Glossary for Le Morte d'Arthur

The terms below occur in the Standard Ebooks edition of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur beside this page. They explain the old words, the names and the places that can stop a first-time reader. The meanings of most of the old words come from the glossary printed at the back of that edition, which comes with A. W. Pollard's text, written here in US spelling and in plain words; the names, the places and the remaining words were written for this page from the book itself. Character notes say who somebody is when a reader first meets them, not what later happens to them.

Abashed

Humbled, cast down.

Abate

Also: abated

To lower or calm.

Abraid

Started up.

Accolon

Sir Accolon of Gaul, a knight whom Morgan le Fay loves.

Accompt

Also: accompted

To count.

Accord

Also: accorded

To agree.

Acquit

To repay.

Advision

A vision.

Afeard

Afraid.

Aglovale

A son of King Pellinore.

Agravaine

A son of King Lot and Margawse, Gawaine's brother.

Alisander

Alisander le Orphelin, Tristram's cousin.

Alther

Of all.

Anon

At once.

Appeach

Also: appeached

To accuse.

Appealed

Also: appeal

Accused and challenged to fight.

Araged

Also: arage

Enraged; confused.

Araised

Raised.

Arson

A saddlebow, the arched front of a saddle.

Arthur

King of England, son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine, brought up by Sir Ector.

Assoil

Also: assoiled

To absolve.

Assotted

Infatuated.

Assummon

To summon.

Astolat

A town Malory places at Guildford.

Astonied

Stunned, amazed.

At avail

At an advantage.

At-after

After.

Avaunt

Also: avauntest, avaunting

To boast.

Aventred

Also: aventryd

Set a spear in its rest, ready to charge.

Avilion

The isle of Avalon.

Avised

Advised; to take thought.

Avision

A vision.

Avow

Also: avows, avowed

A vow; to vow.

Awk

Sideways, the wrong way.

Bain

A bath.

Balan

Balin's brother.

Balin

Balin le Savage, a knight of Northumberland.

Barbican

A tower guarding a gate.

Barget

A little ship.

Beaumains

"Fair hands," the name Sir Kay mocks a young stranger with at Arthur's court.

Bedivere

A knight of the Round Table, Lucan's brother.

Behest

Also: behests

A promise.

Behight

Promised.

Beholden to

Also: beholden unto, beholding to, beholding unto

Obliged to.

Behote

Promised.

Benome

Deprived, taken away.

Benwick

King Ban's kingdom in France.

Besants

Gold coins.

Beseen

Arrayed, fitted out.

Betaught

Entrusted, commended.

Betid

Happened.

Betook

Committed, entrusted.

Betwixt

Between.

Blamore

Also: Blamore de Ganis

Sir Blamore de Ganis, Bleoberis's brother.

Bleoberis

Also: Bleoberis de Ganis

Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, a knight of Launcelot's kin.

Bobaunce

Boasting, pride.

Boistous

Rough.

Bors

Also: Bors de Ganis

Sir Bors de Ganis, Launcelot's cousin.

Bote

Remedy, help.

Bourder

A jester.

Brachet

A small hound.

Brast

Burst, broke.

Brastias

A knight of Uther's, later Arthur's.

Breunor

Breunor le Noire, a young knight who comes to court.

Brised

Broke.

Bushment

An ambush.

Cameliard

King Leodegrance's kingdom.

Camelot

Arthur's chief city, which Malory says is Winchester.

Cantel

Also: cantels

A slice, a strip.

Carbonek

King Pelles's castle.

Carlion

Caerleon, a city in Wales where Arthur holds court.

Cedle

A written note.

Cere

Also: cered

To wax over, to embalm.

Certes

Certainly.

Champaign

Open country.

Chierté

Dearness, affection.

Churl

A peasant; a rude fellow.

Claudas

A king who wars on King Ban.

Cleped

Called, named.

Clipping

Also: clipped

Embracing.

Cognisance

A badge, a mark a knight is known by.

Coif

A cap of mail worn under a helmet.

Coronal

A circlet for the head.

Courtelage

A courtyard.

Croup

Also: croups

The hindquarters of a horse.

Dagonet

Arthur's fool.

Dame Brisen

Also: Brisen

An enchantress in King Pelles's household.

