whils conj (see also whiles) while CY 1139+
whit adj white GP 90+; fair Mch 2144
whoso pron whoever Mil 3176, WB 76+
wid adj wide GP 28+
wide adv widely Fri 1524+
widwe n widow GP 253+
wif n woman GP 445, 449, Phys 71+; wife Kn 932+; landlady CY 1015
wifhod(e) n wifehood, wifeliness ML 76+; the married state WB 149
wiflees adj wifeless Mch 1236, 1248
wifly adj wifely Cl 429+
wight n person GP 71+; creature Mil 3484, Rv 4236+; supernatural being Mil 3479; any ~ anyone Kn 1425+; every ~ everybody GP 842+; no ~ no one GP 280+; a litel ~ for a short time Rv 4283
wight adj agile, swift Rv 4086; strong Mk 2267
wighte n weight Kn 2145+
wike n (see also wowke) week Kn 1539+
wiket n wicket-gate Mch 2045+
wikke(d) adj wicked Kn 1580+; evil, bad Kn 1087+; wretched ML 118; bad, poor Rv 4201
wil n (see also wille) will Kn 1104+; desire, inclination Rv 3877+; wish, pleasure, will WB 897+; intention, determination Cl 509
wil 1/3 sg and pl pres of wille v
wilde fir n destructive fire, conflagration Rv 4172+; inflammable material used in warfare WB 373; artificial flames (reference to some kind of flambéing process) Pars 445
wilfully adv willingly, voluntarily Pard 441, Mel 1422+; purposely Mel 1236
wilfulnesse n self-will, wilfulness Kn 3057; determination, resolution Mel 1361+
wille n (see also wil) will Kn 2536+; desire, inclination Kn 1317+; wish, pleasure, will Kn 2387+
wille v wish, desire, want GP 276, Kn 889, 2107, WB 307, Cl 721, Pri 653, NP 3251+; wish, be willing to GP 805, Kn 1416, ML 857+; (as an auxiliary used to form the future tense) will GP 42+; (with ellipsis of verb of motion) will go Fri 1387, Sq 617+; have a mind to Th 868; intend GP 27, Mch 1405; is liable to, is capable of Mk 1911. Special uses of wolde: (1) in describing habitual actions: would, used to GP 144+; (2) in formation of future in the past: would GP 813, Kn 954+; (3) modal uses: in conditional sentences (expressed or implied): would GP 374, Kn 876+; meaning ‘would like to’ GP 766, Kn 2242+; meaning ‘would like (that)’ Rv 3962, Pard 952+; meaning ‘were to’ Kn 1473+; meaning ‘were willing to’ Mch 2341+; meaning ‘could wish’ ML 161+; (as/so) wolde God would to God (that) WB 37+; 1/3 sg pres wil, wol(e); 2 sg pres wilt, wolt; pl pres wil, wol(e), wolen; imp wille; 1/3 sg past wolde; 2 sg past woldest; pl past wolde(n); p ppl wold
wilne v desire, wish Kn 1609+
wiltow contr of wilt thow
win n wine GP 334+
winde v twist, turn WB 1102; wrap up Cl 583; envelop, enfold SN 42; wind Rv 3953; refl weave about CY 980; p ppl wounde
winke v shut (o’s) eyes NP 3306+; wink, summon by a glance Sq 348
winne v gain, acquire, get GP 442+; obtain, win Kn 1486+; win Kn 891+; profit, make a profit GP 427, Fri 1421+; capture GP 51, Sum 2082+; conquer, overcome Kn 980, Mk 2359+; ~ on get the better of GP 594; for al this world to ~ even to gain the whole world WB 961; sg past wan; p ppl wonne(n), ywonne
winning n gain(s), profit GP 275+
winter n winter Mch 2140+; year ML 197, WB 600+
wirche v (see also werche, werke v (1)) work Mil 3430+; perform Mil 3308, ML 566; act Mch 1383; do good works Sum 1978
wirking(e) n (see also werking(e)) behaviour WB 698, Cl 495+; calculation Fkl 1280
wis adj wise GP 68+; make it ~ deliberate, hesitate GP 785; pl the wise wise men, the wise Mil 3598+
