De Chronique de Du Guesclin, Collationnée sur L’Édition originale du XVe Siècle, et sur tous les Manuscrits, avec une Notice Bibliographique et des Notes, par M. Fr. Michel : Paris, Bureau de La Bibliothèque Choisie; 1830, pp. 28-29.
ALL THE FRENCH WORDS are defined and conjugated — every one, every time. Each word on this page will show its meaning in English, in its context in that phrase, in a tip box, when your mouse hovers over them. In addition, clicking on the underlined words, or the words in the titles, when used for the first time on this page in that form, or with that meaning, will take you down to the Page Glossary. All the forms of that word used on this page only will be listed. The source of the information is also given there, usually if it is mentioned as it is used in the translation in only one resource. Other forms or variant meanings used elsewhere will be on those pages where they are used in that way. Clicking on the entry word there will take you back up to your place in the text afterward.
All the words and their variant meanings and forms used in the entire book are in the cumulative Glossary at the end of the book.
Préface
[In progress -- draft only]
En ma pensée souvent me delectoye en ouyr livres1 et compter les faiz des anciens par lesquelz, soubz la grace de nostre Seigneur, duquel tous biens viennent, cognoissance de raison est donnée a tout humain. Et devant toute rien au fait de chevalerie et de clergie qui de justice sont voyes et droictes gardes, jaçoit ce que ne soye point telle que en mon doyve estre chiere. Mais les clers et les chevaliers en ma jeunesse ay voulu hanter voulentiers, et souvent et le cueur de mon forment y trait. Et depuis pour mon 30 delit2 ecomme celluy qui par entroublier l’adversité mondaine par laquelle maint cueur est desvoyé, ay prins aulcun remède de confort pour ma pensée eslever, et me suis mis a traictier et racompter par hystoires les faiz de messire Bertrand du Guesclin, chevalier qui par sa doctrine3 et par sa vaillance surmonta en prouesse tous aultres chevaliers, en son vivant : et de luy et de sa vaillance ala tant la renommé que le roy Charles de France qui justice et chevalerie tant aymoit le retint connestable de son royaulme. Cestuy roy Charles feut preudhomme et de saincte vie en son vivant, car 31 avecques ce qu’il fut tenu le plus preudhomme de son royaulme, il regna par sa justice en telle maniere et puissance que bien povoit-on dire de luy ce que nostre Seigneur dit par la bouche de Jeremie son benoit prophete qui, au livre des Lamentations, dit : regnabit rex, sapiens erit et faciet judicium. Et certes bien se gouvernoit selon telles paroles le roy Charles : et bien devra chescun congnoistre par ceste hystoire laquelle doresnavant je veuil commencer; mais a tous supplie humblement que, se en aulcuns lieux je fais ce que souventes fois me advient, ilz me veueillent mes faultes debonnairement suppleer et corriger.
32 [blank]3 Je pense qu’il faut lire : droicture.
Glossary
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
The sources for the definitions can be found in Comments Comments* below.
About verb classifications: In the slightly older dictionaries, 100 years or so, nobody I used had heard of the Simple Past or Definite Past, or Historic Past, as such, it is always called the Perfect and so used as such in the following glossary, unless it is a modern French word used in the titles or in the footnotes by Michel.
Sometimes in the Chandos and Toynbee texts the same spelling of some verbs used in the third person singular were called imperfect in one but perfect in the other. Both are noted.
Cotgrave uses different tenses like the aorist and other extravagant forms that the first two references and the modern books I used don't mention. These other verb forms are rare in Guesclin, so conjugations and their patterns mentioned by the other two are almost always used and noted if they listed that form particularly. If the conjugation says Elf.Ed, then it was mine based on the endings used similarly in the old books and the models used will be credited. If it is a standard Modern French form of the word and not listed by them, there will be no reference note.
The Conditional was felt to be a separate Mood to these older linguists as well, which is not considered to be the case by some modern linguists.
When there is no mention of the source, then it is my note and a general mixture of several resources for meanings with expanded synonyms.
About types of verbs: In Toynbee, verbs are classified as active, neuter, or reflective. In modern dictionaries transitive, intransitive and reflexive are used. Toynbee’s classification is used in this glossary, unless the verb is not used in his dictionary and is only found in Modern French dictionaries, and those classifications are then used.
A : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
A : preposition or a verb (from the verb avoir: to have) :
NOTE !!! In modern French this word, used as a preposition, has a grave accent (the reverse of an acute accent): à. This is not always so in older French texts and the accent is never included in this text of Du Guesclin. In that case, differentiating between the preposition and the verb has to be determined by the context.
Here, on this page, is the first example of the use of small “a” in this text, used as the preposition, à, without the accent.
NOTE !!! Often, in modern French, when the preposition à is capitalized, the accent is not included, as in older French. In that case, too, differentiating between the preposition and the verb has to be determined by the context.
There is a modern example of the use of capital “A” on this site, as the preposition, à, without the accent.
For other forms, meanings and uses of this word, see the Main Glossary entry for A.
