
Þat pacience is a nobel poy{n}t, þaȝ hit displese ofte. Amen.

[Sidenote 22: _de_ altered to þe.]
[Sidenote 23: _vnto_ (?).]
[Sidenote 24: MS. _fol_.]
[Sidenote 25: _Or_ cu{n}.]

NOTES: _Patience_.

P. 89.

l. 3 _þe swelme leþe_, lessen the heat.
4 _qued_, evil.
5 _syt_, sorrow; _sele_, happiness.
6 _þro_, anger.
7
_þen is better to abyde þe bur vmbe-stoundes_,
Then is it better to abide the blow sometimes.
10 _melede_, related.
11 _aȝt_, eight.
12 _sunder-lupes_, severally.
13 _happen_, blessed.

P. 90.

l. 30 _lyknyng_, likeness; _þewes_, virtues.
42 _lyke oþer greme_, pleasing or displeasing.
47 _lyȝtloker_, more easily; _lotes_, forms.
50 _what dowes me þe dedayn_, what avails me anger.
53 _grayþed_, availed.
56 _þe(t) had bowed_, etc., That should have been obedient.

P. 91.

l. 63 _Goddes glam to hym glod_, God’s message came to him.
66 _wythouten oþer speche_, without contradiction, without more words.
67 _my saȝes soghe_, etc., my saws (words) sow, etc.
77 _typped schrewes_, great sinners; literally, extreme, tip-top,
schrews.
78 _ta me_, take me, seize me.
82 _mansed_, cursed.
94 _glwande_, glowing, bright; _gloumbes_, sees (indistinctly).

P. 92.

l. 98 _to the fare_, to the voyage.
101 _tramme_, gear.
104
_Sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawlyne_,
Spread quickly to the sprit the spar bowline (?).
106 _ladde-borde_, larboard.
107 _blyþe breþe_, gentle wind; _bosum_, tide.
108 _He_ refers to _breþe_.
112 _maȝt_, might; _mere_, sea.
115 _wenyng_, supposition.
117 _burde_, behoved.
119 _demed_, uttered.
122 _stapefole_ = _stapeful_ = high (?)

P. 93.

l. 131 _crafte_, power.
135 _tom_, interval.
140 _souȝed_, sobbed, moaned; _selly_, marvel.
141 _wonne_, pale.
143 _busched_ = _busked_, went.
144 _for roȝ_ = for roughness.
148 _bur_ = wave.
150 _to murte_, (?) _to-marte_, crushed, broken in pieces.
152 _coge_, boat.
155 _scaþel_, hurtful, dangerous.
156 _lode_ = _lote_, lot.
160 _leþe_, calm, quiet.
161 _lot_, noise, roar.

P. 94.

l. 173 _I lovne_, I offer (this advice), propose.
183 _flode lotes_, the noises of the flood.
184 _brede_, board.
185 _hurrok_, oar.
191 _runyschly_, fiercely.
192 _slaȝte_, strokes.
198 _lastes_, crimes.

P. 95.

l. 208 _at a worde one_, at a word alone.
213 _ossed_, showed, proved; _vnnynges_, signs.
216 _ruyt_, rush, hasten.
227 _baleleȝ_, innocent.
229 _synne_, after.

P. 96.

l. 247 _as wyrde þen schaped_, as fate then devised.
255 _malskred_, entranced, bewildered.
258 _warlowes_, monster’s.
259 _lyue_ = _leue_, believe.
262 _wauleȝ_ = shelterless, destitute, but _wanleȝ_ = _wonleȝ_
= hopeless, is perhaps a better reading.
268 _chawleȝ_, jaws.
269 _glaymande glette_, slimy mud.
270 _rop_, gut, intestine.

P. 97.

l. 273 _faþmeȝ_, gropes.
275 _saym_, fat, grease.
277 _le_, shelter.
291 _merk_, darkness.
292 _bulk_, stern.
302 _borne_ = _burne_, man.

P. 98.

l. 309 _flem_ = _flum_, stream.
317 _to my wo stoundeȝ_ = ? until my woe over-powers (confounds) me.
320 _to laste_ ? to the last; _mere_, boundary.
325 _þacces_, blows.
329 _meled_, conversed.
338 _spare drye_ dry _spar_ (rafter) but ? _spare_ = _space_.
339 _a warthe_, a ford.
341 _sluchched_ = _sluched_, dirty, muddy.
342 _mester_, need.

P. 99.

l. 345 _bruxleȝ_, reproaches, upbraids,
350 _loke_ = _loken_, fastened.
362 _dumpe_, be thrust.
364 _swete_, life; _to lose þe swete_ = to lose the (sweet) life.
372 _doured_, mourned, grieved. Cf. Sc. _dour_.
373 _Heter hayreȝ þay hent_, etc., rough hair shirts they took, etc.

P. 100.

l. 395 _for-clemmed_, very hungry, starved.
396 _rurd_, cry.
400 _amesyng_ = _mesyng_ = _mese_, pity, mercy.
403 _wodschip_, wrath.
411 _on-hit_, struck or inflamed (?); _calleȝ_, addresses.

P. 101.

l. 418 _bene_, bountiful, kind.
419 _lur_, loss.
426 _bale-stour_, death-pang; _bale_ in the sense of death is not
very common.
447 _lylled_, flourished.
448 _lefsel_ = _leaf-bower_. See Glossary.

P. 102.

l. 449 _boȝted_, curved.
450 _happed_, covered.
451 _a nos_ = a projection, opening (?) or is it a clerical error
for _abof_ = _above_.
452 _schaȝe_ = wood, shaw.
453 _glyȝt_, glanced.
460 _þe deuel_ ? _ded euel_, did evil.
470 _syfle_, blow.
473 _wyl_, wandering.
478 _wertes he swyþeȝ_, herbs he scorches.

P. 103.

l. 486 _wered_, protected.
489 _lansed_, uttered.
492 _waymot_ = angry, passionate.
502 _remen_, mourn, lament.
509 _soumme_, company.

P. 104.

l. 524 _gryndel_, angry.
526 _rakel_, hasty.

Errata (noted by transcriber)

Minor spelling variations-- such as added or missing final “e”-- between the main text and endnotes were left as printed.