wise n fashion, manner, way Kn 1338+; in every maner(e) ~ in every respect Cl 605, Sh 245+; in alle ~, in alle maner ~ at all costs Sh 61, 346; in no maner ~ in any way, at all Sum 1898; in which manere ~ in what way Phys 279
wisely adv wisely, sagely Kn 2851+
wisse v guide, instruct WB 1008+
wist p ppl of wite v (1)
wiste sg past of wite v (1)
wisten pl past of wite v (1)
wit n (see also witte) intellectual capacity, understanding GP 746, Mil 3227+; intelligence, cleverness GP 279, 574, Sum 2291+; cunning WB 400+; ingenuity Kn 2195; mind Kn 1456+; reason Mil 3135, ML 609+; reasoning ML 888; wisdom Mch 2245, Pard 326+; display of wisdom Rv 3901; strategy, course of action Cl 459, Fri 1479; opinion WB 41+; took his ~ derived his opinion ML 10; as fer as I have ~ as far as my understanding holds Fkl 985; pl mental faculties, reason Mil 3559+; five ~ five senses Mel 1424+
wite v (1) know GP 224, 389, Kn 1260+; find out, learn Fri 1450+; 1/3 sg pres wo(o)t; 2 sg pres woost; pl pres woot, wite(n); sg past wiste; pl past wisten; p ppl wist
wite v (2) blame (on) Mil 3140+; ~ of blame for Mk 2670
with prep with GP 31+; by GP 511, Kn 2018, 2022, ML 475+
withal(le) adv besides, in addition, moreover GP 127+
withdrawe v remove, take away CY 1423, Pars 802+; withhold WB 617, Pars 377+; go away Pars 449; refl remove o.s. Pars 143+
withholde v retain, maintain GP 511; retain, engage (s.o’s services) Mel 1012, 2423; hold back Mk 1996+; keep Pars 1041; keep in bondage SN 345; p ppl withholde(n)
withinne prep in, within Kn 1300+; adv inside, inwardly Mil 3240, WB 943
withoute adv outside Kn 1888+
withoute(n) prep without GP 343+; besides GP 461 withseye v gainsay GP 805, Pars 507+; deny SN 447+
withstonde v withstand, resist Fri 1497+; 3 sg pres withstand-eth; p ppl withstonden
witing vbl n knowledge Kn 1611+
witingly adv knowingly, consciously Pars 401+
witnesse v bear witness (to) Mel 1459+; take as witness SN 277; ~ on (s.o.) take (s.o.) as witness/as an example WB 951+
witte n (see also wit) understanding, intellectual capacity Fri 1480
wive v take a wife Cl 140+
wlatsom adj loathsome Mk 2624, NP 3053
wo n grief, sorrow Kn 919+; distress, misery, affliction Kn 1030+; lamentation Kn 900, Mk 2492+; pain SN 521; ~ was this king/knight this king/knight was sorrowful ML 757, WB 913+; ~ is me sorrow overcomes me ML 817; ~ was his cook it was the worse for his cook GP 351; ~ were us we should be in a miserable situation Cl 139; do/werke ~ inflict misery on, do harm to Kn 2072, 2624, Fri 1310+; make ~ lament Rv 4200+
wo-bigon adj (see also bigo(o)n) overwhelmed with suffering/sorrow Mil 3658
wode n wood Kn 1422+
wol 1/3 sg and pl pres of wille v
wold p ppl of wille v
wolde 1/3 sg past of wille v
wolde(n) pl past of wille v woldest 2 sg past of wille v
wole 1/3 sg pres of wille v
wole(n) pl pres of wille v
wolle n wool Mil 3249+
wolt 2 sg pres of wille v
woltow contr of wolt thow
wombe n stomach Rv 4290+; womb Cl 877+
wommanhede n womanliness Kn 1748, ML 851+
wommanly adj womanly Kn 3083+
wonder n wonder GP 502+; astonishment, wonderment Cl 1058+; puzzlement Sq 199; miracle Pri 673, SN 359; marvel ML 182, Mch 2123; ~ is/was it is/was wonderful Sh 23, Th 692+
wonder adj wonderful, wondrous Kn 2073, ML 1045+
wonder adv wonderfully, exceedingly, very GP 483, Kn 1654+
wonderly adv wonderfully GP 84+
wondre v wonder, marvel Kn 1445, Cl 335+; ~ (up)on wonder about, marvel at Cl 358, Sq 258+
wone n custom GP 335+
wone v live, dwell GP 388, Kn 2927+; live, exist SN 332
