We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out moreJump to Main NavigationJump to Content

Mandeville's Travels

Mandeville's Travels (a1425).
The 152nd most frequently quoted source in the OED, with a total of 2323 quotations (about 0.07% of all OED quotations).

Total number of quotations2323Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a word161Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a particular meaning546Find quotations
LemmaDefinitionDate
Adam's appleAny of several kinds of citrus fruits, esp. the pomelo or shaddock, Citrus maxima, and a variety of sweet lime, Citrus limetta.1424Go To Quotation
afounderedExhausted; lame; (also) numb.1424Go To Quotation
albespyneCommon hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna. Also called whitethorn.1424Go To Quotation
ancientesp. Which existed in, or belonged to, times long past, or early in the world's history; old.1366Go To Quotation
apothecaryspec. The earlier name for: One who prepared and sold drugs for medicinal…1366Go To Quotation
arboryGrowth of trees or shrubs; timber, wood, coppice.1366Go To Quotation
aromaticHaving the fragrant smell, and warm, slightly pungent, taste, of spice; yielding aroma; spicy, fragrant, sweet-smelling.1366Go To Quotation
arthriticOriginally: designating or relating to gout. In later use more widely: characterized…1424Go To Quotation
asphaltA bituminous substance, found in many parts of the world, a smooth, hard, brittle…1366Go To Quotation
auguryneAn augur.1400Go To Quotation
barbaryn(e= barberry n.1400Go To Quotation
BedouinAn Arab of the desert.1400Go To Quotation
bendedStriped or banded; in Heraldry having a bend or bends; = bendy adj.1400Go To Quotation
bordertrans. To put a border or edging to. Also fig.1400Go To Quotation
bow-draughtA bowshot; the distance a bow will carry.1400Go To Quotation
braceAn arm; esp. an ‘arm’ of the sea or other large body of water. Brace of St. George =…1400Go To Quotation
camleCf. chameleon n. and camelion n.1400Go To Quotation
canamellThe sugar-cane.1400Go To Quotation
chatThe downy catkin of the willow, pine, oak, hazel, etc. Obs. or dial.1400Go To Quotation
coaguleAn earlier equivalent of coagulate v. intr. and trans.1400Go To Quotation
commodityconcr. A thing of ‘commodity’, a thing of use or advantage to mankind; esp. in pl.…1400Go To Quotation
cornelianA variety of chalcedony, a semi-transparent quartz, of a deep dull red, flesh, or reddish white colour; used for seals, etc.1400Go To Quotation
corner= cornel n. a battlement, embrasure.1400Go To Quotation
costivenessThe state or condition of being costive; confinement of the bowels, constipation.1400Go To Quotation
cynocephalusOne of a fabled race of men with dogs' heads.1400Go To Quotation
daggeredArmed with a dagger.1400Go To Quotation
dappledMarked with roundish spots, patches, or blotches of a different colour or shade; spotted, speckled.1400Go To Quotation
defloweringThe action of the verb deflower v.: violation.1400Go To Quotation
deformtrans. To mar the form or shape of; to misshape. See also deformed adj.1400Go To Quotation
deformedMarred in shape, misshapen, distorted; unshapely, of an ill form. Now chiefly of persons: Misshapen in body or limbs.1400Go To Quotation
deformityfig. Moral disfigurement, ugliness, or crookedness.1400Go To Quotation
delectableAffording delight; delightful, pleasant.1400Go To Quotation
delectablyIn a delectable manner, delightfully.1400Go To Quotation
deltaThe name of the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, having the form of a triangle (Δ), and the power of D.1400Go To Quotation
downwards= downward adv. 1c.1400Go To Quotation
eglantineMore fully eglantine rose. The Sweet-briar; also attrib.1400Go To Quotation
enlevetrans. To raise (a figure) in relief; to represent in relief.1400Go To Quotation
enumbertrans. To put in the shade; to overshadow, shroud. Also refl.1400Go To Quotation
epsilonThe fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ε, ε).1400Go To Quotation
fairlySo as to make a fair appearance; beautifully, handsomely. Also in bad sense: Speciously. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
fatherTo appear or pass as, or acknowledge oneself, the father of; †to adopt.1400Go To Quotation
festyfull= festival adj.1400Go To Quotation
filter= felt n. Also a piece of felt. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
finger-stoneA stone sufficiently small to be cast by the hand. Also attrib. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
forwards= forward adv. in its various senses.1400Go To Quotation
fraughttrans. To load (a ship) with cargo: = freight v. 1. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
gammaThe third letter of the Greek alphabet, Γ, γ, corresponding to English g.1424Go To Quotation
garantBlundered readings in the English versions of Mandeville for Old French geracites…1400Go To Quotation
garden-gateA gate leading into a garden.1400Go To Quotation
gariofleA clove.1400Go To Quotation
GenowayA native of Genoa.1400Go To Quotation
