Select Word-List from Manorial Records

Select Word-List from Manorial Records

(Revised 2015)

All c.1740 words and phrases in this word-list have been found in a manorial record. Of course, any one court will have a much more limited vocabulary. The words recorded here illustrate both the diversity of business within an apparent uniformity of manorial procedures and regional and temporal variations of farming practices and tenurial arrangements. This word-list, although it does include material from extents and manorial accounts, is not complete nor does it include all the numerous variations in spelling common in post classical Latin for which one should consult R.E. Latham The Revised Medieval Latin Word-List (1965). The compiler would welcome authenticated additions to this list. Readers are welcome to download and/or print this list for their personal research. If used for teaching purposes, please acknowledge the source. All intellectual property-rights in this material reserved to the compiler.

Christopher Harrison

Department of History

School of Humanities

University of Keele

Staffordshire

ST5 5BG

email:

a; ab (prep. with abl.) – from; by

abbas, -atis (m) – abbot

abbatia, -ie (f) – abbey

abbuttare (1) – to adjoin, border on, abut

abcariare (1) – to carry away

abduco, ere, duxi, ductum (3) – to remove, drive off, lead away [often used of ‘rescuing’ animals]

adiacens, -entis (adj.) – adjacent to

abjurare (1) – to abjure, renounce by oath (leg.)

abradicare (1) – to tear out

absque (prep. with abl.) – without

ac (conj.) – and

acer also ascer – steeling [of iron tools, by welding steel to cutting edge]

accido, -ere, accidi (3) – to occur, happen, fall due

accio, -ionis (f) – action (leg.)

vel fiat accio – or let action be brought

accipio, ere, cepi, ceptum (3) – to take possesion of; to receive

acra, e (f) – an acre [There were four roods (rode) to an acre]

ad (prep. with acc.) – towards, at, for, to

adhuc (adv. of time) – still, thus far, yet, besides, in addition

adducere (3) – to lead to

adiacens, entis (adj.) – bordering on, adjacent to

adiaceo, -ere, -ui, -itum – to adjoin

adjudicare (1) – to adjudge

admerciare (1) – to amerce [Rare]

admissio, ionis (f.) – admission [to a holding]

admitto, ere, misi, missum (3) – to admit [to a holding]; to acknowledge

adventus, us (m) – Advent; court appearance

adversus (adv. & prep.) – opposite, against, towards

afferator, oris (m) also affirmator – affeerer, assessor (leg.)

affero, affere attuli, allatum (3) – to affeer; to bring

affraia, e (f) – an affray or assault

affraiam fecit leviter – he slightly assaulted; he made a little affray on

affrus, i (m) – farm horse; ox

agistamentum, -i (n) – agistment of pastuage; dues paid for pasturage

agistatus, -a, -um (adj.) – put out to pasture

agreamentum, -i (n) – agreement

agnus, i (m) – a lamb

albanarius, -i (m) also albanus – servile tenant of one lord who has taken up abode on land of another lord [Durham]

ago, -ere, egi, actum – to do

alias (adv.) – at another time; elsewhere; otherwise; alias

alienare (1) – to alienate; to transfer [land]

alienatio, -ionis (f) – transfer, alienation (of land)

aliquando (adv.) – at some time; at any time

aliquis, aliquid (pron.) – anyone, anything

aliter (adv.) – otherwise

alius, alia, aliud (pron. & adj.) – another; other

allecia, -ie (f) also alleca and allecium – herring

alter, altera, alterum (adj.) – one of two; the other (of two)

ex altera parte – on the other side

alternatim (adv.) – alternately, interchangeably

altus, a um (adj.) – high

ambo (adv.) – both

ambulatorium, i (n) – covered walk; bowling alley

amerciamentum, i (n.) – amercement [i.e. financial penalty established by the court (leg.)]