[33 Sidenote] ... peace and patience. [patience,]
[237 Sidenote] ... thank God, and perform ... [God. and]
[391 Sidenote] [Fol. 88b.]
[_missing folio number supplied from 1864 edition_]
[463 Sidenote] [Fol. 89b.]
[499 Sidenote] [Fol. 89a.]
[_text unchanged: 1864 edition has same error_]

NOTES

273 _faþmeȝ_, gropes.
[_body text and glossary have “fathme(ȝ)”_]
317 [316]

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

GLOSSARIAL INDEX

Abate, lessen, put an end to, A. 123; B. 1356.
Abate, abode, A. 617.
Abayst, downcast, abashed, B. 149, pret. of _abaisse_ or _abash_, Fr.
_esbahir_.
Able, A. 599.
Abof, above, A. 1023.
Abominacione, B. 1173.
Abroched, commenced, A. 1123.
Abyde, (_a_) await, B. 436, 486; (_b_) endure, C. 7. A.S. _abidan_.
Abydyng, _sb._ C. 419.
Abyme, abyss, B. 363; C. 143.
Abyt, habit, dress, B. 141.
{Accorde, Acorde,} agreement, A. 509, Fr. _accorder_, to agree with.
Achaped, escaped, B. 970.
Achaufe, kindle, B. 1143.
Acheue, accomplish, A. 475.
Acroche, encroach, A. 1069, Fr. _accrocher_, to hook on; from _croc_,
a hook.
Adaunt = daunt, A. 157.
Adoun, down, A. 988; B. 953.
Adreȝ, aside, aback, B. 71. The word is used by Gower under the form
_adrigh_. _O-dreghe_, _one-dreghe_, are other forms of the word. Sc.
_on-dreich_.
“The tother withdrewe, _one-dreghe_
And durste do none other.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 352.)
“The tother droȝhe him _o-dreghe_ for drede of the knyȝte.”
--(Anturs of Arther, xliv. 3.)
“He with drogh hym _a draght_ & a dyn made.” --(T. B. 1224.)
{Adubbement, Adubmente,} adornment, A. 84, 85, O.Fr. _adoubement_;
_dober_, _douber_, garnish, deck; Fr. _douber_, to rig or trim a
ship; Prov. Fr. _adobar_, to arrange, prepare.
Adyte, A. 349.
Affraye, _sb._ fear, A. 1174; _vb._ frighten, B. 1780; Fr. _effrayer_,
to scare, affright; _effroi_, terror. Cf. _fray_, to scare birds.
Affyen, trust, C. 331.
{Agayn, Agayne, Agaynes,} against, B. 266, 826, 1711.
Agayneȝ, towards, B. 611.
Agayn-tote, _sb._ a looking back, B. 931. _Tote_, look, peep, as a
verb or a noun, is common in Old English writers.
“She went up wightly by a wall syde,
To the toppe of a tower, & _tot_ ouer the water.” --(T. B. 862.)
Age, A. 412, B. 426.
Aglyȝte, slipped from, A. 245. _Glyȝt_, as a verb, signifies not only
to slip but to _glance_, look. Cf. _leme_ = gleam, glance, slip.
Alabaunderynes, B. 1470.
Alarom, alarm, B. 1207.
Al-bare, clearly, A. 1025.
Alce = als, also, B. 1377.
Alder = elder, A. 621, _Aldest_, A. 1042, B. 1333.
Alder-men, elders, A. 887.
Alegge, alledge, A. 703.
Aliche, alike, B. 1477.
Alkaran = alkatran, B. 1035.
Alle-kynneȝ, all kinds of, A. 1028.
Allyt = a lyt = ? a little, B. 599.
Almyȝt, almighty, A. 498.
Alofte, on high, B. 1183.
Al-one, A. 933.
Al-only, except, A. 779.
Alosed, destroyed, B. 274. See _lose_.
Alow, approve, praise, reward, A. 634. O.Fr. _louer_. Lat. _laudare_.
Aloynte, removed, far from (from O.E. _aloigne_, _alogne_, to remove,
carry off. O.Fr. _aloigner_).
Aloȝ, alow, softly, B. 670.
Als, also, B. 253, 827, C. 516.
Also, as, B. 984, 1045, 1792.
{Also-tyd, Als-tyd, As-tyd,} at once, immediately, B. 64. See _tyd_.
Al-þaȝ, although, A. 759.
Alþer-fayrest, fairest of all, B. 1379.
Alþer-fynest, finest of all, B. 1637.
Alþer-rychest, richest of all, B. 1666.
Alþer-swettest, sweetest of all, B. 699.
Alum, B. 1035.
Amaffised, B. 1470.
Amaraunȝ, B. 1470.
Amatyst, amethyst, A. 1016.
Ame, (1) _vb._ place, B. 698; (2) _sb._ purpose, C. 128. Germ.
_ahmen_. Bavarian, _amen_, _hämen_, to guage a cask, fathom,
measure.
Amended, B. 248.
Amesyng, _sb._ moderation, C. 400. See _mese_.
Amoneste, admonish, B. 818.
Amounted, B. 395.
Amoynt, company, A. 895.
And = an, if, B. 864.
An-ende (on-ende), lastly, finally, A. 186.
An-ende = anente, opposite, A. 1136; respecting, A. 697.
An-endeȝ = anentes, opposite, A. 975. Sc. _anens_.
Anger, A. 343, B. 572.
Angré, bitter, B. 1035.
Anguych, anguish, C. 325.
Ankreȝ, anchors, B. 418, C. 103.
Anon, at once (= anane, onane, in one moment), A. 584.
Anournement, ornament, B. 1290.
Anoynted, B. 1446.
Answar, answer, A. 518.
Anter, peril, C. 242. To _aunter_, put a thyng in daunger, or
adventure, _adventurer_ (Palsgrave).
