# Glossary for Le Morte d'Arthur The terms below occur in the [Standard Ebooks edition of Sir Thomas Malory's *Le Morte d'Arthur*](le-morte-darthur.epub) 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.