Adversité : feminine noun; singular. Adversity, affliction, crosses, mishaps, misfortunes.
Advient : active indicative present, third person singular, of the neuter verb, advenir. Variant spelling of avient. He, she, it happens, does happen, is happening.
Ala : active indicative past definite [perfect], third person singular, of the neuter verb, aler. Now, aller. He, she, it went, went away.
Anciens : masculine noun, plural, from ancien. The ancients; old ones; the ancient ones.
Anglaise : Here, feminine adjective; singular. English. From anglais.
In the page titles, it means the English only translation of this page, the Anglaise title, or the interlinear English translation with the French text, the Anglaise-Francaise title link.
For other forms, uses and meanings of Anglaise see the Glossary.
Au : masculine; singular contraction of the preposition a + the definite article Le. It can mean at the; to the; in the; or by the.
Aulcun : adjective, masculine; singular. Any, some, anyone, someone.
Aulcuns : adjective, masculine; plural of aulcun. Any, some, anyone, someone.
Aulcuns : adjective, masculine; plural. From aulcun. Any, some, anyone, someone.
For other forms and uses of aulcun see the Glossary.
Aultres : adjective, masculine or feminine; plural of aultre. Other, another. Variant spelling of autre. For this spelling form Toynbee states it means another thing, or something else.
For other forms and uses of aultre see the Glossary.
Avec : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. With, together.
For other forms and uses of Avec see the Glossary.
Avecques : preposition — masculine or feminine; plural. With, together.
Avecques : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Variant spelling of avoec. With, together.
Avoir : (active infinitive verb. Very common, and very irregular in its forms! It also has a million uses and meaning. It is used alone and as an auxiliary (helping) verb. Commonly, it means: To have.
Ay : active indicative, first person, of the verb avoir. I have, I do have.
For other forms and meanings of ay see the Glossary.
Ay : active indicative, first person, of the verb avoir. I have, I do have.
For other forms and meanings of ay see the Glossary.
Aymoit : active imperfect, third person. of the verb aymer. He,she, it loved, or was loved.
For other forms and meanings of aymoit see the Glossary.
Benoit : past participle; feminine; singular, used as an adjective. Variant spelling of benëoit. Past participle; masculine singular of the verb Beneïr. Blessed.
Bertrand : masculine proper noun; singular. Bertrand, the same in both languages. The first name of our hero:
Bertrand du Guesclin : masculine proper noun; singular. Bertrand of Guesclin, the subject of this biography. For the meaning of his last name, see Guesclin.
Bien : Here, adverb. Well, right.
Biens : masculine noun, plural [or it can be the nominative singular] of bien. Good, good things, good deeds; as plural it can also mean goods, property.
Bibliographique : feminine or masculine adjective; singular. Bibliographic.
Bibliothèque : feminine noun; singular. Library.
La Bibliothèque Choisie : feminine proper name; singular. The Select Library, or The Choice Library. Whether this is a private publishing or printing firm or bookseller, or a governmental office of the 19th century, I cannot discover.
It had three branches: Paris, Méquigonon-Havard, and Bricon, according to the title-pages of the book
Bouche : feminine noun; singular. Variant spelling of boche, earlier, but the standard spelling today. Mouth.
Bureau : masculine noun; singular. Office.
Car : conjunction. For, since.
Ce : This very common word has many uses, meanings, and forms, all spelled in a number of ways:
Ce : demonstrative pronoun, neuter. This, that.
Celluy : demonstrative pronoun, neuter. This, this one; that, that one.
Certes : Adverb. Certainly, indeed.
Ceste : demonstrative pronoun; feminine; singular. This, that.
Cestuy : demonstrative pronoun, [masculine singular]. This man, he. (cotgrave)
Charles : proper name. The same as in English. Here, referring to:
Charles de France : Charles of France. The King of France at this period. Always called roy Charles, in his capacity as King.
Chescun : masculine adjective; singular. Variant spelling of Chascun. Each, each one.
Chevalerie : feminine noun; singular. Knighthood, chivalry, or the deed(s) of chivalry.
Chevalier : masculine noun; singular. Cavalier, knight, horseman.
Chevaliers : masculine noun, plural. Cavaliers, knights, horsemen.
Chiere : feminine adjective; singular. Dear, Beloved, precious, valuable. (In Cotgrave this spelling means to shit.
Choisie : past participle; feminine; singular of the active verb choisir. Chosen, or selected.
For other forms and meanings of choisie see the Glossary.
Chronique : feminine noun; singular. Chronicle, history.
For other forms and uses of Chronique see the Glossary.
Clergie : masculine noun; singular. The clergy. In these days, not just embodying churchmen as members of the religious order, but also still considered the wise men as a group, or the learned men, since literacy was an essential requirement. This impression may also be due to the fact that their works were preserved in more places than other men's written work, since copies of their writings shared more freely with other monasteries across Europe. This improved the chance of its survival as opposed to local writings in a single copy that didn't survive local feuds and disasters.
