bare 2 sg past of bere v
bareine adj barren, sterile Kn 1977+; destitute Kn 1244
baren pl past of bere v
barge n ship, boat GP 410+
barm n arms, lap Cl 551, Sq 631+
baronage n nobility, peers of the realm Kn 3096+
barre n bar Kn 1075; ornamental metal strip GP 329, Pars 433
bataille n battle Kn 879+
bathe adj both (Northern form) Rv 4087+
baude, bawde n procurer, pimp Fri 1339+
bauderye, bawderye n gaiety Kn 1926; procuring, pimping Fri 1305
Bayard ‘Dobbin’ (a traditional horse’s name, and thus used to designate any horse) Rv 4115+
be, bee v be; ~ as ~ may however it may be Mk 2129, CY 935; 1 sg pres am, 2 sg pres art, 3 sg pres is; pl pres been, be(n), beth, are, arn; sg pres subj be; 1/3 sg past was; 2 sg past were; pl past were(n); 1/3 sg past subj were; sg imp be; pl imp beeth; p ppl been, be(n), ybe(n)
bechen adj: ~ cole piece of charcoal made from beech-wood CY 1160+
bede v offer Cl 360+
bede(n) pl past of bidde v
bedred(e) adj bedridden Sum 1769, Mch 1292
been weak pl of bee n
been inf, pl pres and p ppl of be v
beer 1/3 sg past of bere v
beere n bier Kn 2871+
beest n (see also best) beast, animal Kn 1309+
beete v kindle, light Kn 2253+; repair Rv 3927; relieve Pars 421; pl past betten
beeth plimp of be v
bekke v nod Pard 396+
bely n (see also baly) belly Pard 534; bellows Pars 351
ben pl pres and p ppl of be v
bench n bench, seat WB 247; counting-table Sh 358; ~ of feet footstool Pars 589
benedicite (e) (Latin) interj bless me, my goodness, heavens! Kn 1785+ (pronounced bèndistè, as a trisyllable)
benefice n an ecclesiastical living GP 291+
benigne adj gentle, gracious, kind GP 483+; mild Sq 52
benisoun n blessing Mch 1365+
berd n beard GP 270+; make (s.o’s) ~ get the better of, outwit (s.o.) Rv 4096, WB 361
bere n bear Kn 1640+
bere v bear, carry Kn 1422+; give birth to ML 722+; endure, suffer Cl 85+; refl to bear o.s., behave, perform GP 87, NP 2872+; ~ doun overbear, talk down Mil 3831+; ~ adoun overthrow Kn 2644; ~ on honde accuse (s.o. of s.th.) ML 620+; maintain, assert WB 232; ~ wrong on honde make false assertions against WB 226; 3 sg pres bereth, contr berth; 1/3 sg past baar, bar, beer; 2 sg past bare; pl past baren; p ppl (y)bore, (y)boren, (y)born
bering(e) n bearing, behaviour Mch 1604+
bern (e) n barn Mil 3258+
berye v bury Pard 405, 884
best n (see also beest) beast, animal Kn 1976+; pl cattle, livestock Cl 201+
beste superl adj best GP 252+; atte/at the ~ in the very best way, to (o’s) heart’s content GP 29+; with the ~ superbly GP 387, among the finest ML 76; for the ~ in everyone’s best interests, as the best plan GP 788+; (as) for thy/oure/his ~ in your/our/his best interests Sum 1986, Cl 1161, Sh 347
bet comp adv better GP 242+; go ~ go quickly Pard 667; what wol ye ~ than wel what more do you want Mil 3370+; ~ than nevere is late better late than never CY 1410
bete v beat Mil 3759, Rv 4308+; hammer, emboss Kn 979, Phys 14+; pl past bette(n); p ppl bet, bete(n), ybet, ybete(n)
beth 3 pers pl pres and pl imp of be v
bette(n) pl past of bete v
betten pl past of beete v
beye v (see also bye) buy Pard 845+; redeem WB 718, Cl 1153+; past boghte, boughte; p ppl boght, yboght
bicam sg past of bicome
bicause adv and conj because GP 174+
bicome v become Fri 1644+; suit WB 603; sg past bicam
bidde v direct, order GP 187, Mil 3228, WB 28+; tell GP 787+; ask, request Mch 1618+; pray Mil 3641, SN 140; compel, urge Sq 348+; ~ fare wel say goodbye Sh 320; 3 sg contr pres bit; sg past bad; pl past bede(n); p ppl bode