An-vnder, under, A. 1081. Sc. _anonder_. Cf. _down_ and _adown_, _low_
and _alow_.
Aparaunt, B. 1007.
Apassed, past, A. 540.
Apert, openly, A. 589.
Apparaylmente, ornaments, A. 1052.
Apparement, ornaments, B. 1270. Fr. _appareiller_, to fit, suit.
Appose, _vb._ question, A. 902. Fr. _apposer_, to lay or set on, or
near to.
Aproche, A. 686, B. 8, 167. Fr. _approcher_, draw near. Lat. _prope_,
near.
Apyke, adorn, B. 1479, 1637.
Aquyle, demand, ask, obtain, A. 690, 966. O.Fr. _aquillir_, to gather.
{Aray, Araye,} A. 719, 1166; B. 816, 1442. O.Fr. _arroyer_, _arréer_,
dispose, set in order.
Arayned, arraigned, C. 191. O.Fr. _arraisonner_, _arraigner_.
Are, before, previously, B. 438, 1128.
Arende, errand, message, C. 72, A.S. _aerend_, _aerende_.
Arest, _sb._ abode, resting place, B. 906.
Areset, _vb._ stop, cease, B. 766, remain, C. 144. Fr. _arrester_.
Lat. _arestare_.
Arewarde, apostate, B. 208. Sc. _areird_, backward.
{Arn, Arne,} are, A. 458, 628, B. 8, 1810.
Aryue, A. 447.
Aryȝt, aright, A. 112.
Arȝe, terrify, frighten, fear, B. 572, 713. Provincial _arfe_,
_arghe_, afraid. Cf. “_Arwe_ or ferefulle (_arwhe_, K. arowe or
ferdfulle P.). Timidus, pavidus, formidolus.” (Prompt. Parv.) The
original notion is that of laziness, inertness, and hence timidity,
fear, etc. A.S. _earg_, inert, timid, weak. Ger. _arg_, bad. Du.
_erg_. Icel. _argr_, lazy, cowardly. Sc. _argh_, _arch_, to
hesitate, be reluctant.
“Antenor _arghet_ with austerne wordes.” --(T. B. 1977.)
“Antenor, _arghly_ auntrid of ship.” --(T. B. 1831.)
“A! Anec. quoth the qwene
me _arȝes_ of my selfe,
I am all in aunter, sa
akis me the wame.” --(K. Alex. p. 29.)
“Sir Alexander and his ost was _arȝed_ unfaire.”
--(_Ibid._ p. 132.)
Ar, are, B. 1725.
Are ? ane, one, A. 711.
As, also, B. 179.
As-bare, ? _al bare_, clearly, openly, A. 836.
Asayl, B. 1188.
Ascape, escape, B. 569.
Ascry, _sb._ cry, outcry, B. 1784. _vb_. C. 195. Swed. _anskri_,
outcry, scream. O.N. _skri_, cry.
{Asent, Asente,} A. 391, “in _asent_,” B. 788.
Askeȝ, ashes, B. 626.
Askry, shout, cry, B. 1206. See _ascry_.
Aslypped, escaped, lost, C. 218.
Aspaltoun, asphalt, B. 1038.
Asperly, sharply, C. 373.
Assayl, C. 301.
Asscaped, escaped, B. 1776.
Asscry, cry, shout. See _ascry_.
Assemble, B. 1364, 1769.
Assemblé, A. 760.
Asspye, espy, see, A. 704, 1035.
{Assyse, Asyse,} form, fashion, A. 97, B. 844, service, B. 639.
Astate, state, A. 393.
Astraye, A. 1162.
Astel, stole from, B. 1524.
As-tyt, immediately, at once, A. 645, B. 935.
Asure, B. 1411.
Aswage, C. 3.
At, that, A. 672.
Atlyng, purpose, B. 688. Sc. _ettle_, to endeavour. N.Prov.E. _ettle_,
_attle_, intend. Icel. _aetla_.
“Armur & all thing _atlet_ before.” --(T. B. 855.)
Aþel, noble, B. 258, 411, 940, gracious, B. 761, fine, B. 1276, A.S.
aeþele, noble, excellent.
Atount, so much (?), A. 179.
At-slyke, slip away, A. 575.
Atteny, attain, reach, A. 548.
Attled, endeavoured. See _atlyng_.
Attled, endowed, B. 207. It sometimes occurs under the form _aghteld_.
N.Prov.E. _ettle_, to deal out, distribute. A.S. _aeht_, possession.
“She was eldist & heire _etlit_ to his londes.” --(T. B. 394.)
At-wappe, escape, B. 1205. See _Wap_.
Atyre, B. 114.
Augoste, august, A. 39.
Auncetereȝ, auncestors, B. 258.
{Aven, Aune,} own, B. 11, 1222.
Aunte, A. 233.
Aunter, adventure, marvel, B. 1600. See T. B. 1899.
Auter, altar, B. 10.
Autly, noble, B. 795. A.S. _áhtlíce_, courageously, manfully.
Avaunt, _sb._ promise, B. 664.
Avayment, show, B. 1358. F. _avoier_.
Auaye, show, B. 1311.
Auenture, adventure, A. 64. O.Fr. _aventure_.
Auise, advise, B. 1365.
Avow, B. 664.
Avoy, away! B. 863.
Avyle, defile, B. 1151, 1713.
Avysyoun, vision, A. 1184.
Awayed, shown, A. 710.
Awayle, avail, B. 408.
Awowe, avow, C. 333.
Ay, always, ever, A. 33, 720. A.S. _áva_, _a_, all, ever. O.Fris. _a_.
Germ. _je_, ever.
Ayre, heir, B. 650, 1709.
Ayþer, each, A. 831.
Aywhere, everywhere, B. 228.
Aȝer = asure, B. 1457.
Aȝly = awly, fearfully, B. 874, 937. Dan. _ave_, fear. Eng. _awe_.
O.Eng. _agh_. Cf. A.S. _aglác_, misery, grief.
{Aȝt, Aȝte,} ought, _pret._ of _aȝe_, _agh_, or _awe_, B. 122.
Aȝt, eight, B. 357, C. 11, 29.
Aȝt-sum, sorrowful, B. 411.
Aȝtþe, eighth, A. 1011.

