Medieval Terminology

adjective born of low birth or social status

• The nobleman refused to acknowledge the baseborn child as his own.
• She always looked down on him for being baseborn.
• People in the village gossip about the baseborn girl and her mysterious origins.
• The artist considered his early, amateurish works to be baseborn compared to his later masterpieces.

noun a Spanish or Portuguese gentleman or knight

adjective related to or characteristic of a caballero

• The caballero greeted the guests with a bow and offered them a seat.
• The caballero is known for his impeccable manners and charm.
• That caballero sure knows how to make an entrance!
• In the game of chess, the caballero is a powerful piece on the board.

noun a person in charge of a castle, typically the owner or occupant

• The castellan was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the castle.
• The castellan is basically the boss of the castle.
• Yo, the castellan runs the show at the castle.
• In our office, the castellan is like the head honcho.

noun a knight or a member of certain orders of honor, especially in France

• The chevalier was honored for his bravery and chivalry on the battlefield.
• The chevalier looked dashing in his suit of armor at the medieval fair.
• That chevalier dude is always showing off his sword skills.
• She considered him a chevalier in shining armor, always coming to her rescue.

noun a rude or mean-spirited person

• The churl refused to help his neighbor with the heavy lifting.
• That churl never holds the door open for anyone.
• Don't be such a churl, just share the snacks with everyone.
• His churlish behavior towards customers cost him his job.

noun a strong underground prison cell, especially in a castle

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• The prisoner was kept in the dark, damp dungeon for weeks.
• I heard there's a secret dungeon under the old castle.
• Let's explore that creepy dungeon and see what we find!
• She felt like she was trapped in a mental dungeon, unable to escape her negative thoughts.

noun a cat, especially an old female cat

• The old woman's grimalkin prowled around the house, keeping a watchful eye on everything.
• My neighbor's grimalkin is always sneaking into my yard and causing trouble.
• That grimalkin is one sly kitty, always getting into mischief.
• The detective referred to the suspect as a grimalkin, always lurking in the shadows and evading capture.

interjection used to express joy, approval, or encouragement

• The crowd erupted in a loud 'huzzah' as the king entered the hall.
• Huzzah! We finally finished the project on time.
• Huzzah, we aced the exam!
• His promotion was a true 'huzzah' moment in his career.

noun a joke or witty remark

verb to joke or jest in a playful or teasing manner

• The comedian's jape was met with polite laughter from the audience.
• I couldn't help but chuckle at his silly jape.
• That jape was so corny, it made me groan.
• Her words were like a sharp jape, cutting through the tension in the room.

noun a professional entertainer who performs in a foolish or silly manner to amuse others

• The jester entertained the royal court with his witty jokes and acrobatic skills.
• The jester had everyone in stitches with his hilarious antics at the party.
• That jester is a real clown, always cracking jokes and making everyone laugh.
• She played the role of the jester in the office, lightening the mood with her humor during stressful times.

noun A man, usually of noble birth, who served as a mounted soldier in armor.

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• The knight rode into battle with his shining armor and noble steed.
• Did you see that knight in the jousting tournament? He was amazing!
• That knight is a total boss on the battlefield.
• She was like a knight in shining armor, always coming to the rescue in times of need.

noun the qualities or characteristics associated with being a knight

• The young squire aspired to achieve knighthood through years of training and service.
• Hey, did you hear about Jake? He's been talking about going for knighthood at the next jousting tournament.
• I heard Sarah got her knighthood last week after acing all her exams.
• In the world of business, earning a knighthood is akin to reaching the top of the corporate ladder.

noun a generous bestowal of gifts, money, or favors

adjective generous in giving

• The wealthy philanthropist showed great largesse in donating to various charitable causes.
• My boss surprised us with his largesse by giving out bonuses to everyone in the office.
• I can't believe the largesse of that guy, he just bought drinks for the whole bar!
• Her heart was filled with largesse, always willing to give to those in need.

noun the quality or state of being lordly; nobility or majesty in manner or bearing

• The lordliness of his demeanor commanded respect from all those around him.
• Her lordliness at the party made everyone feel like royalty.
• I can't believe the lordliness of that new restaurant in town!
• The lordliness of the mountain peak was awe-inspiring, as if it ruled over all the land below.

noun a person regarded as clumsy or uncouth

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• The lout disrupted the meeting with his rude behavior.
• That lout has no manners at all.
• What a total lout, I can't stand being around him.
• The dark clouds gathered above the city like a brooding lout.

noun a reward or recompense for a service or accomplishment

• The knight was rewarded with meed for his bravery in battle.
• I helped my neighbor fix his fence and he gave me some meed for my trouble.
• I hustled all day and finally got my meed at the end of it.
• Success in business is often seen as the ultimate meed for hard work and dedication.

