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A Middle English Vocabulary Challenge -- Nowel Edition

SirDennisC
Half-elven


Dec 22 2012, 6:09am


Views: 3168
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A Middle English Vocabulary Challenge -- Nowel Edition Can't Post

Apparently the world did not end today, so... Welcome to a special Nowel (Christmas) edition of "A Middle English Vocabulary Challenge!"

As many here know, a significant portion of Tolkien's labours in Middle English were based on the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, itself a tale spread across two consecutive "holiday" seasons -- hence the timing of this edition. According to this article, for some the poem has an apocalyptic interpretation as well. How convenient!

As in past instalments, our word game is based on a list of ten words drawn from two of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle English glossaries:

A) A Middle English Vocabulary, by J.R.R. Tolkien, as published in Sisam, Kenneth, ed. Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose, London: Oxford University Press, 1955; and

B) Tolkien & Gordon ed. Sir Gawain & The Green Knight, London: Oxford University Press, 1963.

The Rules:

This is a game of guessing, reasoned or otherwise. We ask those who have access to the glossaries to please wait until after posting to look up the words! As always, no answers in subject lines please.

The Challenge:

For each of the following words, please state its definition and/or a contemporary equivalent word as you deem appropriate.

1. daunsyng
2. worþyly
3. schulderes
4. bryȝt
5. Crystemas
6. twelmonyth
7. doȝtyr
8. þorghout
9. vnryghtwisely
10. wundred

You may have noticed some odd characters in this special edition. As not to make it too easy, let's just say one can usually be read as "gh," the other as "th."

As well, it may pay to hearken to NZ Strider via NEB: "Try reading Middle English aloud while looking at the text. A few words that your eye misses your ear will catch."


(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Dec 22 2012, 6:14am)

Subject User Time
A Middle English Vocabulary Challenge -- Nowel Edition SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 22 2012, 6:09am
    I'll give it a go ... DanielLB Send a private message to DanielLB Dec 22 2012, 8:01am
    Tricky.. geordie Send a private message to geordie Dec 22 2012, 9:27am
    Aren't the nowels Ethel Duath Send a private message to Ethel Duath Dec 22 2012, 7:45pm
        Speaking of "y" SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Jan 1 2013, 11:09pm
            Well, if "i" and "y" were interchangeable at some point Ethel Duath Send a private message to Ethel Duath Jan 2 2013, 12:12am
                i, y, j, u and v in Dutch and English Lissuin Send a private message to Lissuin Jan 2 2013, 6:19am
                I think it's a spelling difference acheron Send a private message to acheron Jan 2 2013, 5:36pm
                    Spelling anarchy could be fun CuriousG Send a private message to CuriousG Jan 2 2013, 6:42pm
    Gawd, not this again Ardamírë Send a private message to Ardamírë Dec 22 2012, 7:53pm
    Tough one this time! Morthoron Send a private message to Morthoron Dec 23 2012, 1:05am
    A Nowel present - a quiz! dernwyn Send a private message to dernwyn Dec 23 2012, 5:36am
    I'll give it a go. Aunt Dora Baggins Send a private message to Aunt Dora Baggins Dec 23 2012, 6:25am
        About answers and bonus words :) SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 23 2012, 8:40pm
            OK, here are my guesses. Aunt Dora Baggins Send a private message to Aunt Dora Baggins Dec 23 2012, 9:28pm
            Even more? dernwyn Send a private message to dernwyn Dec 24 2012, 7:11pm
                Such lines are what makes it an "alliterative poem" SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 25 2012, 3:19am
            bonus words Lissuin Send a private message to Lissuin Dec 25 2012, 3:03am
    Are two guesses allowed? Lissuin Send a private message to Lissuin Dec 25 2012, 2:40am
        Did you see the second list Liss? SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 25 2012, 3:03am
            How do you like my line party costume? Lissuin Send a private message to Lissuin Dec 25 2012, 3:08am
                Great answer! ... and ... wow. O.O // SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 25 2012, 3:23am
    Answers -- don't peek if you still want to play. SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 25 2012, 5:16pm
        Lots of fun, SirDennisC! Ardamírë Send a private message to Ardamírë Dec 26 2012, 11:25pm
    Bonus list answers -- don't peek if you still want to play! SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 25 2012, 5:46pm
        j wasn't a letter in Middle English acheron Send a private message to acheron Dec 30 2012, 3:49pm
            Further on the mysterious "ientyle" SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Dec 31 2012, 10:27pm
                "childgered"? dernwyn Send a private message to dernwyn Jan 1 2013, 1:34pm
                    Great question -- now where is Phibbus? SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Jan 1 2013, 8:38pm
                        Not likely, SirD. Lissuin Send a private message to Lissuin Jan 1 2013, 8:55pm
                            Often said of Tolkien in the Reading Room - SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Jan 1 2013, 10:36pm

 
 
 

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