Baboyne, baboon, B. 1409.
Babtem, A. 627. See _Baptem_.
Bachlereȝ, batchelors, young men not yet raised to the order of
knighthood, B. 86.
Baft, abaft, C. 148. A.S. _baefta_, the hinder part.
Bagge, baggage. C. 158.
Bale, bales, C. 157. Sw. _bal_. Fr. _balle_, _bal_, a ball or pack.
Bale, sorrow, woe; also misery, calamity, A. 18, 373; B. 1243, 1256;
_baleȝ_, A. 123, 807. O.Fris. _bale_. A.S. _bealu_, torment,
destruction. Icel. _böl_. Phrases: “bodyly _bale_” (pain), A. 478;
“_bale_ (torment) of helle,” A. 651, “_bale_-stour,” death pang,
C. 426.
Baleleȝ = baleless, innocent, C. 227.
Balke, ridge of land, balk, A. 62. Icel. _balkr_, the division between
the stalls in a cow-house. Sw. _balka_, to partition off.
“To my shepe wylle I stalk, and herkyn anone,
Ther abyde on a _balk_, or sytt on a stone.”
--(Town. Myst. p. 99.)
Balleful = baleful, wretched, wicked, B. 979.
Balter, hop, jump, skip, C. 459.
Balterande, halting, limping, B. 103. Sc. _balter_, to dance.
“He baltyrde, he bleryde.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 66.)
Etymologically it is connected with _palter_ and _falter_, and is
applicable either to the unsteady gait of the lame or faltering
steps of the blind.
Baly = bayly, authority, jurisdiction, dominion, A. 1083.
Baneres, B. 1404.
Banne, proclamation, decree, B. 95, 1361.
Banne, curse, B. 468, 885. Sw. _bann_, excommunication; _banna_, to
reprove, chide, curse.
“_Bannet_ worthe the bale tyme þat ho borne was.”
T. B. 1388.
Banne, comfort, strengthen, B. 620. O.Sc. _bawne_.
Bantel, A. 991, 1017; B. 1459, posts, pillars.
Baptem, baptism, A. 627, 653.
Baptysed, A. 818.
Barayn, barren, B. 659.
Bare, _adj._ naked, B. 452; _sb._ 791.
Bare, only, B. 1573. Sw. _bara_.
Bared, disclosed, B. 1149.
Bare-heued, bare-headed, B. 633.
{Bareres, Barreȝ,} bars, barriers, B. 963, 1239; C. 321. W. _bar_,
rail, shaft. Fr. _barre_; _barrière_, a barrier. Cf. Sw. _s-parre_.
Eng. _s-par_.
Barme, bosom, C. 510. A.S. _bearm_. “_Barme_ gremium.” (Prompt. Parv.)
“He fond Horn in arme
On Rymenhilde _barme_.” --(K. Horn, p. 294.)
Barnage, childhood, B. 517.
Barne, child, son, A. 426; _barneȝ_, A. 1040; B. 1085. Sc. _bairn_.
A.S. _bearn_.
Baronage, nobility, B. 1424. See T. B. 211.
Barouneȝ, barons, B. 82, 1398.
{Barreȝ, Barers,} bars, B. 884, 1263.
Barst, burst, B. 963.
{Base, Basse,} base, foundation, A. 1000, B. 1278. See T. B. 1652.
Bassyn, basin, B. 1145, 1278.
Bastele, B. 1187. “_Bastyle_ of a castelle or cytye. Fascennia.”
(Prompt. Parv.)
Basyng, base, A. 992.
Bated, abated, B. 440.
Bater, B. 1416.
Batelment, B. 1459.
Baþe, dip, plunge, B. 1248.
Bausen, badger, B. 392. “_Bawstone_ or _bawsone_, or a gray, Taxus,
melota.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Bawelyne, bow-line, B. 417.
Bay, recess, B. 1392. The original meaning seems to be _opening_ of
any kind. Cf. _bay_, space in a building between two main beams
(Forby).
Bayly, dominion, A. 315, 442.
Bayn, _adv._ readily, willingly, A. 807, B. 1511; ready, C. 136.
N.Prov.E. _bane_, near, convenient. “_Beyn_ or plyaunte.
Flexibilis.” (Prompt. Parv.) _Bainly_, readily, T. B. 135.
Baysment, abasement, A. 174.
Bayte, B. 55. O.N. _beita_.
Baytayled, fortified, B. 1183.
Beauté, A. 749.
{Bed, Bede,} bid, command, invite; _p.p._ _beden_, A. 715, B. 95, 440.
See T. B. 389.
Beke, beak, B. 487.
Bekyrande, _sb._ bikering, fighting, B. 1474. “_Bekyryn_ or fyghtyn
(_bikkeringe_), Pugno, dimico.” (Prompt. Parv.)
“Bolde men to batell and _biker_ with hond.”
T. B. 2944.
Bele, _vb._ boil, A. 18. N.Prov.E. _bele_.
Bem, beam, ray, “_bem_ of þe brode heuen,” B. 603.
Bem, tree, A. 814.
{Ben, Bene,} are, _3rd pers. pl._ A. 572.
Bench, seat, B. 130, 854.
Bene, fair, A. 198.
Bene, _adj._ kind, merciful, C. 418.
Bent, field, plain, B. 532, 1675. See T. B. 1192.
Ber, bore, _pret._ of _bere_, to bear, A. 426, B. 1480.
Berdles, beardless, B. 789.
Bereste, breast, A. 854.
Berfray, watch tower, B. 1187. O.F. _berfroi_, _beffroit_. Fr.
_beffroir_. M.Lat. _belfredum_. The modern English _belfry_ is a
corruption of _berfray_.
Beryl, A. 110, 1011.
Beryng, condition, state, behaviour, B. 1060, 1228.
Best, beast, B. 288, 351.
Beste, _sb._ best (one), A. 279.
Besten, of beasts, B. 1446.
Bete, (the fire) mend, repair, kindle, B. 627, _p.p._ _bet_, B. 1012.
Prov.E. _beat_, to mend, repair. A.S. _bétan_, (1) to improve,
repair; (2) joined with _fyr_ to mend a fire, to light or make a
fire, to kindle.
Bete, save, A. 757. A.S. _bétan_, to remedy. Du. _boeten_, mend, fine,
expiate.
Betȝ = bes, shall be, A. 611. Present tense with future signification.
Beuerage, drink, liquor, B. 1433, 1717. Fr. _beuvrage_, from Lat.
_bibere_.
Bewar, beware, B. 292.
Bewté, A. 765.
Beyng, _sb._ being, existence, A. 446.
Bibbe, sip, drink, B. 1499. Prov.E. _beb_. Du. _biberen_, to drink
much.
“Bacus he was brayne-wode for _bebbing_ of wynes.”
--(K. Alex. p. 154.)
Bicalt, becalled, called from, A. 1163.
“The kyng was full curteus, _calt_ on a maiden.” --(T. B. 388.)
Bi-cnv, acknowledged, B. 1327.
Bidde, bide, abide. C. 51.
Biden, _p.p._ of _bide_ = _abide_, B. 616.
{Bifalle, Byfalle,} befal, A. 186.
Bifore, before, A. 49.
