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Teachers' Resource Web Middle English Terms for Themes in Chaucer Brian Loftus, UCI, English 28A Source: The Riverside Chaucer, ed. Larry Benson (Boston: Houghton, 1987). AUCTORITE(E), AUTORITE: (1) legal power; (2) power to inspire or convince; (3) written authority or authoritative passage or statement CURTEISIE, CURTESYE: courtliness, good manners, courtesy as a moral ideal. DEGRE(E): (1) step; (2) status, social rank; (3) situation, condition; (4) manner, way. FREE (E): (1) not servile, having the social status of a nobleman or freeman; (2) noble, generous in spirit; (3) unrestrained, unconstrained (assent, choice, will); (4) generous, liberal (in spending). GENTILLESSE, GENTILESSE: (1) nobility of birth or rank; (2) nobility of character MAISTRY(E): (1) mastery, domination; (2) skill, achievement PARFIVE), PERFIT: perfect, complete PRYVETE(E), PRIVITE: (1) privacy, secrecy; (2) secret counsel, private affairs; (3) hidden part, sexual members, private parts. QUITE, QUITTE: (1) pay, pay for, repay; (2) reward, recompense. requite, (3) pay back, revenge, (4) do one's duty, conduct one 1 s self . SOVERAYNETEE, SOVEREYNETEE, SOVEREIGNTE: sovereignty, mastery TROUTH(E) (1) pledge, loyalty to one's word, fidelity; (2) truth,
truthfulness.
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