GeorgianA native or inhabitant of Georgia, a south-eastern European country situated on the east coast of the Black Sea.1424Go To Quotation
gerfauntA giraffe.1400Go To Quotation
girdingThe action of gird v., in various senses.1400Go To Quotation
grecingChiefly pl. Steps in a flight; flights of steps; stairs. Rarely sing. A step; also, ? a flight of steps (quot. 1500).1400Go To Quotation
gruntleintr. To utter a little or low grunt. Said of swine, occas. of other animals; rarely…1400Go To Quotation
gulfGeogr. A portion of the sea partially enclosed by a more or less extensive sweep of…1400Go To Quotation
harvesttrans. To reap and gather in (the corn, or, by extension, other ripe crop).1400Go To Quotation
hawlerThe keeper or steward of a hall.1400Go To Quotation
hissintr. To make the sharp spirant sound emitted by certain animals, as geese and serpents…1400Go To Quotation
hoverOf a winged creature: To hang or remain suspended in the air over or about a particular…1400Go To Quotation
hydromancyDivination by means of signs derived from water, its tides and ebbs, etc., or the pretended appearance of spirits therein.1400Go To Quotation
inhabitableNot habitable, not adapted to human habitation, uninhabitable.1400Go To Quotation
innocentlyIn an innocent manner; without doing, having done, or intending, harm…1400Go To Quotation
insuffisance= insufficience n. 1; personal unfitness or incompetency.1400Go To Quotation
intenseOf a quality or condition: Raised to or existing in a strained or very high degree; very…1400Go To Quotation
ivy-berryThe fruit or seed of the ivy.1400Go To Quotation
JacobiteA member of a Monophysite sect taking its name from Jacobus Baradæus, of Edessa, who…1400Go To Quotation
junkA rush. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
kappaThe tenth letter of the Greek alphabet, Κ, κ.1400Go To Quotation
khanIn later use: A title (now of slight import) commonly given to rulers, officials, or men…1400Go To Quotation
lambdaThe 11th letter of the Greek alphabet, Λ, λ.1400Go To Quotation
lannerA species of falcon, found in countries bordering on the Mediterranean, Falco lanarius…1400Go To Quotation
laxOf the bowels: Acting easily, loose. †Of a person: Having the bowels unduly relaxed.1400Go To Quotation
leavenedIn senses of the vb.1400Go To Quotation
lemonAn ovate fruit with a pale yellow rind, and an acid juice. Largely used for making a…1400Go To Quotation
lightenLightning.1400Go To Quotation
lignum= lign-aloes n.1400Go To Quotation
liplessHaving no lips.1400Go To Quotation
loopA precious stone of imperfect brilliancy, esp. a sapphire. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
May-dewDew formed or gathered on May Day or in the month of May, popularly supposed to have medicinal and cosmetic properties.1424Go To Quotation
Mediterrane= Mediterranean adj. 1 (in early use freq. as postmodifier). Obs.1424Go To Quotation
Mediterrany= Mediterranean adj. 1a. In quots. used as postmodifier.1424Go To Quotation
meseemsimpers. (Used with subordinate clause or parenthetically.) ‘It seems to me’.1424Go To Quotation
mesquitaA mosque.1424Go To Quotation
milletThe grain of the plant millet (see sense 1b); millet seed.1424Go To Quotation
misshapetrans. To alter (a person) from his or her normal shape; to give a bad, ugly, or…1450Go To Quotation
mistNeed. Cf. mister n. 8 9.1424Go To Quotation
mosqueA Muslim place of worship.1424Go To Quotation
movingThat moves or passes from one place, position, or posture to another; capable of moving…1424Go To Quotation
muretrans. To wall in, to surround with a wall or walls; to fortify; = immure v. 1. Also with in, up. Also fig. Obs.1424Go To Quotation
nearaboutIn this vicinity; nearby.1424Go To Quotation
NestorianA follower or adherent of Nestorius; a person who accepts or professes Nestorianism. In…1424Go To Quotation
new-deadThat has only recently died.1424Go To Quotation
noyingThat annoys or vexes; injurious.1424Go To Quotation
nuThe name of the thirteenth letter (Ν, ν) of the Greek alphabet, corresponding to the English n.1424Go To Quotation
NubianA member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Obs.1424Go To Quotation
NumidianA native or inhabitant of Numidia, an ancient kingdom and later a Roman province…1424Go To Quotation
obeyandObeying, obedient.1424Go To Quotation
orafleA giraffe.1424Go To Quotation
orielA kind of yellow precious stone (not identified).1424Go To Quotation
overgilttrans. = overgild v.1424Go To Quotation
papionA large cat (perh. a cheetah) used in hunting.1424Go To Quotation
pathetrans. In early use: to pave (a street, floor, etc.). In later use only fig. in to pathe the way: = to pave the way at pave v. 3.1424Go To Quotation
peacock feather= peacock's feather n. 1a.1424Go To Quotation
peacock's featherAny of the feathers of a peacock; spec. one of the long feathers forming the tail…1424Go To Quotation
phiThe name of the twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet, ϕ, Φ.1424Go To Quotation
piThe name of the sixteenth letter (π, Π) of the Greek alphabet, corresponding to the English p.1424Go To Quotation
plumpA group of people; a band, a company. In later use chiefly in a plump of spears n. a band of spear carriers.1424Go To Quotation