{Bigge, Bygge,} great, B. 43, _bygger_, A. 374.
Bigge, build, B. 1666. A.Sax. _byggan_. Icel. _byggia_. O.Sw. _bygga_,
build, also inhabit.
Bigly, strongly, C. 321. See T. B. 904.
Bigonne, began, B. 123.
Bihynde, behind, B. 918.
Biholde, behold, B. 150.
Bihyȝt, promised, C. 29.
Bikenne, give, hand over, B. 1296.
Bilde, built, B. 1392.
Bileue, remain, B. 1549.
Bilooghe, below, B. 116.
Birle, pour out, B. 1511. Prov.E. _burl_. A.S. _byrelian_, to give to
drink.
“And seruanz war at this bridale
That _birled_ win in cupp and schal.” --(Met. Hom. p. 120.)
Birolled, berolled, B. 959.
Biseche, beseech, B. 614.
Bisoȝten, besought, C. 375.
Bispeke, speak, C. 169.
Bisyde, beside, B. 926.
Bi-talt, aroused, A. 1161. A.S. _tealtian_, _tealtrian_; (1) to
_tilt_, shake; (2) to be in danger. William of Shoreham uses one
form of this word:
“For ȝef that water his kende lest
That cristninge stant _te-tealte_.” --(Poems, p. 9.)
“For if that water its kind loseth,
That christening standeth tottery, insecure” (_i.e._ not binding).
Biteche, give up to, entrust to, B. 871; pret. _bitaȝt_.
Bited, bit, C. 373.
{Biþenkke, Biþenke,} bethink, B. 1357.
Biþoȝt, bethought, B. 125.
Bityde, betide; _pret._ bitydde, C. 61.
Bityde, befall, B. 1804.
Blade, B. 1105.
Blake, black, A. 945; B. 747, 1449.
Blame, _vb._ A. 275; B. 877, 1661; _sb._ B. 43.
Blande, “in blande,” together, B. 885. See _blende_.
{Blasfamye, Blasfemyon,} B. 1661, 1712.
Blayke, yellow, A. 27. Brockett has _blayke_ with the sense of yellow,
of a golden colour. “_Bleyke_ of coloure.” Pallidus, subalbus.
(Prompt. Parv.)
“Ther (in paradyse) were floures bothe blew and _blake_,
Of alle frutes thei myth ther take.” --(Cov. Myst. p. 2.)
Blaȝt, white, A. 212, _p.p._ of _bleach_, just as _raȝt_ is of
_reach_. Sc. _blaucht_.
“As _blaȝt_ ere thaire wedis
As any snyppand snawe.” --(K. Alex. p. 54.)
Ble, colour, complexion, A. 76, 212; B. 791, 1759. Prov.E. _ble_,
_bly_. A.S. _bleo_.
Bleaunt, a robe of fine linen, A. 163. O.Eng. _bliant_, fine linen,
W. _llian_, linen. The _bl_ is merely an imitation of the Celtic
_ll_.
“A blewe _bleaunt_ obofe brade him al ovir.” --(K. Alex. p. 167.)
Blench, stratagem, device, B. 1202. O.N. _blekkia_.
Blemyst, blemished, B. 1421. O.Fr. _blesmir_.
{Blende, Blente,} blended, mingled, mixt. A. 385, 1016; B. 967, 1788.
A.S. _blendian_. Icel. _blanda_, to mix.
Blo = bla, blue, livid, pale. B. 1017; C. 134. O.H.G. _blao_, N.Fris.
_bla_. O.Sc. _bla_.
{Blober, Bluber,} = blubber, waves, C. 221, 266. Prov.E. _blubber_,
bubble; _blob_, _bleb_, a bubble. “_Blobure_ (blobyre, P.)
Burbulium.” (Prompt. Parv.) “_Blober_ upon water (or bubble)
bouteillis.” (Palsg.) “The water _blubbers_ up.” (Baker,
Northamptonshire Glossary.)
Blod, a child, B. 686. Supposing the _bl_ to represent _ll_ we might
refer it to the W. _llawd_, a youth, _lad_. O.Sw. _g-lott_. Cf.
_bliant_, _bleant_, from W. _llian_.
“þis Abel was a blissid _blod_,
Bot Caim was the findes (devil’s) fode (offspring).”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 7b.)
Blod, blood, A. 650.
Blok, space, C. 272.
{Blom, Blome,} flower, bloom, A. 578, B. 1467. Sw. _bloma_, a flower.
Du. _bloeme_. Ger. _blume_. “_Blome_ flowre. Flos.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Blomeȝ, blooms, flowers, A. 27.
Blonk, horse, _pl._ _blonkeȝ_, B. 87, 1392. See T. B. 2371.
Blonkken, _gen. pl._ of horses, B. 1412.
Blosched, looked, C. 343. See _Blusch_.
Blose = blese, blaze, flame. A. 911. Icel. _blossi_, a flame. A.S.
_blaese_, a torch. Dan. _blus_.
Blot, spot, blemish, defilement, A. 782.
“Ye ben worthy, he saide, to be _blottede_ and _spottede_, foulede
and defoulede with fenne (mire) and with drit of water (_luto
inquinari_), and of blode, that in tyme of werre ne were nat be
bespreynt, ne be wette with ennemyes blode.” (Quoted by Way, from
Roy. MS. 18, A. xii. B. iii. c. 10.)
Blubrande = blubbering, bubbling, foaming, B. 1017. See _blobber_.
Blunt, rushed, C. 272.
Blunt, faint, A. 176. Icel. _blunda_, to sleep. Sw. _blunda_, to close
the eyes. Dan. _blende_, to dazzle. Cf. “Blunt of wytte. Hebes.”
(Prompt. Parv.)
{Blusch, Blusche,} look, glance, A. 980, 1083, B. 904, 998, 1537.
N.Prov.E. _blush_, resemblance. Cf. “At the first _blush_,” at the
first appearance, at first sight. Dan. _blusse_, to blaze, flame,
glow. There seems to be an etymological connection with words
signifying to look, glow, blaze, shine, etc.
“The kyng _blyschit_ on the beryne (man) with his brode eghne.”
--(Morte Arthure, p. 10.)
“He _blusshed_ ouer backeward to þe brodesee.” --(See T. B. 1316.)
{Blusnande, Blysnande,} shining, B. 1404. Icel. _blys_. Dan. _blus_,
a torch. Du. _blos_, redness. Dan. _blusse_, to glow. Icel. _lysa_,
to shine. Pl. D. _bleistern_, to glisten.
Bluster, B. 886, to wander or stray about.
“Ac there was wight noon so wys
The wey thider kouthe,
But _blustreden_ forth as beestes
Over bankes and hilles.” --(Piers Ploughman, p. 108.)
Blwe, blue, A. 423.
Blwe, blew, B. 885.
Blykked, shone, B. 603. A.S. _blican_, glitter, dazzle. Ger.
_blicken_, shine, glance, look. Du. _blicken_, glitter; _blick_,
a flash.
“Hire bleo _blyketh_ so bryht
So feyr heo is ant fyn.” --(Lyric Poems, p. 52.)