amerciare (1) – to amerce (leg.) [Rare]

amplius (adj. & adv.) – besides; further; more

amputare (1) – to lop, cut off

anatula, e (f) also anaticula – young duck, duckling

Anglia e (f) – England

Anglicanus, -a, um (adj.) – English

Anglice (adv.) – in English [Often used when the scribe didn’t know the Latin equivalent of an English word or to translate a rare Latin word]

animal, -e (n) – animal

annalis, e – yearling (beast)

annexare (1) – to annex; to attach to (as of a seal)

annualis, e (adj.) – annual

annuatim (adv.) – annually

annus, i (m) – a year

Annunciatio, ionis (f) – The Annunciation

Annunciatio beatis virginis Marie – Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

annuus, a, um (adj.) – annually

anquilla, -e (f) – eel

anser, -eris (m) – gander or goose

ante (prep. with acc.) – before

ante manum – beforehand

antea (adv.) – formerly

in antea – henceforth; for the future

antedictus, a, um (adj.) – aforesaid

antiquus, a, um (adj.) – ancient; old

ab antiquo – of old

ab antiquo tempore – from ancient times

anulus, -i (m) – pig-ring

anulatus, -a, um (adj.) – ringed (of pigs)

aper, apri (m) – a boar

aperio, -ire, -ui, -tum – to open up

apparentia, -ie (f) – appearance in court (leg.)

appareo, ere, ui (2) – to appear in court (leg.)

appellare (1) – to appeal; to accuse (leg.)

appendo, ere, pendi, -pensum – to append

appreciare (1) – to appraise, to value

appunctare (1) – to appoint; prescribe

apud (prep. with acc) – at, near, by, to, towards

aqua, e (f) – water

aquare (1) – to soak

aquavit canabum – he soaked hemp

arabilis, e (also arrabalis) (adj.) – arable

arare (1) also arrare – to plough

aratrum, i (n) – plough; plough-land

arbor, oris (f) – tree

arbor spinalis – hawthorn

arcus, -us (m) – a bow

aretro (adv.) – in arrears

armiger, eri (m) – armiger; esquire [One entitled to bear arms]

arreragium, -ii (n) – arrears (of rent)

articulus, -i (m) – article, clause

asportare (1) – to carry away

assartum, i (n) also essartum – an assart [a clearing in a forest or other ‘waste’]

assensus, us (m) – agreement; assent

ex eorum assensu – by their agreement

assignare (1) – to appoint; to assign

assignatus, i (m) – an assign or assignee

assisa, e (f) – assize; action or claim

assisa panis et cervisie – assize of bread and ale

assisus, -a, -um (pat. part.) – fixed

Assumpcio, ionis (f) – the Assumption

astrum, i (n) – hearth

atque (conj.) – and

attachiare (1) – to attach; to require a defendant to attend a court (leg.)

attachiamentum, -i (n) – an attachment (leg.)

attornare (1) – to attorn; to depute someone to act as an attorney (leg.)

attornatus, i (m); also attornator, oris (m) – an attorney [Someone, not necessarily a lawyer, who stands in for someone else in a legal transaction]

auca, e (f) – goose

aucarius, i (m) – gooseherd

aucerola, e (f) also aucula – gosling

audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4) – to hear

aula, -e (f) – hall; house; room

aula placitorum – court-house

australis, e (adj.) – southern

aut (conj.) – or

aut ... aut – either ... or

autem (conj.) – but; however; therefore

autumpnus, i (m) – autumn [sometimes used as a synonym for harvest time]

ava, e (f) – grandmother

avalatio, -ionis (f) – migration of eels

avantagium, ii (n) – profit

avena, e (f) – oats

averagium, -ii (n) – carriage service

averare (1) – to perform carrying service

averium, ii (n) – cattle [Usually found in the plural e.g. averia]

avrus, i (m) also averus, -i (m) – farmhorse or ox

avus, i (m) – grandfather

bacium, ii (n) also basium – harness or horse trappings; packsaddle

baco, onis – flitch of bacon

baculum, -i (m) also baculus, -i (m) – stick

ballivus, i (m) also baillivus; ballius – a bailiff

curia ballivis – bailiff’s court [Not known legally yet existed at Wotton in 1380]

baro, onis (m) – baron

curia baronis – court baron

barrator, -oris (m); barratrix, -ices (f) – one who brings vexatious actions in court (leg.)