Clers : masculine noun, plural. Clerks. Here meaning monks, but later it could mean any writer or copyist with writing skills. All college students were called clerks at times in the Middle Ages, whether they planned to be monks, going into the church as a profession, or not.
Cognoissance : feminine noun; singular. Knowledge, [comprehension,] wisdom, acquaintance, familiarity with, skill, cunning, experience; a notice, or notion. An intelligence, understanding or apprehension of. Also a deed, or schedule of acknowledgement, or confession of a debt; also, a badge or cognissance.
Collationée : past participle; feminine; singular of the verb collationer. Examined and compared versions, or copies, compiled, collated.
For other forms and meanings of collationée see the Glossary.
Comme : Adverb or conjunction :
Comme : Adverb. As, how, like.
Comme : conjunction. In order that, when.
Commencer : neuter verb, infinitive. To begin.
For other forms and meanings, see commencer.
Compter : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of conter. To tell, narrate, relate. To count, account, reckon, number. When used like a present participle; masculine; singular, it means counting, reckoning, numbering, etc.
For other forms and meanings with this spelling, see compter.
Congnoistre : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of conoistre. To know, recognize.
For other forms and meanings with this spelling, see congnoistre.
Confort : masculine noun; singular. Comfort, help, consolation.
Connestable : masculine noun; singular. Constable. At this period this was the highest-ranking general of France. All military affairs were under his control.
Corriger : transitive verb, infinitive. To correct, straighten.
Cueur : masculine noun; singular. Variant spelling of cuer. A Heart. Also, the heart, mind, thought, affection; fancy or opinion; courage, mettle.
For other forms and meanings and spellings, see cuer.
De : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular. Of, or from.
For other forms and uses of de see the Glossary.
Debonnairement : adverb. kindly, graciously.
Delectoye : active subjunctive present, first person; singular; from the reflexive verb delecter. Variant spelling of Deleter. (Now spelled with an accent: déleter.) [that] I may delight, I may please, I may give contentment to.
For other forms and meanings, see delecter.
Delit : masculine noun; singular. Delight.
Depuis : Adverb. Variant spelling of depuis. Since, afterwards.
For other forms and meanings, see depuis.
Des : preposition — masculine or feminine; plural of De. Of. or from.
Desvoyé : past participle; feminine; singular, of the verb desvoyer. Variant spelling of desvier. Misled, strayed; in an errour; brought out of the way; [? distracted ?] — However, in Toynbee, it means raged, been maddened.
Est Desvoyé : passive indicative present, third person singular; masculine. He, she, or it is [being] misled, strayed; erred.
For other forms and meanings, see desvoyer.
For other forms and uses des see the Glossary.
Devant : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Before, in front of.
For other forms and uses of devant see the Glossary.
devra passive conditional present, third person singularDire : active or neuter verb, infinitive. To say, speak, tell, mention, call, name.
For other forms with this same spelling, other conjugations, and uses of dire see the Glossary.
Dit : active indicative perfect, third person singular. He, she, or it said, spoke, told, named, mentioned, called.
Dit : active indicative perfect, third person singular, of the verb dire. He, she, or it said, spoke, told, named, mentioned, called.
Doctrine : feminine noun; singular. Learning, doctrine, science, knowledge of good letters. When used regarding a Court, it means, civility, courtesy, good manners, courtly behavior.
For the full definition by Cotgrave for doctrine see the Glossary.
Donnée : past participle; feminine; singular, of the verb donner. In times past, this was a variant spelling of doner; but now it is the accepted modern spelling. gave.
Est Donnée : Passive indicative present, third person singular; masculine. He, she, or it is [being] given, assigned, devoted, applie; donated.
For other forms and uses donner see the Glossary.
Doresnavant : Adverb. Variant spelling of dores-en-avant, in Cotgrave. Afterwards, henceforth, from hence forward.
For other forms and uses of doresnavant see the Glossary.
Doyve : passive subjunctive, third person singular; from the neuter verb devoir noun. Katrin Henk, (Katrin Henk )Variant spelling of doive ?. He, she, it may owe, might ought to be, is obliged, am about to, on the point of, am likely [wont] to.
Doyve : past participle — masculine singular, from the verb devoir. Variant spelling of doive ?. Owed, obliged; was wont to; was about to.
Soye Doyve : Passive subjunctive present. first person; singular; from the neuter verb devoir. That I may be obliged, owed; wont to; about to.
For other forms and meanings with this spelling, see delecter.
Droictes : adjective; feminine plural of droict.Variant spelling of droites. Right, direct, proper.
For other forms and meanings with this spelling, see droict.
Droict : Adverb.Variant spelling of droit. Straight, direct.
Droictes : Adverb or adjective; feminine plural.Variant spelling of droites. Right, justice. Can't be adverb because plural????
Droicture : feminine noun; singular.Variant spelling of droiture. ;Right, justice.
Du : feminine or masculine; singular contraction of the preposition de + the definite article Le, or De + La. Of the; or from the.
Duquel : masculine; singular contraction of Du + quel. Of whom; from whom; or whereof.