Blyknande, shining, B. 1467.
Blykned = blaykned, became black, B. 1759.
Blynde, to become faded, dull, B. 1126.
Blynne, cease, A. 729, B. 440, 1661, 1812. A.S. _blinnan_ (for
_be-linnan_).
{Blysfol, Blysful,} blissful, A. 279, 409.
Blysnande, shining, A. 163. See _blusnande_.
Blysned, shone, A. 1048.
Blyþe, joy, A. 354. Blythe is still used as a noun in the North of
England.
Blyþely, joyfully, A. 385.
Bobaunce, boasting, Fr. _bobance_, B. 179, 1712.
{Bod, Bode,} command, B. 979; C. 56. A.S. _bod_, _gebod_, command,
precept, message. “_Bode_ or massage (_boode_, H.) nuncium.”
(Prompt. Parv.)
Bod = abode, _pret._ of _bide_ = abide, A. 62; B. 982; wait for,
B. 467.
Bodworde, message, B. 473. See T. B. 6262.
Bodyly, A. 478.
Boffet, blast, B. 885.
Boffeteȝ, buffets, blows, A. 809; _boffet_, B. 43.
Bok-lered, book-learned, B. 1551.
Bold, bad, A. 806. A.S. _báld_, audacious. Sw. _båld_, proud, haughty,
warlike. In early English writers the term was applied indifferently
to men and women of bad character.
“Þou do me bote again þis _bald_ (bad one)
For al þe soth I haf þe tald.”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 48b.)
Bol, bull, B. 1682; _pl._ _boleȝ_, B. 55.
Bole, the round stem of a tree, B. 622. It enters also into
composition in the word _throte_-bolle. _Pl._ _bolleȝ_, A. 76.
Icel. _bolr_. Dan. _bul_. Sw. _bål_, trunk of a man’s body. See
T. B. 4960.
Bolle, bowl, B. 1145, 1511. A.S. _bolla_. Icel. _bolli_.
Bolled, embossed, B. 1464.
Bolnande, swelling, B. 179.
Bolne, swell, A. 18; B. 363. Icel. _bolgna_. Sw. _bulna_, to swell. In
some early English works we find _bollen_ (ibolȝe) the _p.p._ of a
verb _bolȝe_ = bulge, swell. “Bolnyn, Tumeo, turgeo, tumesco.”
(Prompt. Parv.)
Bonc, bank, A. 907.
Bone, prayer, petition, command (= boon). A. 912, 916; B. 826. A.S.
_ben_. S.Sax. _bone_. O.N. _bón_ rogatio. “_Bone_ or graunte of
prayer (_boone_ P.) Precarium, peticio.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Bone, good, B. 28.
{Boner, Bonere,} good, B. 733.
Bonerté, goodness, A. 762.
Bongre, willingly, agreeably to, C. 56. See _Gre_.
Bonk, bank, hill, A. 931, B. 379. Ger. _bank_, bench, bank of a river,
etc.
Bor, bower, chamber, dwelling, A. 964. A.S. _bur_, a chamber. Icel.
_bur_. N.Prov.E. _boor_, a parlour.
Bore, born, A. 239, B. 584.
Borde, table, B. 1433, 1717.
Borde, board of a vessel, B. 470; C. 211.
Boreȝ, boars, B. 55.
Borges, burgess; sometimes written _burgeise_, C. 366. O.Fr.
_bourgeois_, from Lat. _burgensis_.
Borgoun, to burgeon, bud forth, B. 1042. Fr. _bourgeon_, _bourjon_,
young bud or sprig. Prov. Fr. _boure_, bud. Fr. _abourioner_, to bud
or sprout forth. See T. B. 4964.
Borlych, burly, B. 1488.
Borne = burne, stream, water, B. 482; _borneȝ heued_, head of the
stream, source, A. 974. A.S. _burne_. Goth. _brunna_. Icel.
_brunnr_. G. _born_, _brunnen_, well, spring.
Bornyst, burnished, A. 77, 220, B. 554. Fr. _brunir_, to polish.
Boroȝt = broȝt, brought, A. 628.
{Borȝ, Borȝe,} city, town, A. 957, 989, B. 45, 834, 1750. A.S. _burg_,
_burh_. Goth. _baurgs_. Icel. _borg_.
Bos = bus = behoves, B. 687.
Bosk, take, B. 351; _boske_ to, go to, B. 834. See _Busk_.
Boskeȝ, bushes, B. 322. Icel. _buskr_.
Bosum, bay, C. 107. Cf. N.Prov.E. _bosom_, the eddy.
“Eneas and his feris on the strand
Wery and forwrocht, sped thame to the nerrest land,
And at the cost of Lyby arryvit he.
Ane havyn place with a lang hals or entre
Thar is, with an ile enveronyt on ather part,
To brek the wallis and storm of every art,
Within, the water in a _bosum_ gays.” --(G. Doug. vol. i. p. 33.)
Bost, boast, arrogance. B. 179, 1450.
Boster, boaster, B. 1499.
Bostwys = busteous, boisterous, rough, fierce, A. 814. Pl. Du.
_büster_, wild, fearful, savage. Cf. “_Boystows_, rudis.” (Prompt.
Parv.) _Bustus_, rudis, rigidus, to be _bustus_, rudere. (Cath.
Angl.) The form _bostwys_ would seem to point to _bost_, boast, as
the probable root.
Bot, “to bot,” to boot, B. 473.
Bot, command, B. 944. A.S. _beot_, threat, promise.
Bot, only, A. 18, 382, except, A. 972; _bot-if_, unless, B. 1110.
Bote, saviour, A. 275, 645; remedy, safety, C. 163. A.S. _bót_,
amends, atonement; _gebétan_, to make amends. Du. _boet_, remedy;
_boeten_, to mend.
Boþe, booth, tent, C. 441.
{Boþem, Boþom,} valley, dale, B. 383, 450; pit, sea, B. 1030.
_Bottom_, a valley, is still used in many of our provincial
dialects, and is a frequent element in local names. A.S. _botm_,
lowest point, depth, abyss. Du. _bodem_. Germ. _boden_. Icel.
_botn_.
Bothem, bottom, C. 144.
Boþemleȝ, bottomless, B. 1022.
{Bouel, Bowel,} bowel, gut, B. 1251; C. 293.
Bougoun (?) B. 1416.
Boun, (1) ready; (2) finished, A. 534, 992, 1103. See T. B. 827.
N.Prov.E. _boun_. Icel. _bua_, to prepare, p.p. _buinn_, prepared,
ready.
Bounden, fastened, B. 322; bound (_p.p._ of _binde_), A. 1103.
Bounet, went, _pret._ of _boun_ or _bown_, to go, B. 1398. See _boun_.
See T. B. 827, 5230.
“And (he) _bownnes_ over a brode mede
With breth (anger) at his herte.” --(M. Arthure, p. 290.)
Bounté, goodness, B. 1436.
Boureȝ (bowers), chambers. B. 322. See _Bor_.
Bourne = burne, man, A. 617.
Bourȝ = borȝ, city, B. 1377. See _Borȝ_.