barrator, -oris (m) also barretor – a disturbance

bassus, a, um (adj.) – low

bator, -oris (m) – thresher

batura, e (f) – assault; battery

beatus, a, um (adj.) – blessed

beia, -e (f) – bay (of a building)

bene (adv.) – rightly, well, truly

bera, -e (f) – beer

bercaria, ie (f) – a sheepfold

bercarius, ii (m) – shepherd; sheepfold

bidens, entis (f.) – sheep

biga, -e – cart

bigarius, -ii (m) – carter

bini et bini (adv.) – two and two

bis (adv.) – twice

bladum, i (n) – corn or cornfield

bona, -orum (n.pl.) –goods, income, revenue

bonus, a, um (adj.) – good

bordarius, ii (m) also but more rarely bondarius and bondus – borderer, bordar, servile tenant

borealis, e, (adj.) also borialis – northern, north

borialiter (adv.) – on the north

bos, bovis (m) – a bull; an ox

domus bovili – cattleshed

bosca, e (f) – a wood; firewood

boscus, i (m) also boccusboccum – a wood; woodland

botha, -e (f) – booth, stall

bovaria, e (f) – a bovate [a measure of land]

boverium, ii (n) – cattleshed

bovettus, i (m) – bullock

boviculla, e (f) – heiffer

boviculus, -i (m) – bullock

braciare (1) also brasiare – to brew

braciata, -us -um – malted

brasiator, -oris (m) – brewer

braseum, ei (n) & brassium, ii (n) – malt

breve, is (n) – writ (leg.)

brevis, e (adj.) – short

infra breve – in a short while

bruera, e (f); brueria, ie (f); bruerium, ii (n); – heath, heathland

bulla, e (f) – seal

bunda, e (f) – boundary

burgagium, ii (n) – burgage tenement [i.e. a tenement in a town]

burgensis, -is (m) – burgess

burgus, i (m) – borough, town

bussellus, i (m) – bushell [a cubic measure used mainly for grain and fruit]

butta, e (f) – butt of land

buttyrum, i (n) – butter

cadaverator, -oris (m) – cadaverer, man engaged to collect and bury the bodies of animals killed by the murrain . (This manorial office ceases by the end of C14.)

calabs, -is (m) – steel

calebius, -a, -um (adj.) – made of steel

calumnia, -e (f) also calumpnia – accusation, charge; a claim (leg.)

calumniare (1) also calumpniare (1) – to challenge (in a court of law); to claim land (leg.)

camera, -e (f) – room, chamber

caminus, -i (m) a forge

campus, i (m) – field

campus communis – common field

campus in blado – cornfield

campus seminatus – sown field

canillum, i (n) – dog-kennel

canis, is (m) – a dog

cannabum, i (n) also canabum and canabis – hemp

capellanus, i (m) – chantry priest; chaplain

capio, ere, cepi, captum (3) – to take, to hold (a court), to seize etc.

capistra, e (f) also capistrum, i (n) – halter

capitalis, e (adj) – chief

capitalis plegius– head tithing man

capo, onis (m) – capon

caput, capitis (n) – head

prout patet in capite – as appears above his name

carbo, onis (m) – coal, seacoal [Note: in C16 English ‘coal’ means ‘charcoal’.]

