(a) A word as a lexical item or grammatical form, a string of characters representing a minimal unit of meaning, a word in isolation; also, a word or group of words as represented in graphic form, engraving, embroidery, or the like; ?also, the intended sense of a word considered apart from its sound or production [quot. ?c1200, 2nd]; (b) a word as an acoustic phenomenon, the sound of a word or production of speech sounds; (c) an item in the lexicon of a specialized discipline, a technical term; (d) with ref. to the act or process of translation or explication: an individual unit of meaning, an isolated verbal element; in adv. phrases: ~ after (bi, for) ~, after the ~, etc., word by word, verbatim, literally; also, unabridged, not in paraphrase or summary [sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 2b.(f)].

(a) A meaningful single word or connected series of words forming an utterance, a remark, statement, question, etc.; a thing said, what someone says or said; speech, talk, discourse; also fig. and in fig. context; also, the written record of someone’s words, written speech, what someone writes or has written; (b) an exchange of words, a conversation; conversation, colloquy, parley; haven ~ of, to be able to speak with (sb.); (c) a spoken word or an utterance in explicit contrast to something done, thought, written, indicated by physical signs, etc., talking as opposed to acting, showing, etc.; bi wordes and bi writinge, in thought ~ and dede, mid werk and mid ~, wordes other werkes, in ~, etc.; (d) the verbal portion of a song or liturgical piece; also, the literal level of a text as opposed to its deeper meaning or interpretation; (e) diction, manner of speaking, customary delivery; also, a habit of expression or turn of phrase [occas. difficult to distinguish from (a)]; (f) in proverbs and prov. expressions.

In selected phrases: (a) bold (stoute) of wordes, aggressive or brash in one’s manner of speaking; bright of ~, ?soft-spoken, modest in speech;—used in fig. context; ful of wordes, of mani wordes, given to verbosity, indiscreet of speech, garrulous; half ~, a hint, an insinuation; mani wordes, garrulity, verbosity; unreken of wordes, slow to speak, awkward, not eloquent; haven mani wordes, to talk too much, be wordy or garrulous; (b) bringen in wordes, ?to put (sth.) into words, make intelligible; haven the wordes, do the talking; (c) wordes strong, quarrelsome or aggressive speech; ben at wordes, haven wordes strong, to quarrel, be involved in disputes; (d) at on ~, in agreement; with o ~, in unison, as one; (e) at o (on, the first) ~, at wordes feue, etc., in short order, forthwith, at once; also, in short, in a word [see also o num. 2b.(a)]; at wordes bref (thre), at (in) short wordes, in feue wordes, briefly, in a few words;—freq. used as rime tag or filler; bouten mo (more) wordes, withouten wordes mo, immediately, with no further talk, without delay; speken a ~ (feue wordes, etc.), to speak briefly; (f) in adv. phrases: ~ after (bi, for) ~, everi ~, in every particular, in detail; ?also, in these very words [last quot.].

In cpds. and combs.: (a) wordes spekinge, talk, speaking; ?also, oratory, rhetoric [1st quot.]; (b) ~ wode, unrestrained or wild in speech; ~ woth, perverse of speech; (c) love wordes, words of love; mis ~, q.v.

(a) A pronouncement, declaration, judgment; a prepared speech, formal statement; also, a claim, a piece of testimony; ?a charge [quot. a1400]; (b) ?an element or a term in an agreement, a proposition, or a proposal [could also be construed as (a)]; (c) an explanation, exposition, explication; a learned argument, a point in an academic argument; also, a specific scientific teaching or axiom.

(a) A command, an edict, a royal decree, etc.; an expressed request, (someone’s) bidding; hunt. & hawk. a call or command to a hound or falcon; wordes of livere, ?instructions, directions; ?an authorized order; (b) an assurance, a guarantee; (someone’s) pledge, promise, word of honor; a statement of intent; also, an oath; holden (kepen) ~; (c) a prophecy, prediction; (d) a boast; blustering; also, a threat; gret (heigh, proud) wordes; (e) a word or series of words used in ritual, prayer, incantation; also, a prayer, an incantation.

(a) An axiom, a dictum; a saw, proverb; also, a felicitous formulation of a commonplace or a truth; (b) a saying associated with someone, someone’s watchword, motto, war cry, or the like; blithe ~, a favorite toast or saying.

(a) A message, piece of news or information, esp. when conveyed to someone; news, tidings; an account, a report; also, rumor; ?malicious rumor or tale, gossip [quot. c1436]; ~ bregger, bregger of word(es, that which omits accounts of certain events, an epitome; god ~, good news, specif. the gospel; (b) an advance report, a warning; (c) a favorable report or good account (of sb. or sth.), fame, renown; (someone’s) good reputation; god ~, approval; here ~, q.v.; love ~, good reputation, regard; cacchen (haven) ~, to get (have) a reputation (of a certain kind).

(a) A religious doctrine or piece of instruction, an utterance or exposition of religious truth; God’s or Christ’s message, Christian doctrine or teachings; ?also, confession of belief in Christ [quot. c1384 WBible(1) Mark 4.17]; the ~; the ~ of god (jesu crist), godes (drihtenes) wordes, etc.; the ~ of the cros; the ~ of lif, lifes ~, Christian teaching; the ~ of treuth, ?apprehension or awareness of God’s reality; (b) a divine command or behest, fiat; also, a divine law, moral precept, Biblical injunction; specif. one of the Ten Commandments; a ~ bregged (ending, made short, etc.), a divine sentence or judgment [quot. c1384]; (c) the reified or incarnate word of God, the Logos; also, as a name for Christ.

In Biblical passages translating L verbum or sermo: (a) an act, a deed; an event, a thing; (b) a matter, subject, business.

(a) The faculty of speech, the use of language; speche of ~, ?communication by means of language; (b) a language.

?In surname [could also be construed as world n.].