Middle English Vocabulary Education September 29-October 3

Diane on October 6th, 2008

1) Gytelscheppe (n.) - Recklessness.

Wylland, certes, I dyd it no3te,
Bot for /gytelscheppe/ of thoughte.

- R. de Brunne, MS. Bowes

Pronunciation: /gitElSEp@/

2) Wittande (n.) - Knowledge; knowing.

The fyft poynte may thai noght eschape,
That commounes with hym that the pape
Cursed has at hys /wyttande,/
Or to that curssyng es assentande.

- Hampole, MS. Bowes

Pronunciation: /witAnd@/

3) Baratour (n.) - A quarrelsome person.

One was Ewayne fytz Asoure,
Another was Gawayne with honour,
And Kay the bolde /baratour/.

- Sir Perceval

Pronunciation: /bArAtur/

4) Nithe (n.) - Wickedness.

But in pride and triechery,
In /nythe/ and onde and lecchery.

- Cursor Mundi, MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab

Pronunciation: /niT@/

5) Balsomate (adj.) - Embalmed.

He made his ymage of laton full clene,
In whiche he put his body /balsomate/.

- Hardyng’s Chronicle

Pronunciation: /bAlsOmAt@/