abysed ppl. adj.

  abysed 
TR3.1233 Ănd ás thĕ néwe ăbáysĕd nýghty̆ngálĕ,  
TR3.1234 Thăt stýntĕth fírst whăn shé by̆gýnneth tŏ sýngĕ,

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): And like the suddenly startled nightingale that stops just as she is beginning to sing,
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 小鳥のナイチンゲールがさえずり始めた時。。。そのように、クリセイデは、恐れなくなると
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 犹如羞赧的小莺，（初试新曲，忽听得牧人之声，或篱间有人骚动，）不免暂停半刻，然后壮起胆子，放声高唱起来

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Animals (nightingale)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: (Not Quoted)
  • MED: (Quoted) (d) abaished (comp. abastir), upset, perplexed, puzzled, startled, frightened [all largely contextual]; for pure ~, for sheer surprise or wonder. (s.v. abaishen, v.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 173): newe abaysed: recently startled
  • Fisher (1989: 472): abayssed: startled
  • Benson (1987: 530): newe abaysed: suddenly startled
  • Davis et al. (1979: 1): frightened, timid (s.v. abaissen/ abasshe, v.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 854): newe abaised: recently frightened
  • Baugh (1963: 145): abaysed: startled
  • Root (1954): N/A

Possible Definitions

startled, frightened, timid

Comments from the Editor

This adjective describes Criseyde’s conduct during her first experience of lovemaking with Troilus. The word nightingale, therefore, indicates Criseyde. However, it is noteworthy that just a few lines before this mention (3.1191–92), Chaucer compared Criseyde to a lark caught by a sparrow hawk (Troilus).