Dame Lionesse

Linet's sister, besieged in her castle.

Damosel

Also: damosels

A young woman, a damsel.

Defoil

Also: defoiled

To trample down, to foul.

Departition

Departure.

Dere

Harm.

Devoir

Duty, service.

Did off

Took off.

Dight

Made ready.

Dinadan

A knight of the Round Table known for his jokes.

Dinas

King Mark's seneschal, and Tristram's friend.

Disherit

To disinherit.

Disperpled

Also: disperplyd

Scattered.

Dispoiled

Stripped.

Disworship

Shame, dishonor.

Dole

Grief, sorrow.

Domineth

Rules.

Dretched

Also: dretching

Troubled in sleep.

Dure

Also: dured

To last, to endure.

Duresse

Hardship, imprisonment.

Durst

Dared.

Ector de Maris

Launcelot's half-brother.

Eft

Again, afterward.

Eme

An uncle.

Enbushed

Hidden in ambush in the woods.

Enchafe

Also: enchafed

To heat, to anger.

Enchieve

Also: enchieved

To achieve.

Endlong

Along the length of.

Enow

Enough.

Enpoison

Also: enpoisoned

To poison.

Enprised

Undertook.

Enquest

An enterprise, a quest.

Ensample

An example.

Entermete

To meddle, to interpose.

Errant

Wandering; a knight errant rides out looking for adventure.

Even hand

Also: even hands

On equal terms.

Evenlong

Along.

Evensong

The evening service.

Everych

Each, every one.

Excalibur

Arthur's sword.

Fain

Glad; gladly.

Faren

Treated, dealt with.

Faute

Also: fauted

Lack; lacked.

Fealty

An oath of loyalty to a lord.

Feute

A trail, a track.

Feutred

Set a spear in its rest.

Flang

Flung; rushed.

Flatling

Flat on the ground.

Flemed

Put to flight.

Foin

Also: foins, foined, foining

To thrust with a weapon.

Foot-hot

Hastily, at once.

For-bled

Weak from bleeding.

Fordo

To destroy.

Forfoughten

Worn out with fighting.

Forjousted

Worn out with jousting.

Forsooth

In truth.

Forthink

Also: forthinketh

To repent, to regret.

Fortuned

Happened.

Gaheris

A son of King Lot and Margawse, Gawaine's brother.

Galahad

Launcelot's son by Elaine, King Pelles's daughter.

Gareth

The youngest son of King Lot and Margawse.

Garlon

King Pellam's brother, a knight who rides invisible.

Gart

Made, compelled.

Gaul

France.

Gawaine

The eldest son of King Lot and Margawse, and Arthur's nephew.

Gerfalcon

A large falcon.

Germain

Closely related; a cousin germain is a first cousin.

Gisarm

Also: gisarms

A long-handled battle-ax.

Glaive

A sword.

Gore

King Uriens's kingdom.

Gouvernail

Tristram's servant and teacher.

Gramercy

Many thanks.

Gree

The prize, first place.

Gringamore

Brother of Dame Lionesse and Linet.

Guenever

Daughter of King Leodegrance of Cameliard, and Arthur's queen.

Halp

Helped.

Halsed

Embraced.

Harness

Armor.

Hauberk

Also: hauberks

A coat of mail.

Haut

High, noble.

Hie

Also: hied

To hurry.

Hight

Was called, named.

Hilled

Covered, concealed.

Hither

To here.

Holden

Held.

Holp

Helped.

Holts

Woods.

Houseled

Given the Eucharist.

Hoved

Waited, hovered about.

Howbeit

However; although.

Igraine

The Duke of Tintagil's wife, later Uther's queen and Arthur's mother.

Inde

Dark blue.

Ironside

The Red Knight of the Red Launds, who besieges Dame Lionesse.

Isoud la Blanche Mains

Also: La Blanche Mains

Isoud of the White Hands, daughter of the King of Brittany.

Japer

A jester.

Japes

Jests.

Joseph of Aramathie

Joseph of Arimathea, who brought the Grail to Britain.

Joyous Gard

Also: Joyous Garde

Launcelot's castle in the north of England.

Kay

Sir Ector's son, Arthur's foster brother and seneschal.

King Bagdemagus

Also: Bagdemagus

King of Gore, a knight of the Round Table.

