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A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

Chapter 41: Ȝ (pronounced as y).
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About This Book

The volume is a concise alphabetical dictionary of Middle English vocabulary (c.1150–1580), compiled for students and readers. Entries present principal spellings and variants, brief definitions, etymologies, and abundant citations drawn from representative specimen texts and glossaries; references point readers to full contexts in the referenced editions. The editors prioritize forms typical of the Chaucer–Piers Plowman period and note French influence, with cross-references and additions enabling expansion of entries. Preface and explanatory notes outline sources, editorial principles, and conventions for abbreviations and underlining.

Ȝ (pronounced as y).

Ȝa, adv. yea, S, PP, S2, H; see Ȝea.

Ȝæn, prep. against, in comparison with, S; see Ȝeyn.

Ȝaf, pt. s. of Ȝiuen.

Ȝal, pt. s. yelled, S2; see Ȝellen.

Ȝape, adj. vigorous, strong, keen, bold, WA.—AS. geap, astute, bold (BT).

Ȝare, adv. formerly, S; see Ȝore.

Ȝare, adj. ready, S, S2, G; yare, HD; ȝaru, S; ȝarowe, S; ȝare, adv., soon, S, G; yare, S2, Sh.—AS. gearo.

Ȝarken, v. to prepare, S, S2, WA; ȝarrkenn, S; gerken, S; giarkien, S; ȝearceon, S; ȝeirken, S; ȝarketh hym, pr. s. reflex., P; ȝæarced, pp., S; i-garcket, S; iȝarked, S; giarked, S.—AS. gearcian.

Ȝarm, sb. cry, S2.—Icel. jarmr, a crying.

Ȝarme, v. to scream, yell, bellow, WA, HD.

Ȝarowe, sb. milfoil, millefolium, herb for nose-bleeding, Prompt.; yarowe, Palsg., Manip.; ȝarow, Voc.; ȝarrow, S3.—AS. gearwe (Voc.): OHG. garawa, garwa.

Ȝarowe, adj. ready, S; ȝaru, S; see Ȝare.

Ȝate, sb. gate, S2, G, H, WA; yat, HD; see Gate.

Ȝe-, a prefix before verbs and substantives.—AS. ge-. [In ME. the equivalents of ge-, viz. Ȝe-, I-, Y-, Hi-, A-, E-, are often found prefixed to past participles. For words beginning with this particle see in many cases the uncompounded form.]

Ȝe, pron. ye, S, S2, PP; ye, C2; ge, S; yhe, S2; ȝeo, S; ȝie, S.—AS. ge. See also Ȝou, Ȝoure.

Ȝea, adv. yea, PP: ȝa, S, S2, PP, H; ȝe, S, S2, PP, G; ȝhe, W; ye, S2, PP, C2; ȝie, S; ȝha, S2; ȝo, S2.—AS. géa; cp. Goth. , Icel. .

Ȝe-arnen, v. to earn, S.—AS. ge-earnian. See Ernen.

Ȝeat, pt. s. poured, S; see Ȝeten.

Ȝe-bugon, pt. pl. were obedient, S.—AS. ge-bugon, from ge-búgan. See Bowen.

Ȝe-cende, adj. natural, S; i-cundur, comp., S.—AS. ge-cynde. See Kynde.

Ȝe-ceosen, v. to choose, MD; ȝe-cas, pt. s., S.—AS. ge-céosan.

Ȝed, sb. a word; ȝeddes, pl., MD.—AS. gied, gid, gyd, song, poem, saying.

Ȝeddien, v. to speak, MD; ȝedde, to sing, S2.—AS. geddian, giddian, to sing, to speak.

Ȝeddynge, sb. a gest or romance, Prompt.; ȝeddyngis, pl., HD; yeddynges, songs, C. See above.

Ȝede, pt. s. went, S, S2; see Ȝeode.

Ȝedire, adj. vehement, WA; ȝederly, adv. quickly, S2, HD.—Cp. AS. ædre, (edre), quickly, at once: OS. adro, quick.

Ȝeer, sb. year, S3; ȝer, S, S2; gær, S; yeer, C2; ȝere, PP, S2; yere, S2, C2; yeire, S2; ȝer, pl., PP, S, S2, S3; yer, S; yeer, C2; ger, S; ȝeir, S3; yeir, S2; ȝere, PP; yere, S2; yhere, S2; ȝeres, S, PP; geres, S.—AS. gér, géar: OS. jer, jar; cp. Gr. ὥρα; see Brugmann, § 118.

Ȝeerli, adv. yearly, S3.