carbonarius, -i (m) – charcoal-maker

carca, -e (f) also carcum – load, cargo

carcacio, -ionis – carriage; freight

carcer, -eris (m) – prison

carcosium, -ii (n) – hide [animal skin]

carecta, e (f) also carrata; carectata – a cart; a cartload

carectarius, -ii (m) – carter

cariagium, -ii (n) – carriage

cariare (1) – to carry

carnaliter (adv.) – carnally

carnifex, icis (m) – butcher

carniprivium, ii (n) also carnis privium – the beginning of Lent

carpentarius, -ii (m) – carpenter

caro, carnis (f) – flesh, meat

carruca, e (f) also caruca – plough; ploughman; carrucate [a unit of land-tax assessment]

carruca juncta – plough-team;

carta, e (f) – charter, deed (leg.)

caseus, i (m) – cheese

casus, us (m) – case, suit (leg.)

catellum, i (n) – cattle; chattel

causa, e (f) – cause (leg.)

cecta, e (f) also secta – suit of court (leg.)

celdra, -e (f) also caldarium – chalder (dry measure of grain usually)

cementarius, -i (m) – mason

cena, e (f) – dinner

centum (indecl.) – hundred

centum majus – greater hundred, long hundred i.e. 120

centum minus – lesser hundred i.e. 100

cepes, is (f) – hedge or fence

cera, e (f) – wax

certiorare (1) to inform, notify, show (leg.)

certus, a, um (adj.) – fixed, certain

certum, -i (n) – ‘head-silver’ [payment in lieu of reading roll of suitors at view of frankpledge]

cervisia, e (f) – beer

ceteri, -e, -a (pl.) – the others, the rest

chevagium, -ii (n) – capitation payment, poll-tax (due annually)

cibum, i (n) – food

cippus, -i (m) – treestump; in the plural it meant a set of stocks

circa (adv. & prep. with acc.) – about, around, near to, nearly

circiter (adv.) – about; not far from

circumquaque (adv.) – on all sides

cissera, e (f) also sicera – cider

citare (1) – to cite or summon (leg.)

citra (adv. & prep. with acc.) – since; on this side; apart from, except; before

claia, e (f) also cleiaclata – hurdle

clamare (1) – to claim (leg.)

clamare quietum – to quitclaim (leg.)

clameum, ei (n) – claim (leg.)

clamor, oris (n) – claim (leg.); complaint; clamour

clarus, a, um (adj.) – clear, net [of accounts]

claudo, ere, clausi, clausum (3) – to enclose; to close

claudere diem extremum – to die

clausum, -i (n) – close, enclosure

clausura, e (f) – enclosure; enclosed field

clava, -e (f), clavis, -is (f) – key

clavus, i (m) – nail

clericus, i (m) – clerk [used of someone in holy orders but not necessarily a priest]

cluttum, i (n) – iron ‘clout’

coactus, -a, -um (adj.) – forced

cognomen, -inis (n) – name; nickname

cognosco, ere, gnovi, cognitum (3) – to know, acknowledge, admit

cohabitare (1) – to live with

collector, -oris (m) – collector

colligo, ere, legi, lectum (3) – to collect, gather

collistrigium, -ii (n) – pillory; tumbrel; cuckingstool [when applied to women]

columbare, -is (n) also columbarium, -i (n) – dove-cot

columbella, -e (f) columbellus, -i (m) – dove; pigeon

comburo, -ere, bussi, -bustum (3) – to burn; to burn lime

comes, itis (m) – earl

comitatus, -us (m) – county; earldom; county court

commodum, i (n) – profit

communarius, -i (m) – commoner [one having rights of common]

commune, is (n) – common land; common rights

de communis – of common [suit]

communis, e (adj) – common

communis objurgatrix – common scold

communis parva latruncula – petty larcener; petty thief

communiter (adv.) – commonly

comparatio, ionis (f) – appearance (in court) (leg.)

compareo, ere, parui – to be present; to appear in court (leg.)

compertum est – it was (is) found (by the court)

compos, otis (adj.) – in the possession of

compositio, -ionis (f); composicio – composition; payment in lieu of obligation

pro compositone – by way of composition

compotus i (m); computus – account; audit

concedo, ere, cessi, cessum (3) – to grant, allow (leg.); to go from; to withdraw

ideo cessit processus – therefore the law-suit has ceased

concelamentum, -i (n) –concealment (leg.)