bide v wait Kn 1576+; stay, remain Rv 4237, Co 4399+; sg past bood
bifalle v befall, happen GP 19, Kn 1805+; faire yow ~ may you prosper Pars 68; sg past bifel, bifil; past subj bifelle; p ppl bifalle
bifo(o)re, biforn prep before, in front of GP 100+; him ~ in front of him Kn 1634+; us ~ ahead of us CY 680
bifore, biforn adv before Kn 1224+; in front, at the front GP 377+; beforehand Kn 1665+; earlier Kn 1148+; in readiness, ahead GP 572
big adj strong GP 546+
bigan 1/3 sg past of biginne v
bigeten p ppl engendered Mk 1948+
bigile v deceive, trick Mil 3300+
biginne v begin GP 42+. Used as a weak auxiliary with an infinitive, as equivalent of a simple present or past tense: e.g. biginneth dawe dawns Mk 2682; bigan areste brought to a halt GP 827; bigan to goon went Kn 2271; bigonne they to rise they rose Mel 1043; 1/3 sg past bigan; 2 sg past bigonne; pl past bigonne; p ppl bigonne(n)
bigo(o)n p ppl (see also wo-bigon) beset, overwhelmed; him is wo ~ he is overcome with sadness Mil 3372; cf. ML 918, Fkl 1316; wel ~ happy, in good spirits WB 606
bihe(e)ste n promise ML 37+
bihete v (see also bihote) promise Fkl 788+; sg past bihighte; pl past bihighten; p ppl bihight
bihinde adv behind, in the rear ML 427+; at the back Mil 3239+; afterwards Mk 1988; left behind Pars 1010; to follow CY 1291
bihinde prep behind Kn 1050+
bihote v (see also bihete) promise Kn 1854
bihove v impers be necessary Mel 1170+; be fitting Mel 1655, Pars 83+; bihoveth hire she needs Sq 602; bihoveth me I must Fkl 1359+
bihovely adj necessary, appropriate Pars 107+
bijape v trick, deceive Kn 1585+
biknowe v confess ML 886+; acknowledge Kn 1556+; pl past biknewe
bilde v (see also builde) build Mch 1279
bile(e)ve v believe Mil 3162+
bileve n belief, faith Fkl 1133+; creed Mil 3456
bille n petition Mch 1971, Phys 166 (see n.) +; letter Mch 1937+; ~ of somonce summons Fri 1586
binde v bind Kn 2414+; tie Rv 4060+; imprison Cl 1205; constrain Pars 686; sg past bond, boond; pl past bounde; p ppl bounden, ybounde(n)
binime v take away (from) Pars 335+
biquethe v bequeath Kn 2768+; p ppl biquethe
bireve v take away Sum 2111+; take away from Kn 1361+; rob, deprive (of) ML 83, Sum 2059+; sg past birafte, birefte; p ppl biraft, bireved
biseche v (see also biseke) beseech, entreat, ask Mil 3600+; sg and pl past bisoght(e), bisoughte
bisege v besiege Mel 1099+
biseke v (see also biseche) beseech, entreat, ask Kn 918+; ~ to entreat, beg Mel 1116+
bisette v bestow Mil 3715; employ Mil 3299; spend Sum 1952+; fix Pars 366; dispose, manage Kn 3012; ~ (o’s) wit use (o’s) head GP 279; past bisette; p ppl biset
biseye p ppl: ivel ~ of poor appearance Cl 965; richely ~ of splendid appearance Cl 984
bishrewe v curse WB 844+
biside adv in addition Kn 967+
biside(s) prep beside, near GP 402+
bisily adv diligently, carefully Kn 1883, Mil 3763+; earnestly GP 301, SN 342+; eagerly Rv 4006, ML 180+; intently ML 1095, Sq 88+
bisinesse n activity, labour Mil 3643, Mel 1591+; activity, occupation Mil 3654+; business Sh 225; diligence Cl 1008+; endeavour GP 520, Fkl 827; attentiveness WB 933; tasks, duties Cl 1015, Mch 1904; concern Mel 1637; trouble, anxiety Kn 1928, WB 1196, Mch 1577+; do (o’s) ~ make an effort, do (o’s) best, give (o’s) attention to Kn 1007, Cl 592+; in his ~ occupied CY 1270
bisoght(e), bisoughte past of biseche v
bispet p ppl spat upon Pars 276+
bistowe v bestow (in marriage) Rv 3981; employ WB 113; spend Sh 419+