Ȝef, conj. if, S, S2; see Ȝif.

Ȝe-fered, sb. company, societas, S; i-ferred, MD; ifereden, MD.—AS. ge-férrǽden, companionship.

Ȝeft, sb. gift, S; see Ȝift.

Ȝe-fo, sb. foe, MD; ifo, MD; y-uo, MD; ivo, S; ȝefo, pl., S; ifo, MD.—AS. ge-fá. See Foo.

Ȝe-geng, sb. company, S.—AS. gegang.

Ȝeid, pt. s. went, S2; see Ȝeode.

Ȝeien, v. to cry out, S, MD; ȝeide, pt. s., MD.—Icel. geyja, to bark (a strong vb.).

Ȝeir, pl. years, S3; see Ȝeer.

Ȝe-laðien, v. to invite, S.—AS. ge-laðian.

Ȝe-laðiere, sb. inviter, S.

Ȝeld, sb. payment; yelde, S; ȝielde, S; gildes, pl., S; gæildes, S.—AS. gild.

Ȝelden, v. to pay, yield, S, PP, S2, G, W; yelden, C2; ȝulde, PP; yhelde, S2; yheld, S2; ȝelt, pr. s., PP; ȝilt, PP; ȝald, pt. s., PP, S2, S3; yald, PP, S2; yalt, HD; ȝelde, PP, S2; ȝelte, PP; ȝelt, PP; geld, S; ȝeldide, W; yolden, pp., C; ȝoldun, W; ȝolde, W; iȝolde, S, S2.—AS. geldan, pt. geald (pl. guldon), pp. golden: cp. Goth. gildan.

Ȝeldingus, sb. pl. payments, debts, S3.

Ȝe-lesten, v. to fulfil, to perform, to continue, last, extend, S; i-leste, S; i-lest, pr. s., S; i-lested, S; gelest, pt. s., S; y-laste, S2; i-laste, S, S2.—AS. ge-lǽstan.

Ȝe-limpen, v. to happen, MD; ȝelamp, pt. s., S; ilomp, S.—AS. ge-limpan. See Limpen.

Ȝelke, sb. yolk of an egg, Prompt.

Ȝellen, v. to yell, MD; yolle, C; ȝolle, S; ȝellynge, pr. p., howling, W; ȝal, pt. s., MD, S2; ȝulle, pl., MD; ȝelliden, MD; yelleden, C.—AS. gellan (giellan), pt. geall (pl. gullon), pp. gollen.

Ȝellynge, sb. yelling, MD; yollyng, C; ȝollinge, S.

Ȝelow, adj. yellow, MD; ȝeoluwe, S; ȝeolewe, S; ȝeluwe, S; ȝolewe, S; yelwe, C; yalu, HD.—AS. geolw- stem of geolu (geolo); see Sievers, 300; cp. G. gelb.

Ȝelpe, sb. boasting, S.

Ȝelpen, v. to boast, S; yelpe, C; yalp, pt. s., MD; yelp, MD.—AS. gilpan (gielpan), pt. gealp (pl. gulpon), pp. golpen.

Ȝelpynge, sb. boasting, Prompt.

Ȝeman, sb. youth, servant, MD; see Ȝoman.

Ȝemanry, sb. yeomanry, B.

Ȝeme, sb. care, S, S2, G; yeme, HD; geme, S.—AS. géme (in compounds), gýme.

Ȝeme-leas, adj. careless, S: ȝemeles, S.—AS. gémeléas.

Ȝemeleaste, sb. carelessness, S; ȝemeleste, S; ȝemeles, S.—AS. gémelést, gýmeléast.

Ȝemen, v. to care for, to heed, S, HD, S2, S3; yemen, S, G; yem, S2; ȝiemeð, pr. s., S; yhemes, pl., S2; ȝemed, pt. s., S2; ȝemedd, pp., S; ȝemmde, pl., S.—AS. géman, (gýman); cp. Icel. geyma, mutated form from Icel. gaumr, heed, attention; see Sievers, 21. See Gome.

Ȝemer, adj. sad, MD; yemer, S; ȝeomer, S; ȝomere, adv., S.—AS. géomer.

Ȝe-meten, v. to meet, S; i-meten, to find, S: y-mete, S; ȝe-met, pr. s., S; i-metten, pt. pl., S; y-mette, pp., C2, PP.—AS. ge-métan, pt. s. gemétte. See Meten.

Ȝemsall, sb. keeping, B. See Ȝemen.

Ȝene, v. to reply, S; see Geȝnen.