concelare (1) also concellare – to conceal

concernare (1) – to concern, have regard to; to consider, perceive

concordor, -ari, -atus sum (dep.) – to come to terms; to agree with (leg.)

pro licencia concordandi – for licence to agree

per licentiam concordati sunt – they have agreed by permission [of the court]

concubina, -e (f) – concubine

conculare (1) – to tramble. to tread upon

condonare (1) – to grant; to remit, excuse, pardon

conducere (3) – to assemble, gather; to hire

conductio, ionis (f) – a meeting

confessor, -oris (m) – confessor

confirmare (1) – to confirm (leg.)

congrue (adv.) – fitly, agreeably

conjunctim (adv.) – jointly

conlibet – it pleases; it is agreeable

conquerens, -entis (m,f) – plaintiff (leg.)

consanquinia, -ie (f) – kinswoman

consensus, us (m) – agreement

considare (1) – to give judgement (leg.)

consideratum est – it is (was) decided

constabularius, ii (m) – constable

consuetudo, inis (f) – custom; usage

secundum consuetudinem manerii – according to the custom of the manor

de consuetudine – in accordance with custom

consuetus, a, um (adj.) – accustomed

de iure consueta – lawfully accustomed

contingo, -ere, -tigi, -tactum (3) – to border on; to abutt

contra (adv. & prep. with acc.) – against; contrary to; before (of time)

contra plebicitum vicinorum – contrary to the byelaw of [made by] neighbours

contra consuetudinem manerij – contrary to the custom of the manor

contra proximam – by the next [court]

contraversia, -e (f) – controversy; dispute

conventionare (1) – to agree

conventio, -ionis (f) – agreement

ex conventione – by agreement

conversatio, -ionis (f) – ‘conversation’; manner of living; mode of behaviour

de male conversacionis – of evil behaviour [usually used of (single) women and implying sexual misbehaviour]

cooperio, eri, perui, pertum – to cover; to roof

coopertorium, ii (n) – roof; roofing

cooptura, -e (f) – roofing; covering

copia, e (f) – copy (leg.)

copia rotulorum curie – copy of the court rolls

per copiam – by copy [of court roll]

copus, -i (m) – cloak

coquina -e (f) – kitchen

coram (adv. & prep. with abl. or acc.) – in the presence of; before

cornagium, -ii (n) – cornage [rent paid for grazing rights in Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland & Westmoreland)

corredium, -ii (n) also corrodium – in manorial records usually means food and/or drink allowance given to peasants performing certain services.

corrigo, -ere, -rexi, -rectum (3) – to correct, amend

corrium, ii (n) also correum – hide

corvus, -i (m) – a crow or raven

cotagium, ii (n) – cottage

coterillus, -i (m) – cottager

crastinum, -i (n) – the morrow

in crastino (+ gen.) – on the morrow (of)

crescens, entis (adj) – growing

crofta, e (f) also croftum, i (n) – a croft

crofta, -e (f) – croft

crux, crucis (f) – cross

culpabilis, -e (adj.) – guilty (leg.)

cultellus, -i (m) – a knife

cultura, e (f) – a furlong; a strip of cultivated i.e. ploughed land

cum (conj.) – when; since; whereas

cum (prep. with abl.) – with

cumulus, i (m) – measure of grain, cheese or plaster

cunstabularius, -e (m) – constable [annually elected officer]

curia, e (f) – court

curia ballivis – bailiff’s court [Not known legally yet existed at Wotton in 1380]

curia baronis – court baron

curia customaria – customary court

curia Christianitatis – church court

curia generalis – court general [usually meaning a court leet]

curia legalis – manor court; law-day court

curia leta – court leet

curia magna – great court [usually meaning a court leet]

curia prima – first court [usually the first court of a new lord]