noun a knight or heroic champion, often associated with chivalry and virtue

• The paladin swore an oath to protect the kingdom at all costs.
• My paladin friend always has my back in any situation.
• That paladin is a total boss when it comes to fighting evil.
• She was like a paladin, always standing up for what was right no matter the consequences.

noun a person who accompanies a bridegroom in a wedding ceremony

• The role of the paranymph in the wedding ceremony is to assist the bride and groom.
• The paranymph helped the couple with their wedding preparations.
• I heard the paranymph is throwing an awesome bachelor party for the groom.
• The best friend acted as a paranymph, always there to support and advise in times of need.

noun a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin

• After confessing his sins, the priest assigned him a penance of saying ten Hail Marys.
• I had to do a penance of cleaning the whole house after coming home late last night.
• I got caught cheating on the test and now I have to do this stupid penance for it.
• Her decision to volunteer at the homeless shelter was her way of doing penance for her past mistakes.

noun a coward or traitor

adjective showing a lack of courage or determination; cowardly

• The knight was labeled a recreant for abandoning his post during battle.
• Don't be a recreant and skip out on your responsibilities.
• He's such a recreant, always running away from his problems.
• The politician's decision to compromise on his values was seen as an act of recreancy.

adjective a term used to describe someone or something that is boisterous, rowdy, or lively in a noisy way

• The roisterous behavior of the guests at the party was quite disruptive.
• The roisterous crowd at the concert made it hard to hear the music.
• The roisterous group of friends were causing a ruckus at the bar.
• His roisterous laughter filled the room, bringing joy to everyone around.

noun A kitchen servant who performs menial tasks such as cleaning and washing dishes

• The scullion was responsible for washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen in the castle.
• The scullion complained about having to scrub pots and pans all day.
• I heard the scullion got in trouble for sneaking extra food from the kitchen.
• In the hierarchy of the restaurant, he was considered the scullion of the group, always doing the dirty work.

noun a county or district, especially in England

• The shire council met to discuss infrastructure improvements in the region.
• I'm heading out to the shire for a weekend getaway with my friends.
• Let's hit up the shire for some good vibes and relaxation.
• The shire represents a place of peace and tranquility in the midst of chaos.

noun a brief or cursory treatment or attention

• The judge gave the defendant short shrift during the trial.
• I asked for more time to finish my project, but my boss gave me short shrift.
• My friends always give my ideas short shrift, they never take them seriously.
• The new policy was given short shrift by the employees, who felt it was unfair.

noun a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, especially the principal landowner in a village

• The squire was responsible for overseeing the estate's affairs in the absence of the lord.
• The squire is always seen riding around on his horse, checking on things.
• I heard the squire is throwing a big party at the manor tonight.
• She was the squire of the group, always looking out for everyone and making sure they were taken care of.

noun a person who is under the control of another; a slave

verb to enslave or hold someone in bondage

• The king held his subjects in thrall with his powerful speeches.
• She was in thrall to his charm and couldn't resist his advances.
• I'm totally thrall to this new video game, I can't stop playing it.
• The artist was in thrall to his muse, finding inspiration in every aspect of her being.

noun a sports competition or tournament

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• The annual chess tourney is scheduled to take place next month.
• I signed up for the basketball tourney happening this weekend.
• I totally dominated in the video game tourney last night.
• Life can sometimes feel like a never-ending tourney of challenges.

noun a pledge or promise to be faithful; fidelity

• They pledged their troth in front of their families and friends.
• They promised to love each other forever and ever.
• They swore to be together till death do us part.
• Their troth was as strong as the oak tree, unwavering and steadfast.

noun a reward or recompense for a service or achievement

• She received a guerdon for her outstanding contribution to the project.
• He got a guerdon for winning the competition.
• I'm hoping for a guerdon if I do well on this test.
• The smile on her face was the guerdon of her hard work paying off.

noun a concept or figure associated with chaos or irrationality

• The abbot of unreason was known for his unconventional approach to solving problems within the monastery.
• Everyone knew the abbot of unreason was a bit of a wild card when it came to making decisions.
• That abbot of unreason is always coming up with crazy ideas that no one else would think of.
• In the realm of creativity, the artist was seen as the abbot of unreason, pushing boundaries and challenging norms.

noun a person who is placed under the protection of a guardian or patron

• The advowee was grateful for the legal assistance provided by their advocate.
• The advowee felt relieved after their lawyer won the case for them.
• The advowee's attorney totally crushed it in court!
• As the advowee navigated through the complex legal system, they leaned on their lawyer for support.

noun a formal engagement to marry

verb to pledge or betroth oneself

• The couple decided to affiance themselves to each other in a traditional ceremony.
• They're getting affianced next month, isn't that exciting?
• I heard they're gonna put a ring on it and affiance for life.
• The company affianced with a new partner to expand their business reach.