Ȝeode, pt. s. went, S, PP; ȝede, PP, S, S2; ȝeid, S2, S3; ȝude, S2; yede, S, S2, S3, C3; yhode, S2; yod, S2; yheden, pl., S2 (s.v. forth-).—AS. ge-éode. See Eode.

Ȝeolewe, adj. yellow, S; see Ȝelow.

Ȝeomer, adj. sad, S; see Ȝemer.

Ȝeorne, adv. eagerly, S, S2; see Ȝerne.

Ȝeornen, v. to yearn, desire, S; see Ȝernen.

Ȝeoten, v. to pour, S; see Ȝeten.

Ȝep, adj. prompt, HD; see Ȝape.

Ȝer, sb. year, S, S2; see Ȝeer.

Ȝerd, sb. an enclosure, court, field, garden, W; yerd, S, C; ȝerde, G; ȝard, S3.—AS. geard: Goth. gards, house; cp. Lat. hortus; see Douse, p. 73. See Garth.

Ȝerde, sb. rod, stick, yard, staff, Prompt., W, S, S2, P; yerde, C2; yeorde, S; ȝerd, S2; ȝerdis, pl., W; ȝerden, dat. pl., S.—OMerc. gerd (VP): Goth. gazds; cp. Lat. hasta; see Douse, p. 73.

Ȝe-redie, adj. ready, S; iredy, S2; ireadi, adv., S. See Redi.

Ȝerne, v. to run, S.—AS. ge-ærnan. See Rennen.

Ȝerne, adv. eagerly, S, S2, S3, PP; yerne, C3; ȝeorne, S, S2; ȝorne, HD; ȝierne, S; ȝern, S2.—AS. georne.

Ȝernen, v. to yearn, S, S2, PP; ȝeornen, S, S2; ȝirnen, S; ȝarnand, pr. p., S2; ȝirnde, pt. s., S; ȝornde, S; ȝyrnden, pl., S2; i-ȝirnd, pp., S; yȝyrned, S2.—AS. geornan, also gyrnan; see Sievers, 79.

Ȝernful, adj. desirous, MD: ȝeornful, S.

Ȝerning, sb. desire, MD; yornyng, S3; yherninges, pl., S2.—AS. geornung.

Ȝernliche, adv. diligently, MD; ȝeornliche, S.—AS. geornlice.

Ȝerre, sb. outcry, loud lament, WA.—Cp. AS. georran, to make a noise.

Ȝe-sceaft, sb. creature; ȝesceafte, dat., S.—AS. ge-sceaft. Cf. Schaft.

Ȝe-sceapen, v. to create, MD; ȝescop, pt. s., S; ȝesceop, S; ȝescepe, pp., S.

Ȝe-sceod, sb. distinction, difference, discrimination, reason, S; ȝescod, S.—AS. ge-scéad, ge-scád. See Scheden.

Ȝescung, sb. covetousness, S; see Ȝiscunge.

Ȝe-secðe, sb. sight, S; see I-sihðe.

Ȝet, conj. yet, S, S2; giet, S; gæt, S; ȝiet, S; yete, S; ȝeiet, S; ȝut, S, S2, P; ȝete, S; ȝette, S; ȝute, S, S2; yhit, S2; ȝit, W; ȝhit, S3; yit, C2, C3; yet, C3; ȝyt, S2; get, S.—AS. get.

Ȝeten, v. to pour, MD; ȝeoten, MD, S; ȝett, WA, Cath.; ȝeat, pt. s., S; ȝet, S; ȝoten, pp., PP; ȝotun, molten, W2; ȝeten, PP.—AS. géotan, pt. géat (pl. guton), pp. goten: Goth. giutan; cp. Lat. fundo (for fu-d-no); see Douse, p. 112.

Ȝeten, v. to say yea, to grant, S; ȝaten, MD; ȝettien, S, MD; ȝettede, pt. s., S; ȝetede, S; ȝette, S; i-ȝette, S; gatte, S, MD; gat, MD; gatten, pl., S; gett, pp., S2.—AS. géatan, pt. s. géatte (pl. géatton); cp. Icel. játa, to say yea, confess, grant, see Fick, 7. 243. See Ȝea.

Ȝett, sb. gate, S3; ȝet, B; see Gate.

Ȝeu, Ȝew, pron. you, S; see Ȝou.

Ȝe-wealden, v. to control, MD; ȝe-wold, pt. subj. pl., S.—AS. ge-wealdan. See Welden.

Ȝe-wer, adv. everywhere, S.—AS. ge-hwǽr.

Ȝe-winne, v. to contend, S.—AS. ge-winnan.