Édition : feminine noun; singular. Edition. It can also mean the act of editing. There is no plural form, but when this is implied, it can mean the field or work of publishing.
En : This word has many uses and meanings:
En as a relative pronoun : of it, him, her or them; with it, about it.
En when followed by verbs of motion is insignificant a relative pronoun : of it, him, her or them; with it, about it.
En as a preposition; masculine or feminine; singular or plural : with many meanings :
En : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. In; Into.
Entroublier : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of entroblier. Active : to forget.
Eslever : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of conter. To raise, lift out.
Estre : neuter and auxiliary verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of être, which is now the modern form of the verb. To be.
Est : active indicative present, third person singular. He, she, it is.
Est : active indicative present, third person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. Variant spelling of être. With the adoption of étre as the modern form of this verb, while preserving this spelling of the conjugation, now the verb is considered irregular. He, she, it is.
Et : conjunction; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. And, also, too.
For other forms and uses of et see the Glossary.
Fais : active indicative present, third person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, faire.
Fais : active indicative (subjunctive?) present, third person singular, of the active and neuter verb, fauser : (active) I [may] deal untruly in, falsify, betray, break one’s vow,counterfeit, forge; (neuter) I [may] lie.
Fait. Also spelled fais or faict in the past. : masculine noun; singular. Feat, deed, fact, business, matter.
Faiz : masculine noun, plural, or the ablative plural of fait. [in, from] Deeds, facts, matters, feats; business.
Faultes : masculine noun, plural. Variant spelling of fautes. Faults.
Faut : active indicative present, third person singular, of the impersonal verb, falloir. It needs, it is necessary.
Falloir is an impersonal verb. It is only used in the third person singular. For other forms and uses of falloir see the Glossary.
Feut : active indicative perfect, third person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. He, she, or it was.
Fois : feminine noun; singular. Time, occasion.
Souvente fois : Variant spelling of Souvente foiz. Oftentimes.
Forment : active subjunctive present, third person plural, of the active verb, former. [That] They might form.
For other forms and uses of former see the Glossary.
Fr. : abbreviation of Francisque, a masculine proper noun; singular. Francis or Frank. Here, referring to the editor of the manuscript of the Chronique de Du Guesclin, Francisque Xavier Michel.
Française : Here, feminine adjective; singular. French. From français.
Here, it means the French language.
For other forms and meanings of française see the Glossary.
France : proper noun; singular. France.
Fut : active indicative perfect, third person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. Or, with the past participle, it forms the passive definite past, third person; singular. He, she, or it was; was [being].
Gardes : feminine noun, plural of garde. Watches, guards.
Glossaire : masculine noun; singular. Glossary.
Gouvernoit : active imperfect, third person. of the active or neuter verb gouverner. Variant spelling of governer activeHe, she, it governed, ruled; or was governed. neuter : He, she it acted, behaved.
Grace : masculine noun; singular. Favor, mercy; grace.
Guesclin : proper noun; singular.
Hanter : [transitive?] verb, infinitive. To haunt, frequent, converse with, to be familiar with.
For other forms and meanings, see hanter in the Glossary.
Humain : masculine noun; singular. Human.
For other forms and meanings, see humain in the Glossary.
Humblement : Adverb. Humbly; with great reverence.
For other shades of meaning, see humblement in the Glossary.
Hystoire : feminine noun; singular. Variant spelling of estoire. History, story.
Hystoires : feminine noun, plural. Variant spelling of estoires. Histories, stories.
Il : personal or relative pronoun; masculine or neuter; singular. Him, it.
Ilz : personal or relative pronoun; masculine; feminine, or neuter, [nominative or accusative plural. Variant spelling of ils. They, them.
Jacoit : Variant spelling of jaçoit; from ja soit — Toynbee, or ja soit que — Cotgrave. Although, though.
Je : personal pronoun, all genders; singular. I.
Jeunesse : feminine noun; singular. youth; youthfulness; youngness.
Justice : feminine or masculine noun; singular or plural :
Justice : feminine noun; singular or plural. Justice, right, judgement.
Justice : masculine noun; singular. Judge, magistrate.
Justice : feminine noun; singular. Justice, right, judgement.
L’ : This can be either feminine or masculine, singular. It is the elided or shortened form of both La, or Le. It can mean either the definite article, or the pronoun, depending on the context:
For all the possible forms, uses and meanings, see Le.
This shortened form, of Le, or La, can be feminine or masculine, depending on the noun it modifies but it is always singular.
In L’, the vowel, e or a is dropped. This happens when the word is followed by a noun beginning with a vowel or a silent h. This is done because the French, like some other nations, didn’t like to say 2 vowels together, thinking it sounded awkward and ugly. The word for this process is called elision.
When pronouncing the word, then, you would say both together — Le-di-tion, for L’Édition, etc.
The French adore elision, and do it in all sorts of places, which makes oral French really, really hard to understand to beginning listeners trying to learn the lingo.
Also, the article, whether la, le, les, un, une, or unes, etc., is regularly used in French, not like in English, where it is often omitted.