bisy adj busy GP 321+; diligent, assiduous Kn 2853+; active Kn 1491, Sh 318; concerned Kn 2442; solicitous, attentive Cl 603; earnest ML 188, Sum 1940; anxious, troubled Kn 2320, Cl 134+; ~ inow hard put Mch 1560
bisy(e) v refl bestir o.s., exert o.s. WB 209+
bit 3 sg contr pres
of bidde v
bitake v entrust Cl 161+; consign Mil 3750+; sg past bitook
bithenke, bithinke v imagine WB 772+; refl recollect, call to mind Co 4403, Mel 1445+ (with on, Pars 700); consider Pars 352; be bithoght of have thought of GP 767; sg past bithoghte; p ppl bithoght
bitide v happen, befall, occur Mil 3450+; ~ what ~ come what may Th 874; sg past bitidde; p ppl bitid
bitime(s) adv in good time Kn 2575+; promptly, straightway CY 913+
bitok(e)ne v signify, symbolize WB 851+
bitook sg past of bitake v
bitrayse v betray Mk 2380+
bitwix, bitwixe(n) prep between GP 277+
biwail(l)e v bewail, lament ML 26+
biwepe v weep for Pars 178+
biwreye v reveal Kn 2229+; disclose WB 948+; betray WB 974+
blame v find fault with Rv 3863, ML 106, Cl 78+; reproach ML 372; blame Mil 3181, WB 541+
blede v bleed GP 145+; sg past bledde
blende v blind Mil 3808, Mch 2113, CY 1077+; 3 sg pres blent; p ppl (y)blent
blere v blear CY 730+; ~ (s.o’s) eye hoodwink s.o. Rv 3865+
blesse v (see also blisse) bless Mil 3455, ML 1146+; wish blessings on Mil 3218; protect, guard Mil 3484, refl Mcp 321; make the sign of the cross over Cl 679; refl to cross o.s. Mil 3448+
blew adj blue GP 564+
blind adj blind Kn 1965+; dark CY 658
blis n (see also blisse) joy, happiness NP 3166; festivity, ceremonial splendour ML 409; heavenly bliss ML 33+; worldes ~ worldly happiness NP 3200
blisful adj blessed GP 17+; fortunate ML 726+; happy WB 220+; fine, splendid ML 403, NP 3197; lovely, beautiful Mil 3247+
blisse n (see also blis) joy, happiness Kn 1230+; festivity, ceremonial splendour Kn 1684+; heavenly bliss Sum 1857+
blisse v (see also blesse) bless Pard 474+; make the sign of the cross over Cl 552; refl cross o.s. ML 449
blithe adj happy, glad, joyful GP 846+
blive adv quickly, hastily Kn 2697+
blondre v walk blindly CY 1414; act in the dark CY 670
blowe(n) p ppl proclaimed Kn 2241; inflated SN 440
boce n (see also boos) bulge Pars 423
bode p ppl of bidde v
body n body Kn 2283+; person Rv 4172+; my ~ myself, I, me ML 1185, WB 1061+
boes 3 sg pres of bihove v impers (Northern form); him ~ he must Rv 4027
boght p ppl of beye/bye v
boghte past of beye/bye v
boidekin n dagger Rv 3960+
boiste n box, jar Pard 307+
bokeler n small shield GP 112+
bokes pl of book n
boldely adv boldly WB 227+; vigorously Fri 1303+; insolently Pars 599; with assurance Sq 581; without delay Mil 3433, NP 3020
bole n bull Kn 1699+; free ~ a bull free to roam with the herd Pars 898+
bolt-upright adv flat on the back Rv 4266+
bon n (see also boon) bone WB 511+; pl bones GP 546; dice (made of ivory) Pard 656
bond sg past of binde v
bonde n and adj bondsman, serf Fri 1660, Pars 149; subject (to) WB 378, Mk 2270; ~ of linage born in bondage Mel 1561
bonde-folk n bondsmen, tenants Pars 754+
bonde-men n pl customary tenants, bondsmen Pars 752+
bood sg past of bide v
book n book GP 185+; Bible ML 662+; pl bokes
boold adj bold GP 458+; ~ of speche voluble GP 755
boon n (see also bon) bone Kn 1177+; ivory NP 3399
boond sg past of binde v
boone n request Mch 1618+; prayer Kn 2269+
boor n boar Kn 2070+; male pig Sum 1829; pl bores
boos n (see also boce) boss Mil 3266
boost n boast ML 401+; arrogance, pride Mk 2099, 2609, SN 441; crake ~ bluster Rv 4001