Ȝeyn, prep. and prefix, against, in comparison with; ȝæn, S.—AS. gegn; cp. Icel. gegn.

Ȝeynbowght, pt. s. redeemed, HD; see Biggen.

Ȝeyncome, sb. return, HD.

Ȝeynsey, v. to gainsay; ȝeinseye, SkD.

Ȝha, adv. yea, S3: ȝhe, W; see Ȝea.

Ȝhis, adv. yes, W; see Ȝis.

Ȝicchen, v. to itch, MD; ȝitchinge, pr. p., W.—AS. giccan, also gyccan (see OET): OHG. juochen: OTeut. *jukkjan.

Ȝielde, sb. a payment, S; see Ȝeld.

Ȝierne, adv. eagerly, S; see Ȝerne.

Ȝiet, conj. yet, S; see Ȝet.

Ȝif, conj. if, S, S2, G, H; ȝiff, S; ȝyf, S2; yif, S; gif, S2; yf, S; gief, S; ȝief, S; gef, S; ȝef, S, S2; yef, S, S2; ef, S, C2; geue, S3; gife, S3, H.—AS. gif = ge + if (cp. Icel. ef, and OIcel. if, if): Goth. jabai; see Brugmann, § 123.

Ȝife, sb. gift, grace, S; giue, S; gyue, S; gife, S; ȝieue, S; gief, S.—AS. gifu.

Ȝift, sb. gift, PP; ȝyft, S2; yefte, S; yifte, C3; ȝiftes, pl., PP; ȝeftes, S; yeftes, S; ȝiftus, S2; yiftes, C3.—Icel. gipt.

Ȝimmes, sb. pl. gems, jewels, S; ȝymmes, WA.—AS. gim; Lat. gemma; see Sievers, 69. See Gemme.

Ȝim-stones, sb. pl. jewels, S.—AS. gim-stán.

Ȝing, adj. young, S3, G; see Ȝong.

Ȝirnan, v. to desire, S; see Ȝernen.

Ȝis, adv. yes, MD; ȝys, Prompt.; yis, C2; ȝus, PP, S2; ȝhis, W.—AS. gese for géa + the particle -se, -si (for Goth. sai, OHG. , behold); see Sievers, 338.

Ȝiscare, sb. covetous person, S; ȝitsere, MD; ȝietceres, pl., S.—AS. gítsere.

Ȝiscen, v. to covet, desire, MD.—AS. gítsian, gídsian; cp. Goth. gaidw, want; see Sievers, 198, 205.

Ȝiscunge, sb. covetousness, S; ȝescung, S; ȝitsunge, MD.—AS. gítsung.

Ȝister-, adj. yester-, MD.—AS. geostra, gystra: Goth. gistra.

Ȝister-dai, yesterday, W2; yistirday, PP.

Ȝister-evin, yester-eve, S3.

Ȝit, conj. yet, W; see Ȝet.

Ȝiu, you, S; see Ȝou.

Ȝiuen, v. to give, S, S2, PP; ȝifenn, S; ȝyue, W, S2; gyuen, S; geuen, S; ȝeuen, S, S2, S3; ȝefen, S; yiuen, C2; yeuen, S; ȝeouen, S; ȝieuen, S; ȝefue, S; ȝiefe, S; ȝief, S; geyff, S3; yef, imp. s., S; yif, S, S2; gif, S2; ȝeueþ, pl., S2; gifð, pr. s., S; yeft, S; yefþ, S2; gaf, pt. s., S, S2; ȝaf, S, S2, G; ȝæf, S; ȝifuen, pl., S; yaf, S, C2; iaf, S; ȝiaf, S; gef, S; ȝef, S, S2; gaiff, S3; yafe, S3; ȝaue, S2; ȝeue, pl., S2; ȝauen, W; iafen, S; iauen, S; geuen, pp., S; gyuen, S; ȝiuen, S; yiuen, C2; iiuen, S; iȝiue, S; yeuen, S2, C2; y-ȝeue, S2, G; ȝouen, S2; ȝouun, S2, W; iȝiue, S, S2.—AS. gifan, pt. geaf (pl. géafon), pp. gifen; see Sievers, 391.

Ȝiuer, adj. greedy, MD; ȝiure, S.—AS. gífre; cp. G. geifer, drivel.

Ȝoill-evyn, sb. Yule-even, Christmas eve, B. See Ȝole.

Ȝok, sb. yoke, W, W2; ȝockis, pl., W, W2.—AS. geoc: Goth. juk; cp. Lat. iŭgum, Gr. ζυγόν; see Brugmann, § 133.