L’ : As definite article. This can be either feminine or masculine, singular. It is the singular shortened form of both La, or Le. The meaning doesn’t change — it always means The'
Whether feminine or masculine, the meaning doesn’t change — it always means The, since common nouns in English are neuter — so there is no distinction in translation between masculine and feminine forms of articles and nouns in French.
L’ : feminine, singular. Elision of the feminine; singular definite article La : The.
Very frequently used this way in this book, for the first time it was used, for a feminine noun, in context, outside of the bibliographic reference, go to this webpage.
L’ : masculine, singular. Elision of the masculine; singular definite article Le : The.
Very frequently used this way in this book, for the first time it was used, for a masculine noun, in context, outside of the bibliographic reference, go to this webpage.
La : feminine pronoun, or definite article; singular. See Le.
Lamentations : feminine noun, plural. As in English, lamentations, wailings, bewailings, pitiful complaints.
For other forms and meanings, see Lamentations in the Glossary.
Lamentations : feminine proper noun, plural. Here, referring to the Book of Lamentations in the Bible.
Laquelle : [relative] pronoun; feminine; singular; from la plus quelle. From lequel. Which, who, whom; which one.
Le : masculine pronoun, or article; singular :
(1) : Le : maculine article, singular. The.
La : feminine definite article; singular. The.
Les : masculine or masculine or feminine, definite article; plural. The.
(1) : Le : maculine pronoun, singular :
Les : masculine or feminine, definite article, or pronoun. Plural of Le or La. See Le.
Lesquelz : [relative] pronoun; masculine/feminine; plural; from le plus quel. Variant spelling of Lesquels [?]. From lequel. Which, who, whom; which ones.
Lieux : masculine noun, plural of lieu. Variant spelling of leux. Places, spots.
Lire : active verb, infinitive. To read.
For other forms and meanings, see lire in the Glossary.
Lisez : active imperative, second person plural, of the verb lire. Read! Used to note an emendation, or to comment or clarify a word used in the manuscript by Michel in the footnotes.
For other and meanings/conjugations of this spelling, see lire in the Glossary.
Livre : masculine noun; singular. A book, a writing or composition; a work in writing.
Livres : masculine noun, plural. Books, writings, works.
Luy : personal pronoun; masculine; singular. Variant spelling of lui. Him.
M. : Abbeviation for Monsieur, masculine; singular title of respect. Mister, in English.
Ma : Possessive pronoun, first person; feminine; singular; from mon. My.
NOTE!! : The gender of this pronoun depends on the gender of the noun it refers to. It does not say anything about the gender of the writer. So ma, even though feminine, does not mean the writer is a female. It means that the noun - of the object in his possession is a feminine word. The same goes for Mon, the masculine form of the possessive pronoun. Ma jeunesse, (my youth), applies equally to the youth of a man or a woman. The same goes for Mon delit, (my delight).
Maint : masculine adjective; singular. Many, a number, store of.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb manoir, see Glossary.
Maint : active indicative present, third person singular, of the neuter verb, manoir. He, she, or it remains, dwells; is remaining, does remain.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb manoir, see Glossary.
Mais : Adverb : more, still, henceforth, now.
For other uses of mais, see Glossary.
Maniere : feminine noun; singular. Manner, fashion, sort.
For other uses of maniere, see Glossary.
Manuscrits : masculine noun, plural of manuscrit. Manuscripts.
Me : personal pronoun, first person; masculine or feminine; singular. The meaning depends on function in the sentence:
(1) : Passive pronominal, with a reflexive verb. Myself. May be understood, and not translated
Me delectoye : I may (can) delight or please [myself].
(2) : Indirect Object (dative). To me:
me advient : It happens to me.
Me : [personal] [relative] pronoun, first person; masculine or feminine; singular [or dative of moi]. Me.
For other forms and uses, see me, see Glossary.
Mes : Possessive pronoun, first person; masculine or feminine; plural. My. In French, one person singular, who owns several plural things, is plural by association. So ma livre, (my book) but mes livres (my books).
Messire : masculine noun; singular. Title of respect. Now, Monsieur. Variant of monseignor : My lord, Sir.
Mettre : active infinitive verb : To place, put.
Mis : active indicative present, third person singular, or past participle; masculine singular :
suis mis : passive indicative present, first person singular, plus past participle; masculine; singular, : I am [being] brought, placed, put.
Michel : proper noun; singular. Michel. Here, referring to the Editor of the Chronicle of Du Guesclin. His full name was Francisque Xavier Michel, and he lived 78 years, from 1809-1887. He was a noted French scholar and was one of the first to resurrect older French works. In his work, he traveled to England and Scotland to study the French texts there. See the spot of trouble he got into in England, when he went to study old manuscripts, here.
Mis : active indicative past participle; masculine singular, of the active verb, mettre : placed, put.
For other and meanings/conjugations of mis, see the Glossary.
Mon : Possessive pronoun, first person; masculine; singular. My.