wones pl of woon n
wonne(n) p ppl of winne v
wont p ppl accustomed Kn 1195+
wood adj mad, insane GP 184+; furious, raging Kn 1329+; angry Mil 3394, WB 664+
woodnesse n madness Kn 2011+
wook sg past of wake v
woon n place Th 801; pl wones buildings Sum 2105
woost 2 sg pres of wite v (1)
woot 1/3 sg pres and pl pres of wite v (1)
wopen p ppl of wepe v
word n word GP 304+; speech, utterance GP 856, Kn 1112+; at o ~ in a word ML 428+; ~ and ende from beginning to end Mk 2721
wor
ld n world GP 176+; the population NP 3345; worldes (gen) used as equivalent to adj ‘worldly’ NP 3200
worm n worm Cl 880+; grub WB 376, 560; serpent Phys 280; reptile Pard 355
wors(e) comp adj (see also werse) worse Kn 1224, Pars 614+
wors(e) comp adv (see also wers(e)) worse Co 4350+
worship n honour Kn 1904+; dignity, good repute Fkl 962+; credit Sh 13+; source of credit Mel 1485; veneration Pri 654
worshipe v honour, respect Cl 166; honour, venerate Kn 2251, Pri 511+
worshipful adj honourable, noble Kn 1435, Mel 1765+; deserving of respect Cl 401+
wortes n pl greens, herbs Cl 226+
worthinesse n excellence, nobility, worth GP 50+; prowess Kn 2592; dignity, reverence Sum 2260; youre ~ your honour Cl 824
worthy adj noble, excellent, full of worth GP 43+; respectable, of dignity, of good standing GP 217+; many uses are deliberately ambiguous as to which of these two meanings is uppermost: e.g. GP 243, 269, Mch 1246+; redoubtable GP 47, ML 579, Mk 2249+; worthy, suitable GP 579+
wostow contr of woost thow
wowe v woo Mil 3372+
wowke n (see also wike) week Fkl 1161
woxe(n) p ppl of wexe v
wrastle v wrestle GP 548, Kn 2961+
wrathe v (see also wratthe) anger, provoke Mcp 80+
wratthe n wrath, anger Pars 335+
wratthe v refl (see also wrathe) become angry Pars 1013
wraw(e) adj angry Mcp 46; peevish Pars 677
wrecche n wretch Kn 931+; exile SN 58; miser Mel 1603
wrecche, wrecched adj wretched Kn 921+
wrecchednesse n wretchedness, misery ML 941+; wickedness, folly Rv 3897, Fkl 1271+; baseness, base act Fkl 1523; vile/contemptible things Mcp 171, Pars 34
wreche n vengeance ML 679+
wreke v avenge, revenge Kn 961, WB 809+; wreak, give vent to Mk 2597; refl avenge o.s., take vengeance Sq 454, Pard 857+; p ppl wreke(n)
wreye v reveal Mil 3503, Fkl 944; betray Mil 3507
wrighte n worker in wood, carpenter GP 614, Mil 3143
wringe v pinch WB 942, Mch 1553; wring (the hands) ML 606, Cl 1212; wring out Th 776; sg past wrong
write v write GP 96+; proclaim, indicate Rv 3869; 3 sg contr pres writ; sg past wroot; pl past writen; past subj write; p ppl write(n), ywrite(n)
wroght p ppl of werke v (1) worked GP 367+; painted Kn 1919; made Kn 1983+; created Mk 2008+; fashioned Kn 2497
wroghte sg past of werke v (1)
wrong sg past of wringe v
wroot sg past of write v
wrooth adj angry GP 451, Kn 1179+; pl and weak sg wrothe
wroughte sg past of werke v (1)
wrye v (1) cover Kn 2904, Sum 1827+; p ppl ywrye
wrye v (2) ~ awey(ward) turn away Mil 3283, Mcp 262
wys adv certainly, surely Kn 2786, Fkl 1470+
wys(e)ly adv assuredly, for sure Rv 3994, Mch 2114; earnestly Fkl 789; heavily Rv 4162; (in oaths and asseverations) as ~ as as surely as, inasmuch as Kn 2234; (al)so ~ (may s.o.) surely (do s.th.) ML 1061+
Regular (weak) p ppl forms beginning with y have not generally been entered; they should be sought under their second letter in the main entry for the verb (e.g. ydight under dighte v).