Ȝolde, pp. paid, W; see Ȝelden.

Ȝole, sb. Yule, Christmas, HD, SkD.—AS. géola; cp. Goth. jiuleis, Grimm, p. 702; see Sievers, 220.

Ȝoman, sb. a youth, MD, Cath.; ȝeman, MD; yeman, servant, retainer, C; ȝemen, pl., HD, PP; ȝoumen, PP.

Ȝomere, adv. sadly, S; see Ȝemer.

Ȝomerly, adj. sad, S2.—AS. géomorlic.

Ȝon, adj. yon, MD, PP; ȝone, PP, S2.—AS. geon, (SkD); cp. Goth. jains; see Sievers, 338, and Brugmann, § 123.

Ȝond, prep. through, MD; ȝeond, S; ȝont, S; ȝeon, S.

Ȝond, adv. yonder, there, MD, S3; yond, S2, C2; ȝonde, PP.

Ȝonde, used as adj. yon, PP; yond, S2, S3, Sh.—AS. geond, through, also yonder.

Ȝonder, adv. yonder, G; used as adj., PP.

Ȝong, adj. young, S, S2, S3, W, PP; ȝung, S; ȝonge, G; yonge, S, C2; yunge, S; ȝyng, S3; gunge, S; iunge, S; yhung, S2; ying, S3, G; ȝing, S3, G; yonger, comp., S; ȝeunger, S; ȝungre, S; gungest, superl., S; gunkeste, S; ȝongost, S2; ȝongest, G.—AS. geong: Goth. juggs (for jungs); cp. Lat. iuuencus; see Kluge (s.v. jugend).

Ȝonghede, sb. youth, MD; yonghede, S, CM; ȝunghede, MD.

Ȝonglyng, sb. young man, disciple, MD, W; iunglenges, pl., S.

Ȝongthe, sb. youth, W; ȝungthe, HD, Prompt.; youngth, S3.

Ȝop, adj. bold, HD; see Ȝape.

Ȝore, adv. formerly, S2, G; yore, S2, S3, C2: ȝare, S.—AS. geára, for géara, gen. pl. of géar. See Ȝeer.

Ȝorle, sb. earl, HD; see Erl.

Ȝornde, pt. s. yearned, S; see Ȝernen.

Ȝoskinge, sb. sobbing, WA; ȝyxynge, Prompt.—Cp. AS. giscian (BT).

Ȝotun, pp. molten, W2; see Ȝeten.

Ȝou, pron. pl. acc. and dat. you, S, S2, W, PP; ȝow, S2, G, PP; yow, S, C2; ȝew, S; ȝeu, S; ȝuw, S; ȝiu, S; giu, S; gu, S; ow, S, S2; ou, S, S2; eu, S; eou, S; eow, S.—AS. éow. See also Ȝe.

Ȝoulen, v. to howl, cry, MD; goulen, S, S2; ȝaulen, MD; yawle, HD; gowland, pr. p., S3.—Icel. gaula.

Ȝoure, pron. pl. gen. of you (also poss. pron., your), S; eouwer, S; æoure, S; ȝure, S; ȝiure, S; ȝowre, PP; eure, S; gur, S; ȝeur, S; ower, S; oure, S2; our, S; ore, S2; or, S2; youres, C2.—AS. éowre, gen. of éow, you. See Ȝe.

Ȝou-selue, yourselves, S; ȝou-silf, W; ȝow-seluen, PP; ȝow-self, PP; ow-seolf, S; ow-seoluen, S; ou-suluen, S.

Ȝouthe, sb. youth, PP, S2; youthe, C2; ȝowthe, PP; yowthe, S2; yhouthe, S2; yhowthe, S2; ȝieuð, S; ȝuheðe, S; ȝuȝeðe, S.—AS. geoguð, guguð, iuguð; see Sievers, 74.

Ȝouthede, sb. youth, MD; youthede, MD; guðhede, S.—AS. geoguðhád.

Ȝouen, pp. of Ȝiuen.

Ȝowle, sb. Yule, HD; see Ȝole.

Ȝoȝelinge, sb. guggling noise, S.

Ȝude, pt. s. went, S2; see Ȝeode.

Ȝuheðe, sb. youth, S; see Ȝouthe.

Ȝus, adv. yes, S2; see Ȝis.

Ȝut, conj. yet, S, S2, P; see Ȝet.

Ȝyng, adj. young, S3; see Ȝong.

The subdivision of T, U/V, and W, and the format of their headers, is as in the original. Note that Th includes Þ.