Mon : Oblative form; masculine; singular of Miens. [of, [by, wih, from or depending on preposition specified] me; mine.
Mondaine : adjective, feminine; singular, from Mondain. mundane, worldly, secular; profane, dissolute, sensual, fleshly, epicurious.
For other forms and meanings, see mondaine in the Glossary.
Ne : negative adverb.Variant spelling of non : Not.
Ne . . . Point : masculine noun; singular. Not at all.
For other forms and meanings, see ne in the Glossary.
Ne : adverb. Variant spelling of ni. Neither.
For other forms and meanings, see ne in the Glossary.
Nostre : Possessive pronoun, first person; masculine and/or feminine; plural. Our.
Nostre Seigneur : Our Lord; God.
Notes : feminine noun, plural of Note. Notes, remarks, footnotes, explanations, commments.
Notice : feminine noun; singular. Article, essay, commentary.
On : indefinite, indeterminate pronoun; masculine/feminine/neuter; single/plural. One, They, You. [e.g., you could say, one could say, they could say]
Original : masculine adjective or noun; singular :
Original : masculine noun; singular. The Original [one].
For other forms and uses of original see the Glossary.
Originale : feminine adjective; singular. Original.
For other forms and uses of originale see the Glossary.
Ouyr : active infinitive verb. Variant spelling of oïr. To hear. When used like a present participle; masculine; singular,, it means hearing.
Par : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. This has many meanings:
(1) : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. By; by means of.
(2) : ; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Through.
This prepostion has many uses and meanings. For more meanings of par see the Glossary.
Paris : masculine proper noun; singular. Paris is the same word in English or French, and other languages, too. Here, the capital of France is meant — not Paris, Kentucky; or Paris the abductor of Helen of Troy.
NOTE!! Some proper names in French do have a gender, but the definite article, La or Le is rarely, if ever, used. Countries, yes, but cities, and individuals, no. La France is correct occasionally, but never Le Paris. L’Allemagne is used, but not Le Bertrand. For more on this see the only book online that addresses this subject intelligently and clearly: French Grammar, by R. Labutte.
NOTE!! In the present text, the article is never used before proper nouns of countries, like France, or proper names of individuals: Robert Canolle [p. 126].
Also, in proper names, like Bertrand du Guesclin and Charles de Bloys, the de and du are not capitalized. But if the definite article is included in the title, it is capitalized: Eustache de La Houssoye; le roi Edoard de l’Angleterre. [p. 44].
The titles of Sir, Count, King, Duchesse, Castle, etc., in proper names are not capitalized and use the article before the title: le roy Charles de France, le chastel Josselin, duc de Lancastre, le duc Charles, messire Guillame Boitel, etc. However, exceptions do occur, as usual, and include: Le Begue , Le Moyne de Betavy [p.126], and Le Baston [p. 115].
See also, the webpage by Prof. T. Daniel Seely, on Notes on Nouns and Noun Phrases. He is less clear on the gender of proper nouns, but more clear on the difference between a proper noun and a proper name. A proper noun is a specific place, person or thing. A proper name is a specific person, place or thing but made up of more than one word, like University of Alaska Southwest. He also points out that a definite article may be a part of a proper name, and capitalized, his example being The Hague, in English, or an example in this text: La Mote de Bron, in French.
Paroles : feminine noun; singular. Variant spelling of parolles. Words, speeches, talks.
Pense : active indicative present, first person singular, of the verb penser. I think, do think, am thinking.
Pensée : feminine noun; singular]. Here, the past participle; feminine; singular, used as a noun, from the verb penser. Thought, way of thinking, conjecture, supposition, imagination; one’s heart, mind, opinion, judgment, fancy.
Plaisir : masculine noun; singular. Pleasure.
For other forms and meanings of plaisir, see the Glossary.
Plaisir : active verb, infinitive or noun :
Plaisir : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of plaire : To please.
Plus : adverb. More.
Le plus : adverb. Superlative for an adjective, and in this case, a noun: the most, e.g., le plus grand (the biggest).
Point : masculine noun; singular. Point, moment.
Ne . . . Point : masculine noun; singular. Not at all.
Pour : ; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Variant spelling of por, early in the language. Now the standard spelling. For, on account of, as for.
Pour ce que : prepositional phrase. Because.
Povoit : active imperfect, third person. of the verb aymer. He,she, it was able, could.
Povoit : active imperfect, third person, of the verb povoir + on, neuter pronoun, third person singular. Could one.
Povoit-on : One was able.
For other forms and meanings of povoit see the Glossary.
Préface : feminine noun; singular. Preface; prologue. Here, written by the Anonymous Author of the book. [This title is not included in the printed text.]
Preudhomme : masculine noun; singular. Variant of preudome, prodome A man of moral and intellectual excellence — Chandos; brave man, hero — Toynbee.
Prins : past participle — masculine; singular of the verb prendre. Variant spelling of pris. Taken [active]; turned out, happened [neuter].
Ay Prins : active indicative past indefinite, first person singular; masculine. Formed from the verb avoir, and the past participle of Prendre. I have taken.