King Ban

King of Benwick, Launcelot's father.

King Leodegrance

Also: Leodegrance

King of Cameliard, Guenever's father.

King Lot

King of Orkney, husband of Margawse, father of Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris and Gareth.

King Mark

King of Cornwall, Tristram's uncle.

King Pellam

Also: Pellam

King of Listeneise, kin to King Pelles.

King Pelles

Also: Pelles

King of the castle of Carbonek, and Galahad's grandfather.

King Rience

Also: Rience

King of North Wales, who wants Arthur's beard to trim his mantle.

Kirtle

A gown or tunic.

Knights parters

Marshals who part knights fighting at a tournament.

Knowledging

Acknowledgment, confession.

La Beale Isoud

Isoud the Fair, daughter of the King of Ireland.

La Cote Male Taile

"The badly cut coat," the name Sir Kay gives Breunor for his coat.

Lady of the Lake

An enchantress of the lake who gives Arthur his sword.

Lamorak

Also: Lamorak de Galis

Sir Lamorak de Galis, a son of King Pellinore.

Latten

Brass.

Launcelot

Also: Lancelot

Sir Launcelot du Lake, son of King Ban of Benwick, the most renowned knight of the Round Table.

Laund

Also: launds

A clearing, an open plain.

Lavaine

A son of Sir Bernard of Astolat.

Layne

To conceal.

Leech

Also: leeches

A physician.

Leman

A lover.

Lief

Dear; willing.

Liefer

Rather, more gladly.

Lightly

Quickly.

Linet

A damosel who comes to court asking help for her sister.

Lionel

Bors's brother, Launcelot's cousin.

Logris

Arthur's kingdom, England.

Lonazep

A castle where a great tournament is held.

Loos

Praise, fame.

Lucan

Sir Lucan the Butler, Bedivere's brother.

Lucius

The Emperor of Rome, who demands tribute from Arthur.

Mador de la Porte

A knight of the Round Table, Sir Patrise's cousin.

Makeless

Matchless.

Marches

Borderlands.

Margawse

Also: Morgawse

Igraine's daughter and Arthur's half-sister, the wife of King Lot.

Marhaus

Sir Marhaus, brother of the Queen of Ireland.

Maugre

In spite of.

Medled

Mingled.

Medley

A melee, a general fight.

Meiny

A household, a retinue.

Meliagrance

Sir Meliagrance, a son of King Bagdemagus.

Merlin

A prophet and enchanter, counselor to Uther and then to Arthur.

Meseemeth

It seems to me.

Mickle

Much.

Mischieved

Hurt, harmed.

Missay

Also: missaid, missaying

To speak ill of.

Mo

More.

Mordred

Margawse's son by Arthur, brought up as one of King Lot's sons.

Morgan le Fay

Igraine's daughter and Arthur's half-sister, who learned enchantment in a nunnery.

Mote

Must, may.

Mountenance

The amount, the extent.

Nacien

A holy hermit.

Ne

Nor, not.

Near-hand

Nearly; near.

Nigh

Near; nearly.

Nill

Also: nilt

Will not.

Nimue

One of the damosels of the lake, whom Merlin loves.

Nis

Is not.

Nist

Knew not.

No force

No matter.

Noblesse

Nobleness.

Nobley

Nobility, splendor.

Noised

Reported, rumored.

Nold

Would not.

Not for then

Nevertheless.

Obeissance

Obedience; a bow.

On high

Aloud.

Orgulité

Pride, arrogance.

Orgulous

Proud.

Orkney

The islands north of Scotland; King Lot's kingdom.

Outher

Either; or.

Overthwart

Across; a mischance.

Overthwart and endlong

Across and along, every way.

Palfrey

A gentle riding horse.

Palomides

Also: Palamides

Sir Palomides the Saracen, who loves La Beale Isoud.

Patrise

An Irish knight, Sir Mador's cousin.

Paynim

Also: paynims

A pagan, a heathen.

Pellinore

King Pellinore, the knight who hunts the Questing Beast.

Peradventure

Perhaps.

Percivale

Also: Percivale de Galis

Sir Percivale de Galis, a son of King Pellinore.

Perdy

By God; certainly.

Peron

A tombstone, a monument.

Persant

Sir Persant of Inde, the Blue Knight.