porcupineAny of various large herbivorous rodents having the body and tail covered with…1424Go To Quotation
prepuceThe fold of skin covering the glans of the penis; = foreskin n. Also: a fold of the labia minora that covers the clitoris.1424Go To Quotation
prickedPointed, tapering; prickly, sharp; furnished with a sting. Also, of a candlestick: bearing prickets.1424Go To Quotation
psi(The name of) the twenty-third letter (Ψ, ψ) of the Greek alphabet.1424Go To Quotation
psittacA parrot.1424Go To Quotation
pygman= pygmy n. 1.1424Go To Quotation
pyxChristian Church. The vessel or box in which the consecrated bread of the Eucharist is kept. Also fig.1424Go To Quotation
repleshtrans. To fill, esp. to the limit; to endow fully or abundantly. Freq. with with. Cf. replenish v.1449Go To Quotation
revayintr. To go hawking along a riverbank. Cf. revaying n.1424Go To Quotation
revayingThe action or practice of hawking along a riverbank. Cf. rivering n. 1 revay n.1424Go To Quotation
revengeIn pass. To exact vengeance, obtain retribution (on or upon, formerly also †of, a person).1424Go To Quotation
rhoThe seventeenth letter of the Greek alphabet, Ρ, ρ, corresponding to English r.1424Go To Quotation
sacerdotalOf or belonging to the priests or priesthood; of or relating to a priest; befitting or characteristic of a priest; priestly.1400Go To Quotation
sakerA large lanner falcon (Falco sacer) used in falconry, esp. the female, which is larger…1400Go To Quotation
sakeretThe male of the ‘saker’.1400Go To Quotation
salt-catA mass of salt, or salt mixed with earthy or other matter; esp. a mixture of salt…1400Go To Quotation
scaleA maniple, squadron, or battalion.1400Go To Quotation
shockrefl. and intr. To crowd together. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
skinnedThat has (a) skin, esp. of a specified kind, as clean-skinned, fox-skinned, loose-skinned, etc.1424Go To Quotation
sophisticate= sophisticated adj. 1. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
sophisticatetrans. To mix (commodities) with some foreign or inferior substance; to render impure in…1400Go To Quotation
sophisticationA substance used in adulteration.1400Go To Quotation
spear-headThe sharp-pointed head or blade forming the striking or piercing end of a spear.1400Go To Quotation
sprinkleintr. To sparkle.1400Go To Quotation
squarenessThe quality of being square in form.1400Go To Quotation
sukkarkeapp. = sub-charge n. 1, surcharge n.1400Go To Quotation
sulphur vif= sulphur vivum n.1424Go To Quotation
superficialtySurface; extent of surface, area. Obs. rare.1424Go To Quotation
tainttrans. To convict, prove guilty; = attaint v. 3. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
Tartarian= Tartar n. 1.1400Go To Quotation
thereaboutsAbout, or in the neighbourhood of, that place; in the district, region, etc. round about there.1400Go To Quotation
thereawayOf motion: Away thither, or in that direction. hereaway, thereaway: see hereaway thereaway at hereaway adv. 2. Obs.1400Go To Quotation
theriacle= theriac n., treacle n. 1.1400Go To Quotation
three-corneredHaving three corners or angles; triangular (in plan or in cross-section).1400Go To Quotation
three-squared= three-square adj.1400Go To Quotation
thurifytrans. To perfume with incense; to burn incense before; to offer incense to; = cense v. 1. Also transf. (quot. 1599).1400Go To Quotation
transmontanealso absol. transmontane, the north pole-star; = tramontane n. 1.1400Go To Quotation
travelThe action of travelling or journeying.1400Go To Quotation
trayneA fox's burrow or earth.1400Go To Quotation
trespassableThat may be passed through or crossed.1400Go To Quotation
umbertrans. To shade, to protect.1400Go To Quotation
unfine(un- prefix 7; cf. Middle Dutch onfijn, Middle High German unvin, German unfein, Danish ufin.)1400Go To Quotation
unlearnedNot possessed of learning; uninstructed; untaught; ignorant.1400Go To Quotation
unlessprep. phr. On a less or lower condition, requirement, footing, etc., than (what is specified).1400Go To Quotation
uppermoreHigher locally; further up; at or to a greater altitude. (In later use Sc.)1400Go To Quotation
viandpl. Articles of food; provisions, victuals.1400Go To Quotation
vigourslyVigorously.1400Go To Quotation
violastre(See quot. 1400.)1400Go To Quotation
well-smellingFragrant.1400Go To Quotation
well-walledHaving good walls. (Cf. Greek εὐτείχεος.)1400Go To Quotation
wheatearAn ear of wheat.1400Go To Quotation
white-hairedHaving white or hoary hair, esp. from age. Also, covered with white hairs or down, as a plant.1400Go To Quotation

Back to top

The top one thousand authors and works cited in the OED

The Sources page contains details about the most frequently cited authors and works in the OED.

Use the search box to search for any of these sources by author name or work title.

Click on any of the author names or work titles for more information and links to dictionary entries.

Click on the column headings to order the top one thousand sources by date, number of quotations, and first evidence for word or sense.