# A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

**Author:** Walter Skeat
**Tags:** English language, 1100-1500, Middle English
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 31
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/95931

## Description

First published in 1888 by the Clarendon Press, this dictionary by Walter W. Skeat and A. L. Mayhew provides a compact, scholarly guide to the vocabulary of Middle English literature spanning four centuries, from roughly 1150 to 1580. Compiled to help students and readers who lacked easy access to specialized reference tools, it defines and traces the etymology of thousands of words drawn from major glossaries and texts of the period, including variant spellings, dialectal forms, and grammatical notes on strong verbs and their vowel gradations. Cross-references link related forms so that unfamiliar spellings can be traced back to a headword, while abbreviations point readers toward the original sources and manuscripts consulted. Rather than attempting exhaustive coverage, the work focuses on the words most essential for making sense of medieval English texts, offering practical support for anyone puzzling over unfamiliar terms in Chaucer, romances, religious writing, or other literature of the period. Its modest scope and clear organization have made it a durable, affordable reference still consulted by students, teachers, and enthusiasts of the English language's medieval history, bridging the gap between Old English and the modern tongue.