Boute, without, B. 260, 824; C. 523.
{Bow, Bowe,} to go, walk, literally, to bend (one’s steps). A. 126,
974; B. 45, 379, 482.
“Forth heo gunnen _bugen_
In to Bruttaine.” --(Laȝ. 2, 410.)
“The burd _bowet_ from þe bede.” --(T. B. 775.)
A.S. _búgan_, to _bow_, _bend_, avoid, flee.
Bowe, obey (bend to), C. 56, 75.
Boy, a boy, youth, B. 878.
Boyeȝ, boys, men of low position, servants; generally used in a bad
sense, “_boyeȝ bolde_,” A. 806.
“---- bot a _boye_ one (alone)
Hoves by hym on a blonke (horse) and his spere holdes.”
--(Morte Arthure, p. 211.)
“I wende no Bretones walde bee basschede for so lyttille
And fore bare-legyde _boyes_ that one the bente houys.”
--(_Ibid._ p. 178.)
Boȝ = bow, go, A. 196; B. 1242, 1551. See _Bow_.
Boȝe, bough, B. 616, 1467.
Boȝt, bought, A. 651.
Boȝted, curved, C. 449. A.S. _bugan_, to bend. Dan. _bugt_, bend,
turn. Sc. _bought_, to fold, bend.
Brade, broad, A. 138.
Brake vp = break up, throw up, spew, C. 340. Ger. _sich brechen_. Du.
_braeken_, to vomit. “_Brakyn_, or castyn or spewe. Vomo.” (Prompt.
Parv.)
Braken (_brake_, _bracken_), fern, B. 1675, Sw. _bräken_, Dan.
_bregne_, Icel. _brok_, sedge. “A _brakane_ filix, a _brakan_,
_buske_ filicarium.” (Cath. Angl.)
Braste, burst, C. 148.
Brathe = breþe, anger, ire, also fierceness. A. 1170; B. 916. O.N.
_braedi_, anger. It sometimes signifies angry.
“Bade hom blyn of hor _brathe_.” --(T. B. 5075.)
“For this word was Saul wrath,
For oft-sith was he bremli brath.”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 42b.)
Braþeȝ, _pl._ of braþe, A. 346.
Braunches, B. 1464.
Braundysch, display, A. 346.
Bray, utter (aloud), roar, A. 346. Sw. _bräka_.
Brayde, brought, A. 712; aroused, awakened, A. 1170; “at a _brayde_,”
at a start (Icel. at _bragdi_), at once, B. 539; “in a _brayd_,” in
a moment, B. 1507. O.N. _bregtha_, weave, move, brandish, seize,
awake, to leap, start. _Bragth_, quick motion.
“Þe Philistienes wituten les
Ran on Sampson in a res,
Bot Sampson þat selcuth smert,
Ute o þair handes son he stert
And gave a _braid_ sa fers and fast,
Þat alle þe bandes of him brast.”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 40b.)
Brayden, ornamented, _p.p._ of _braid_, B. 1481.
Bred, bread, B. 636.
{Brede, Bred,} = breed, become, B. 1558; replenish, A. 415, 814;
B. 257.
Brede, board, C. 184. “_Brede_ or lytylle borde. Mensula, tabula,
tabella, asserulus.” (Prompt. Parv.) A.S. _bred_, plank, board, etc.
Brede, breadth, A. 1030.
Brede, stretch out, A. 814.
Breed, bred, C. 143.
Bref, short, brief, A. 268.
Brek, broke, B. 1105, 1239.
Breme, full, complete, A. 863. A.S. _breme_, famous, glorious.
Breme, fierce, A. 346; B. 229; C. 430. Du. _bremen_, to burn with
desire. Fris. _brimme_, to rage.
“A _brem_ lowe.” (T. B. 860.)
Bremly, vigorously, B. 509.
{Brend, Brende,} = brente, burnt, bright, A. 989; B. 1292.
Brennande, burning, B. 1012.
Brenne, burn, B. 509, 916.
Brent, burnt, bright, A. 106.
Brent, steep; _superl._ _brentest_, highest, B. 379. N.Prov.E.
_brant_, steep. Sw. _brant_, steep, a precipice.
“A man may syt on a _brante_ hyll syde.”
--(Ascham’s Toxoph. p. 58, ed. Arber.)
“Apon the bald Bucifelon _brant_ up he sittes.”
--(K. Alex. p. 124.)
“Thane come thai blesnande till a barme of a _brent_ lawe (hill).”
--(_Ibid._ p. 164.)
Brere, briar, B. 791, 1694. N.Prov.E. _brere_, _breer_. A.S. _brér_.
Bresed, rough, like bristles, shaggy (?), B. 1694. Cf. Sc. _birs_,
_birse_, bristle.
Brest, attack, outburst, B. 229. N.Prov.E. _birst_, attack (Brockett).
O.E. _burst_ = injury, A.S. _byrst_.
Breste, to burst, B. 1783.
{Breth, Brethe,} wind, C. 107, 138; smell, vapour, B. 509, 967. Cf.
“_brethe_ of smoke.” (Hampole’s Pricke of Conscience, l. 4727.) Sc.
_broth_. Ger. _brodem_, _broden_, steam, vapour. A.S. _bræth_, an
odour, scent, breath. “_Brethe_ at his wille.” (T. B. 1945.)
Breth, wrath, B. 916. See _Brath_.
Breue, tell, A. 755.
“_Breve_ us thi name.” (K. Alex. p. 78.)
Breued, related, written, B. 197. O.N. _brefa_.
Breyþed, rushed, B. 1421. See _Braid_.
Brod, great; “_brod_ wonder,” B. 584.
Brode, broad, A. 650.
{Brok, Broke,} brook, river, stream, A. 981; _pl._ _brokeȝ_. A. 1074,
sea; C. 145. A.S. _broca_.
Brom (broom), heath, C. 392. A.S. _bróm_.
Bronch, branch, B. 487.
Bronde, sword, B. 1246. O.N. _brandr_.
Brond, brand, B. 1012.
Broþe, angry, fierce, rough, B. 149, 1409. The original form in O.E.
is _brathe_. It is connected with _brethe_, _brathe_, anger, wrath.
“Wreth it es a _brath_ on-fall (outburst)
Menging o mode that cums o galle.”
--(The Deadly Sins, in Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
{Broþely, Broþlych,} fierce, rough, and hence vile, bad, B. 848, 1030;
vilely, B. 1256; C. 474. The original form is _braþly_, fiercely,
vigorously.
“Thoner o-loft fal sal he (Antichrist) gar,
And tres _brathli_ blomes bere;
_Brathli_ to do the see be reth (stormy)
And _brathli_ to do it be smeth.”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 124a.)
Broun, brown, A. 537, 990.
Browden, clustered, B. 1132.
Broȝt, brought, A. 286.
Brugge = brigge, bridge, B. 1187. A.S. _bricge_.
Brunt, blow, A. 174.
“All þat was bitten of the best (beast)
was at a brunt dede.” --(K. Alex. p. 134.)
