Middle English Adverb

Adverbs in the Middle English period are changed phonetically, like all other parts of speech, yet there were some changes worth mentioning, too. All primary adverbs existed in their slightly modified form - theer ire), then, wher, eft (again), ofte (often), hider (here to), hider-to (before v), anon (at once) etc. Very common are compound adverbs of the type route, therwith, theof, therby.

And chargen hir she never eft coome theere (and order her to come

there never again)

Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde (Women's advice very often

Is cold)

The hostiler answerde hym anon (the hosteler answered him at once)

Therto he was a good archeer (in addition, he was a good archer)

And therwithal he knew of mo proverbes

Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes (and, together with it he

knew more proverbs that there grow grass or herbs in this world).

Secondary adverbs, formerly made from the adjectives by means of ng the suffix -e were also in use, but what with the levelling of the final el, were no longer distinct in the language, and a new phenomenon jared - it started the so-called adverbial use of adjectives

Ful loude he soong 'com hider, love, to me' (he sang very loudly "love, come here to me"

And softe unto hym-self he seyde... (and softly /under his voice/he

said to himself.

A word is to be said about the use of the adverb ful in the function of ntensifying adjectives. In Old English there was an adverb swithe, the original meaning of which in Germanic languages was strongly. By the time English became a separate language it lost its former meaning and turned into pure intensifier (such phenomena are characteristic of other languages, just compare it with colloquial use of the adverb in Russian -).. In Middle English it falls out of use and is replaced I in the function of an adverb:

Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne (she sang very well at divine

service)

He was a lord ful fat (he was a lord very fat)

Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene (his legs were very long a

Very lean).

French borrowing verray (present-day very) was also in use, alongside with its use in the function an adjective in its original meaning (OF verai vrail - true).

Thise are the wordes that the markys sayde

To this benigne verray feithful mayde... (these are the words that ti

Marquis said to this benign very faithful maid...)

He was a verray parfit gentil knyght (he was a very perfect genl

knight).

More common are instances of the use of the word in its origin

meaning:

Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse (her heart is a true chamto

of holiness)

Thurgh which he may hise verray freendes see (through which \

may see his true friends).

It is to be noted, that even in present-day English this original meanin is preserved, though this use is marked in the dictionaries as archaic (th very image of his mother; the very fool etc.)

' J At the same time there appears a new and very productive way of forming adverbs - adding the suffix -ly. The very suffix was not quite new. ] goes back to Old English suffix -lice, but earlier it was limited in use. NOw quite distinct adverbs were made this way. Native adjectives as well a borrowed took it freely, and such formations very soon become prevalent ii the language.

And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste (and shortly, when the sui

was to rest /at the sunset/)

And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche (he would gladly lean

and gladly teach)

And Frenssh she spak ful faire andfetisly... (And she spoke French