Pris : past participle — masculine; singular of the verb prendre. Taken.
For other forms and meanings of pris see the Glossary.
Projet : masculine noun; singular. Blueprint, project.
prophete : masculine noun; singular. A prophet.
Prouesse : feminine noun; singular. Prowess.
Puissance : feminine noun; singular. Power.
Qu’ : relative and interrogative pronoun, without distinction of number or gender; elided form before a word beginning with a vowel. Who, what, which. OR conjunction : that, in order that, so that, because, since, in that, etc. See Que below.
Que : This very common word has many uses:
Que : relative and interrogative pronoun, without distinction of number or gender. Who, what, which.
Qu’ : Either conjunction or pronoun. Elided form before a word beginning with a vowel. Who, what, which.
Qui : Variant spelling. Same meaning: Who, what, which.
Que : conjunction. That, in order that, so that; because, since, in that.
Qu : conjunction. Elided form before a word starting with a vowel. Whence, afterwards, that, in order that, so that; because, since, in that.
Que ne : But that, without.
For other and meanings/expressions with que, see the Glossary.
Qui : relative and interrogative pronoun, without distinction of number or gender. Variant spelling of que. Who, what, which.
Racompter : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of raconter. To tell, recount, recite, relate, report, rehearse, deliver.
Raison : feminine noun; singular. Reason, understanding; reasoning, argument.
Regna : active indicative past definite, third person singular, of the intransitive verb, régner : He, she, or it ruled, reigned.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb régner, see Glossary.
Remède : masculine noun; singular. [In Cotgrave, but in modern French as well as in this text, no accent appears in his entry for this word — remede. There is no entry for this word in Toynbee or Chandos.] Remedy, redress, medicine, help.
Renommé : past participle; feminine; singular, used as an adjective, of renommer. Renowned, famous, noted, reported everywhere, highly spoken of.
Retint : active indicative perfect, third person singular, of the active verb, retenir : He, she, or it retained, kept; was keeping.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb retenir, see Glossary.
Rien : feminine noun; singular. Thing, matter; some thing, any thing.
Roy : masculine noun; singular. Variant spelling of roi. King.
Royale : feminine adjective; singular. Royal, regal, queenly.
For other forms and uses of royale see the Glossary.
Royaulme : masculine noun; singular. Variant spelling of royaume. Realm; kingdom.
Sa : Possessive pronoun, third person; feminine; singular . Hers.
Saincte : adjective; feminine singular of sainct. Variant spelling of sainte. Saintly, sacred, holy.
For other forms and uses of saincte see the Glossary.
Se : This word has many uses:
Se : reflexive pronoun, all genders; singular and plural.. Himself, to himself; herself, to herself, itself, to itself; themselves, to themselves; each other, to each other; one another, to one another. — French Grammar, by Francis Du Mont, p. 53.
Se : conjunction. Variant of si. If.
Seigneur : masculine noun; singular. Title of respect. Lord.
Nostre Seigneur : Our Lord; God.
Selon : preposition; singular only. Variant spelling of selonc. According to.
For other meanings, forms and uses of selon see the Glossary.
Siècle : masculine noun; singular. Here, Century.
Son : Possessive pronoun, third person; masculine/neuter; singular . His, its.
Sont : active indicative present, third person plural, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. Variant spelling of être.This form is the same for both spellings of it. They are, are being.
Soubz : ; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Variant spelling of soz, early in the language. Now sous From Latin subtus. Beneath, under.
Souvent : Adverb or adjective. Variant spelling of Sovente :
Souvent : Adverb. Variant spelling of Sovente. Often.
Souvent : masculine singular adjective. Variant spelling of Sovente. Often.
Souventes : feminine adjective; plural. Variant spelling of Soventes . Oftentimes.
Souvente fois : Variant spelling of Souventes foiz. Oftentimes.
Soye : active indicative conditional present [optative], first person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. Varinat spelling of sóye I should be, I may be.
Suis : active indicative present, first person singular, of the neuter and auxiliary verb, estre. I am, am being.
Suivant : present participle; feminine; singular of the transitive verb suivre. Next, or following. Here, meaning the next webpage of this online book in French, with a glossary.
For other meanings, forms and uses of suivant see the Glossary.
Suppleer : active or neuter verb, infinitive. In Cotgrave and later dictionaries, an accent is present: suppléer. To supply, clothe, furnish; fill in, or make up for.
Supplie : active indicative present, first person singular of the active verb supplier. I supplicate, entreat, beg; do supplicate, am supplicating.
Sur : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. On, or upon.
For other meanings and uses of sur see the Glossary.
Surmonta : active indicative perfect, third person singular of the active verb surmonter. He, she, or it surmounted, surpassed, climbed upon.
Tant adjective or Adverb :
Tant : Adverb. So, so much.
Tant : masculine/feminine adjective; singular. So great, so many.
Telle : feminine noun; singular, from tel. Such, like, resembling; such like.
Telles : feminine noun, plural, from tel. Such.
Tel : masculine noun; singular. Such.