boote n remedy GP 424+; good, benefit WB 472, Mel 993; salvation Pri 466; do ~ heal Sq 154
boras n borax (used as ingredient of medicine for skin disease) GP 630; borax (used in alchemy in treating base metals) CY 790
bord n board, plank Mil 3440; table GP 52, ML 430+; board, food CY 1017; biginne the ~ sit at the head of table GP 52; go to ~ lodge WB 528; holde to ~ keep as lodger Mil 3188; into shippes ~ on board a ship Mil 3585
bore p ppl of bere v (see also boren, born, ybore(n), yborn) born Kn 1542+; carried Sq 178+; borne Mil 3831
borel n (see also burel) coarse woollen cloth WB 356; ~ men laymen Mk 1955
boren p ppl of bere v (see also bore, born, ybore(n), yborn) born WB 1153
bores pl of boor n
born p ppl of bere v (see also bore, boren, ybore(n), yborn) born Kn 1073+; borne, carried GP 87+; borne, given birth to Cl 444; borne man servant from birth Mch 1790
borste pl past of breste v
borwe n security, pledge; leye (o’s) feith to ~ pledge (o’s) word Kn 1622; have heer my feith to ~ I pledge my word Fkl 1234; surety, guarantor Mel 1807+; Seint John to ~ in farewell (lit ‘under the protection of St John’, an expression used in saying farewell) Sq 596
borwe v borrow Co 4417+
botel n bottle, flask Sum 1931+
boterflye n butterfly Mch 2304+
botme n bottom NP 3101+
bounde pl past of binde v
bounden p ppl of binde v
bounte(e) n goodness, virtue WB 1160, Cl 157+; good Pars 525+; kindness Mch 1917, Mel 1189, Pars 466; worth, excellence Cl 415, Pri 457; generosity Pars 284+; prowess, valour Mk 2114
bour n bedroom Mil 3367+; lady’s private room WB 300+
bowe n bow GP 108+; dogge for the ~ hunting dog trained to track game wounded by archers Fri 1369, Mch 2014
bowes pl of bowe n and also of bough n
box n box-tree Kn 2922; boxwood NP 3398
boy n servant (usually young) Pard 670; rascal, knave Fri 1322, 1563; boy Pri 562
braide v (see also breide): ~ of swough suddenly recover consciousness WB 799
brak sg past of breke v
brast sg past of breste v
braun, braw(e)n n muscle GP 546, NP 3455+; brawn, cooked meat Sum 1750+
breche n (see also breech) breeches NP 3448
brede n breadth, width Kn 1970+
breech n (see also breche) breeches Pard 948+
breek sg past and past subj of breke v
breide v (see also braide) pull, snatch ML 837; recover consciousness, start Sq 477; ~ of sleep wake up suddenly Rv 4285; ~ out of (o’s) wit lose o’s senses Fkl 1027
breke v break GP 551+; break out of Kn 1468+; break into Pars 879; put a stop to Mel 1043, Mk 1927, Pars 24; ~ forward break an agreement ML 40; ~ (o’s) day fail to pay punctually CY 1040; sg past brak, breek; past subj breek; p ppl broke(n)
bren n bran Rv 4053+
brend p ppl of brenne v pure, refined Kn 2162, 2896; burned NP 3365
brenne v (see also brinne) burn Kn 2331+; sg past brende, brente; pl past brende(n); p ppl (y)brend, (y)brent
brere n briar Kn 1532+
breste v break Kn 1980+; burst Kn 2610+; sg pres brest; sg past brast; pl past borste, broste; p ppl brosten
bret-ful adj brimful, crammed full GP 687+
bretherhede n brotherhood Fri 1399+; guild, religious fraternity GP 511
bribe v pilfer Co 4417; practise extortion Fri 1378
brid n bird Kn 2929+; (as term of endearment) sweetheart Mil 3699+; (as term of disparagement) wretch, fiend Pars 195
bright adj bright GP 104+; resplendent, glorious ML 841+; beautiful, fair Kn 1427+
brighte adv brightly Kn 2425+
brimstoon n brimstone, sulphur GP 629+
brinne v (see also brenne) burn WB 52
broche n (see also brooch) brooch Mil 3265
The Canterbury Tales Page 134