yaf sg and pl past of yeve v
yate n gate Cl 1013+
yave(n) pl past of yeve v
ybe(n) p ppl of be v been Mch 2401+
ybet, ybete(n) p ppl of bete v beaten Mil 3759+; hammered, embossed Kn 979+
yblent p ppl of blende v
yboght p ppl of beye/bye v
ybore(n), yborn p ppl of bere v (see also bore, boren, born) born Kn 1019, Cl 158+; borne, carried GP 378+; borne, given birth to Cl 443
ybounde(n) p ppl of binde v
ybrend, ybrent p ppl of brenne v burned Kn 946+
yclad p ppl of clothe v
ycome(n) p ppl of come v
ycorve(n) p ppl of kerve v
ydo, ydo(o)n p ppl of do v done Kn 1025+; finished, over Kn 2534, WB 574+; performed SN 386; placed CY 899; of ~ taken off Kn 2676
ydriven p ppl of drive v
ydronke p ppl of drinke v
ye 2 pers pron (nom pl) you GP 780+
ye adv yea, yes Mil 3455+
yede sg past of go v went CY 1141; came CY 1281
yeer n (see also yer) year GP 347+; as pl years GP 82+
yeerd n (see also yerd(e) n (1)) enclosure, yard NP 2847+
yelde v pay WB 130+; reward Sum 1772, 2177; give back, restore Phys 189, Mel 1292; give Sum 1821, Pars 378+; relinquish, give up Kn 3052, Cl 843; deliver up WB 912; p ppl yolden
yelle v shout Kn 2672: yell NP 3389
yeman n yeoman, ‘a servant or attendant in a royal or noble household,… ranking between a sergeant and a groom or between a squire and a page’ (OED) GP 101, Fri 1380+; servant or attendant on an (ecclesiastical) official Fri 1524, CY 562+; ‘a man holding a small landed estate; a freeholder under the rank of a gentleman; hence vaguely, a commoner or countryman of respectable standing’ (OED) Mil 3270; men of the above rank serving in battle Kn 2509, 2728
yer n (see also yeer) year Kn 1458+
yerd(e) n (1) (see also yeerd) yard, garden Sum 1798, Fkl 1251; enclosure, yard NP 2951+
yerde n (2) stick, rod GP 149, Pars 670+; staff Kn 1387; under youre ~ under your authority Cl 22; under the ~ in tutelage Sh 97; yard Kn 1050
yerne adv eagerly WB 993; busily Pard 398
yet adv and conj (see also yit) yet GP 70+; still Kn 2307+; always Pard 425; in addition, besides GP 612, Kn 2005+; moreover Mch 2246+; ~today even now Fkl 1473; ~ now in addition Kn 938, 1156
yeve v (see also yive) give GP 223+; grant Mch 2377, Pars 442+; ~ again return Mil 3773; ~ up utter Mch 2364; sg past yaf; pl past yaf, yave(n); p ppl yeve(n)
yfalle(n) p ppl of falle v fallen GP 25, Mil 3460; ~ in occurring in Pard 496; thing ~ occurrence CY 1043
yfet p ppl of fecche v
yfounde p ppl of finde v
ygeten p ppl of gete v
ygo(n) p ppl of go v
ygrave p ppl of grave v
ygrounde p ppl of grinde v
yhent p ppl of hente v
yholde p ppl of holde v held Kn 2958; considered Kn 2374+; hir wey ~ taken her course Mch 1932
yif sg and pl imp of yive v
yifte n gift Kn 2198+
yis adv yes Mil 3369+
yit adv (see also yet) yet Cl 120; in the future Fkl 688; then NP 3408; as ~ still Cl 120; so far Fkl 1577
yive v (see also yeve) give GP 225+; sg and pl imp yif
yknowe(n) p ppl of iknowe and knowe v
ykorven p ppl of kerve v
ylad p ppl of lede v
ylaft p ppl of leve v (1)
yleid p ppl of leye v
ymaad, ymaked p ppl of make v
ymet(te) p ppl of meete v
yolden p ppl of yelde v
yond adv yonder, over there Kn 1099+; far away Cl 1199
yong adj young GP 7+
yo(o)re adv for a long time Rv 4230+; formerly, before ML 174+; long ago Rv 3897+; of time ~ for a long time Fkl 963; times ~ times gone by Cl 1140; ~ ago(on) long ago Kn 1813+
your(e) poss pron your GP 804+; absol yours CY 1248
yow 2 pers pl pron, acc/dat you GP 34+
ypocrisye n hypocrisy Pard 410+
ypocrite n hypocrite Sq 514+
yqueint p ppl of quenche v
yraft p ppl of reve v
yrent p ppl of rende v
yronne(n) p ppl of renne v run GP 8+; clustered Kn 2165
ysene p ppl of se(e) v
yset p ppl of sette v
yseyn p ppl of se(e) v
yshape(n) p ppl of shape v
yshave p ppl shaved, shaven GP 690+
The Canterbury Tales Page 152