Telle : feminine noun; singular. Such.
Telles : feminine adjective; plural. Such.
Tenu : past participle; masculine; singular, of the verb tenir. Held to be; considered, regarded.
Fut tenu : Passive indicative past definite, third person singular; masculine. He, she, or it was held to be; considered, regarded.
For other forms and uses tenir, see the Glossary.
Texte : feminine noun; singular. Text, book.
Tous : Here, used as a masculine or feminine pronoun, plural. From tout. All, everyone, the whole.
For other forms and uses of tous, see the Glossary.
Tout adjective or Adverb :
For other forms and uses of tout, see the Glossary.
Tout : Here, used as a masculine pronoun; singular; from tout. All, the whole, everyone, each.
Tous : Here, used as a masculine or feminine pronoun, plural. From tout. All, everyone, the whole.
Tout : Here, used as a masculine adjective; singular; from tout. All, every, each.
Tous : Here, used as a masculine or feminine adjective; plural. From tout. All, every, each.
Toute : Here, used as a feminine adjective; singular; from tout. All, every, each.
Toute : Here, used as a feminine adjective; singular; from tout. All, every, each.
For other forms and uses of toute, see the Glossary.
Traictier : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of traitier. To treat, deal with.
Traictier de : active verb, infinitive. Variant spelling of traitier de. To treat of, speak of.
trait masculine noun; singular character feature, trait.Une : feminine indefinite article or number; singular. From Un. A, an or one.
For other forms and uses of une see the Glossary.
For other forms and uses of the indefinite article see Un in the Glossary.
Vaillance : feminine noun; singular. Value, worth, valor; valiance.
Veueillent : active subjunctive imperfect or indicative present, or conditional present, third person plural, of the active and neuter verb, vouloir/voloir. Variant spellings may include veuillent, voeillent, voillient. They [may, might, could] wish[ed], do wish, are [were] wishing, desiring; intending, meaning.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb vouloir, see Glossary.
Veuil : active indicative present ?, first person singular, of the active and neuter verb, vouloir/voloir. Variant spelling of voil. I wish, do wish, am wishing; I will, do will, am willing; desiring, intending, meaning.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb voloir, see Glossary.
Vie : feminine noun; singular. Life.
Viennent : Here, active indicative present, third person plural, of the active and neuter verb, venir. Variant spelling of vienent. They come, do come, are coming.
For other and meanings/conjugations of the verb venir, see Glossary.
Vivant : present participle; masculine singular used as a noun, from the verb vivre. Living, Lifetime, life.
Voulu : past participle — masculine; singular, of the verb vouloir, now spent voloir. Although the modern past participle is exactly the same and reflects the original spelling of the verb, which now makes this spelling if the original verb spelling considered irregular! Wished, Desired, been willing.
Ay Voulu : active indicative past indefinite, first person singular; masculine. I have wished, been willing, desired.
For other forms and uses vouloir, see the Glossary.
Voulentiers : Adverb. Variant spelling of volentiers. Willingly.
Voyes : feminine noun, plural. Variant spelling of voie. Ways, paths, roads; also means, manners, causes.
For other forms and uses, see Voyes in the Glossary.
XVe : abbreviation for the ordinal number; masculine, or feminine. Fifteenth.
This notation of XV plus e makes this the ordinal number abbreviation, for fifteenth. In French, the full word is quinzième. Just as in English, we use 15, or XV, plus th, to make 15th, or XVth, which stands for fifteenth.
Y : This word can be an adverb or a pronoun :
Y : adverb. About, on, in, or of [it/them].
Y : adverb. About, on, in, or of [it/them].
* The Glossary is newly created for this text. Glossaries used for the Medieval French are from the works of:
[abbr. as Chandos] — Mildred K. Pope and Eleanor C. Lodge, a work contemporary with that of Guesclin’s anonymous biographer, in the Life of the Black Prince by the Herald of Sir John Chandos, Oxford: Claredon Press; 1910; whose English translation is on this site
[abbr. as Toynbee] — Paget Toynbee, in Specimens of Old French(IX-XV Centuries), with some contemporary works, Oxford: Clarendon Pres; 1892,
[abbr. as Cotgrave] — Randall Cotgrave’s Dictionary of the French and English Tongues, published in 16ll, 200 years after this work, were used — thankfully put online by Greg Lindahl The spelling is modernized in these pages, with a link to the full entry in the original spelling of Cotgrave’s entries for words used on Elfinspell in old French, on another section of this site.
[abbr. as Modern] — Occasionally, modern French-English dictionaries and text-books were used if the older references did not contain a word that is used in this text, or for translations of the modern French used by Michel.
[abbr. as Thayer] — If all that failed, Bill Thayer — an expert in modern French, and not only bilingual, well-read, and wise but kind, very patient, and clear in his explanations, — pitched in with his considered opinion.
[abbr. as Elf.Ed.] — Last, but not least, if the word in Guesclin has no exact equivalent in any of these resources, a good guess based on similar spellings and conjugations in the above works prevailed. — S. R.