
Aaron Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the brother of Moses (Moyses), a priest, is cited by the friar in The Summoner's Tale (III.1894) as

ABC Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
one of Chaucer's shorter poems (184 lines, in eight-line stanzas). It is a translation of a prayer to the Virgin

Abigayl Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
Abigail, the wife of Nabal in the Old Testament, saved her husband (I Sam. 25:1–35) from the wrath of King

Abraham Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the Old Testament patriarch whose story is told in Genesis 11:27–25:18. He was traditionally held to be the image of

Absolon (2) Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the Oxford parish clerk in The Miller's Tale, the rival of the clerk Nicholas for the affections of Alison.

Absolon (1) Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
in the Old Testament, the son of King David (2 Sam. 13–19:8), whose beauty and whose splendid head of hair

accident Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
is used to mean ‘chance happening’ or ‘occurrence’, but in medieval philosophy it also had a more technical sense, deriving

Achademycis Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
‘the scoles of … Achademycis’ [L. Academicis studiis], the ‘Academy’, the school of philosophy founded by Plato (in

Achate Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
a faithful friend of Aeneas (Eneas), ‘a knyght’, mentioned in The House of Fame 226, and in the

Acheloys Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
(Acheloys is the possessive form), the river Achelous in Greece. Achelous the river god in the form of a bull

Achemenye Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
Persia (and Armenia), from the mountains of which the Tigris and the Euphrates flow (L. Achamaenes, founder of the first

Achille Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
son of Peleus and Thetis, the greatest of the Greek heroes in the siege of Troy, is mentioned a

Achitofel Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the wicked counsellor of King David, who incited Absolon (1) to rebel against his father (2 Sam. 15–17), cited as

Adam (1) Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the first man according to the Book of Genesis, made by God from earth; the husband of Eve, and

Adam (2) Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
Chaucer's scribe (see book), the subject of the poem Adam (sometimes called ‘Adam Scriveyn’ or, from the rubric

Adoon Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
the son of Myrrha (Mirra). His beauty captivated Venus. When, in spite of her warnings, he went hunting

Adrastus Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
legendary king of Argos, who led the army of the Seven against Thebes (1). He returned home (Anel

Adriane Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, fell in love with Theseus, and gave him a thread so that

Affrican (1) (236/5– c.183 bc) Reference library
The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
(236/5– c.183
Roman consul at the beginning of the Second Punic War and a great general