Pight

Pitched, set up.

Pillers

Plunderers.

Pleasaunce

Pleasure.

Pont

A bridge.

Priamus

A Saracen knight who fights Gawaine in the war with Rome.

Prime

The first hour of the day, about six in the morning.

Puissance

Power.

Purvey

Also: purveyed

To provide.

Questing Beast

A strange beast with a noise in its belly like hounds on the scent, which King Pellinore hunts.

Raced

Also: rased

Tore.

Rack of bulls

A herd of bulls.

Rashed

Fell headlong, rushed.

Rashing

Rushing.

Rasing

Rushing.

Raundon

Force, impetuosity.

Recounter

Also: recountered

An encounter.

Recreant

A knight who yields and begs for his life; a coward.

Rede

Advice; to advise.

Round Table

Also: Table Round

The table Merlin made, and the fellowship of the knights who sit at it.

Sacring

The consecration at Mass.

Safere

Palomides's brother.

Sagramore

Sir Sagramore le Desirous, a knight of the Round Table.

Samite

A rich silk woven with gold or silver thread.

Sangreal

The Holy Grail, the cup of the Last Supper.

Sarras

A city in the East, told of in the books of the Grail.

Scathe

Also: scathes

Harm.

Segwarides

A knight of Cornwall.

Semblant

Appearance, look.

Sendal

A fine silk cloth.

Seneschal

The steward of a lord's household.

Servage

Servitude.

Shaw

A thicket.

Shenship

Disgrace.

Shent

Ruined, disgraced.

Shriven

Confessed and forgiven.

Siege

Also: sieges

A seat.

Siege Perilous

The seat at the Round Table that no knight may sit in but the one it was made for.

Siker

Sure.

Sith

Since.

Sithen

Since; afterward.

Slade

A valley.

Sooth

Truth.

Spere

Also: spered

To ask.

Stert

Started, leaped up.

Steven

An appointment.

Stilly

Silently.

Stonied

Astonished.

Stour

A battle.

Straked

Blew a horn.

Sweven

Also: swevens

A dream.

Tatches

Qualities, habits.

Thither

To there.

Tho

Then.

Thrang

Pushed, thronged.

Tintagil

A castle in Cornwall, the seat of the Duke of Tintagil.

To-brast

Burst apart.

To-fore

Before.

To-morn

Tomorrow.

To-shivered

Broken to pieces.

Tor

Sir Tor, a son of King Pellinore.

Trenchant

Sharp.

Tristram

Sir Tristram de Liones, a knight of Cornwall, King Mark's nephew, a harper and a huntsman.

Trow

To believe, to trust.

Truage

Tribute.

Twain

Two.

Ulfius

A knight of Uther's, later Arthur's.

Umbre

Shade.

Underne

The middle of the morning, from nine to noon.

Ungoodly

Rudely.

Unhilled

Uncovered.

Unnethe

Scarcely.

Up-so-down

Upside down.

Uriens

King Uriens of Gore, Morgan le Fay's husband.

Urre

Sir Urre of Hungary, a knight with wounds that will not heal.

Uther Pendragon

Also: Uther

King of England, Arthur's father.

Utterance

The uttermost; to fight to the utterance is to fight to the death.

Uwaine

The son of King Uriens and Morgan le Fay.

Varlet

Also: varlets

A servant.

Venery

Hunting.

Wallop

Also: walloped, walloping

To gallop.

Wanhope

Despair.

Ware

Aware.

Ween

Also: weened

To think, to suppose.

Weltered

Also: weltering

Rolled about.

Wherefore

Why; for which reason.

Whither

To where.

Wield himself

To come to himself.

Wight

Strong, brave.

Wightly

Swiftly.

Win the degree

To win the prize, the first place.

Wist

Knew.

Wit you well

Know it well, be sure of it.

Wite

To blame.

Withal

Besides, as well.

Without-forth

On the outside.

Witting

Knowledge.

Wold or nold

Would or would not.

Wonderly

Wonderfully.

Woodness

Madness.

Worship

Also: worshipful

Honor, good name; worshipful means honorable.

Wot

Know.

Wrack

Ruin, destruction.

Wroth

Angry.

Yede

Went.

Yode

Went.

Yolden

Yielded, surrendered.