parva curia – small court

curro, -ere, cucurri, cursum (3) – to flow, run

curtilagium, ii (n) – curtilage, yard or enclosure next to a dwelling

custos, odis (m) – keeper

apium custos – bee-keeper

custos averiorum – keeper of the stock

custos camporum – keeper of the fields

custumarius, a, -um (adj.) – customary

custumarius tenens – customary tenant

custumarius, ii (m) – customary tenant

custumarii basse tenure – customary tenants of base tenure

cuva, e (f) – tub, vat, bowl

daeria, e (f) – dairy

dama, e (f) – a doe

damnum, i (n) also dampnum – loss; damage

damus, i (m) – a buck

datus, a, um (past part.) – given; dated

de (prep. with abl.) – of, from, as, regards, concerning

de cetero – in the future

de consuetudine – in accordance with custom

de consensu – with the consent of

de dono or ex dono – as a gift

de jure – lawfully

de iure consueta – lawfully accustomed

de novo – newly

de plano – summarily

de prope – near

debeo (2) – to owe

debiter (adv.) – duly

debitus, -a, -um (past. part.) – owed, due

debitum, i (n) – a debt

decem (indeclinable) – ten

decenna, e (f); dicena; disena; dissena – tithing (leg.)

decennarius, ii (m) also decenarius – tithingman (leg.)

decima, -e (f) – tithe

decimus, a, um (adj.) – tenth

decollare (1) – to lop (the tops of trees)

decollatio, -onis (f) – beheading

defalta, e (f) – default (leg.)

defamare (1) – to defame; to accuse (leg.)

defamatio, -ionis (f) – defamation (leg.)

defectus, -us (m) – default (leg.)

defendens, entis (m,f) – defendant (leg.)

defensor, oris (m) – defendant (leg.)

deficio, -ere, -feci, -fectum – to default (leg.)

deforciare (1) – to deforce (leg.)

deforciator, -oris (m) – deforciant, illegal occupant (leg.)

defunctus, a, um (past part.) – deceased, dead

deinceps (adv.) – next

deinde (adv) – then, next, thereafter

deliberare (1) – to deliver

demandare (1) – to claim, demand

demitto, -ere, -misi, -missum (3) – to demise [i.e. pass land to]

denarius, ii (m) – a penny [there were 12 pennies in a shilling]

cum denariis suis – with his own money, [i.e. at his own cost]

deparcacio, ionis (f) – poundbreaking (leg.)

deparcare (1) – to break pound [i.e. to take animals out of the pound]

depono, ere, posui, positum (3) – to depose, to state as evidence (leg.)

deputare (1) – to appoint; to depute

descendo, ere, di, sum (3) – to descend (of property); to go down

destruo, ere, struxi, structum (3) – to destroy

detinere (2) – to detain

deus, i (m) – God

dexter, tra, trum (adj.) – right (as opposed to left)

dico, ere, dixi, dictum (3) – to say; to declare formally

dictus, a, um (adj.) – said; called

dies, diei (m) – (1) day for appearance in court (leg.) [see habere below]

(2) day [Whilst dies changes case according to its position in a sentence, the qualifying word retains its genitive form at all times.]

dies dominica – Sunday

dies paschalis – Easter Sunday

dies lune – Monday

dies Martis – Tuesday

dies Mercurij – Wednesday

dies Iovis – Thursday

dies Iovis absolutionis – Maundy Thursday

dies Veneris – Friday

dies veneris sanctus – Good Friday

dies Sabbati – Saturday

quo die – on which day

dieta, e (f) – a diet i.e. a measure of land; a day’s work on the land

difficilis, e (adj.) – difficult

dilectus, a, um (adj.) – beloved

dimidia, e (f) – half

dimidius, a, um (adj) – half

dimissio, ionis (f) – a demise; a handing over [usually of land] (leg.)

dimitto, ere, misi, missum (3) – to demise (leg.)

discedere also descedere – to leave, depart

dispergo, ere, si, sus – to disperse, scatter

disseisare (1) – to lease, disseise (leg.)