Brurd, border, edge, B. 1474. Sc. _breard_. A.S. _brerd_, _breard_,
_briord_, _breord_, brim, margin, rim, shore, brink.
Brurd-ful, brimful, full up to the brim, B. 383. Chaucer uses
_bret-ful_ in the same sense.
Brutage = bretage, parapets of a wall, ramparts, B. 1190. Fr.
_breteche_.
Bruxle, upbraid, reprove, C. 345. O.N. _bríxla_, to reprove, reproach.
Brych, filth, uncleanness, B. 848. The meaning here assigned to
_brych_ is conjectural. Cf. Du. _brack_, refuse, damaged. Ger.
_brechen_, to vomit, _Bryche_ as an adjective occurs in Robt.
Brunne’s “Handlyng Synne,” p. 182, where it is glossed low (loghe)
_i.e._ vile.
“Now ys Pers bycome _bryche_
That er was bothe stoute and ryche.”
In the Romance of Alexander, ed. Stevenson, we find the form
_bicchid_ = _briched_ (?). Cf. _shille_ and _shrille_, etc.
“And on the aȝtent day, eftire the prime
A basilisk in a browe, breis (annoys) thaim unfaire,
A straȝtill and a stithe worme _stinkande_ of elde,
And es so bitter, and so breme, and _bicchid_ (foul) in himselfe,
That with the _stinke_ and the strenth he stroyes noȝt allane,
Bot quat he settes on his siȝt, he slaes in a stonde.” --(p. 165.)
Bryd, lady, A. 769. A.S. _bryd_, a bride, a wife, woman.
Brydde, bird, B. 288, 1482.
Brydale, wedding, marriage, B. 142.
{Brym, Brymme,} bank, shore, A. 232, 1074. Dan. _bremme_.
Brymme, stream, water, B. 365. A.S. _brym_, the sea. In this sense
_brymme_ seems to have been unknown to the Southern dialect.
“O þis water þat sua stanc
Wa was þam þat it nedings dranc,
Þat toþer oncom þat him felle,
Was frosse þat na tung moght telle,
Þat ute o _brim_ and brokes bred,
And siþen over al Egypte spred.”
--(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 32b.)
Brynkeȝ, brinks, banks, B. 384.
Brynston, brimstone, B. 967.
Bryȝt, _adj._ bright, A. 110; _sb._ bright one, A. 755.
Bukkeȝ, bucks, B. 392.
Bulde, built, B. 1190.
Buleȝ, bulls, B. 392.
Bulk, stern of a ship. A.S. _bolca_, O.H.G. _pl._ _balkun_. Agiavia,
loca per quæ ad remiges acceditur. (Graff. iii. p. 108.)
{Bur, Burre,} blow, assault, A. 176; C. 7. O.Sc. _byr_, a blow.
N.Prov. _birre_, _burr_. W. _bur_, violence, rage. See Wicliffe, St.
Luke, viii. 33.
“---- no buerne might ffor the _birre_ it abide.”
--(T. B. 170. Cf. T. B. 571, 1902.)
Bur, wave, C. 148. Prov.E. _bore_. Icel. _bara_. O.Ger. _bare_. Du.
_baar_, wave, billow. In Laȝamon, vol. iii. p. 121, _Þe beares_
occurs in the latter version for _þa vðen_ of the older copy.
Burde, behoved, A. 316; C. 117, 507. O.N. _byrjar_. Dan. _bör_.
Burde, a woman, lady. B. 80, 653. See _Bryd_. See T. B. 3984.
{Burghe, Burȝ, Burȝe,} city, town, A. 980; B. 982; C. 366.
Burne, man, A. 397, 712; B. 1202; “_burneȝ & burdeȝ_,” men and women,
B. 80. A.S. _beorn_, warrior, hero.
{Burnist, Burnyst,} burnished, B. 1085.
Burre, blow, A. 176. See _bur_.
Burþen, burden, B. 1439.
Butter, B. 636.
Burȝ, city, town, B. 1666. See _burghe_.
{Busch, Busche,} = buske, to go, B. 1416; C. 143, 472.
“& he (she) wist it as wel or bet as ȝif it were hire owne,
Til hit big was & bold to _buschen_, on felde.”
--(William and the Werwolf, p. 7.)
Busily, laboriously, B. 1446.
Busk, prepare, made ready, dress, to direct one’s steps towards a
place, to go, hasten. B. 142, 333, 351, 633, 1395; C. 437. Icel. _at
buast_ (for _at buasc_) = _at bua sig_, to bend one’s steps, to
prepare, etc. See T. B. 1186.
Busmar, scorn, mockery, B. 653. A.S. _bismer_, reproach, blasphemy.
Bustwys, impetuous, fiery, A. 911. See _bostwys_.
Busyeȝ = busies, troubles, A. 268.
Buyrne = burne, man, C. 340. See _Burne_.
Bycalle, call, A. 913.
Bycalt, aroused, called, A. 1163.
Bycom, became, A. 537.
Byde, abide, A. 399; suffer, A. 664; B. 32; remain, B. 449, 622.
Bydene, quickly, A. 196.
Bye, buy, A. 732.
Byfallen, befallen, B. 1629.
Byfore, before, A. 530.
{Bigge, Byge,} great, B. 229.
{Byggyng, Bygyng,} building, A. 932; dwelling, B. 378. A.S. _byggan_,
to build, Icel. _byggia_. See T. B. 1379.
Bygly, great, strong; “_bygly bylde_,” great building, A. 963. See
T. B. 5216.
{Bygonne, Bygonnen,} begun, _p.p._ of _byginne_, A. 33; B. 749; began,
A. 549.
Bygyn, begin, A. 547.
Bygynner, beginner, A. 436.
Byhelde, beheld, B. 452.
Byhod, behoved, A. 928. Cf. _bud_, behoved; _bus_, behoves.
Byholde, behold, A. 810; B. 64.
{Byhynde, Byhynden,} behind, B. 653, 980.
{Byld, Bylded,} built, See _Bulde_.
Bylde, building, A. 727, 963.
Bylyue, immediately, at once, quickly, B. 353, 610.
Bynde, bine, woodbine, C. 444. Sw. _binda_. Ger. _winde_. Eng.
_bind_-weed.
Bynne, within, B. 452, 467.
Byrled, poured out, B. 1715. See _Birle_.
{Bysech, Byseche,} beseech, A. 390.
Byseme, beseem, A. 310.
Bysulpe, defile, B. 575. See _Sulpe_.
Byswyke, defraud, A. 568. A.S. _swícan_, deceive.
Bysyde, beside, B. 673.
{Bytaȝt, Bytaȝte,} = betaught, entrusted, confided; _pret._ of
_biteche_, A. 1207; B. 528.
Byte, fierce, A. 355.
Byþenk, repent, B. 582.
Bytterly, _adv._ B. 468.
Bytwene, between, A. 140, 658.
Bytwyste, betwixt, A. 464.
Bytyde, betide, happen, A. 397; B. 522.
Byye, buy, A. 478.
Byȝe, crown, A. 466; ring, collar, B. 1638. A.S. _beáh_, _beág_, ring,
collar, diadem.
Byȝonde, beyond, A. 141, 146, 158, 981.