--Chaucer, _Cant. Tales_ (1383), 5322. SORT (_passim_), company, assemblage, knot of people, gang: see other volumes of this series. SOVEREIGNS, "_sovereigns_ I beseech you" (M3,_d_; also IP347,_a_), _i.e._ the audience, "Masters," "excellencies": cf. M.E. _soverainly_ = above all. SOWNETH (JE360,_b_), soundeth: see other volumes of this series. SPADIBUS, "in _spadibus_" (M18,_c_), spades; cf. Breadibus. SPARLING, "my own ... _sparling_": (WS162,_c_), properly the smelt: formerly colloquial for "gull," "simpleton," and (so it would appear) as an endearment. Probably, however, the exigencies of a rhyme with "darling" influenced the author. Later, the cry, "Westward for smelts!" = on the spree, in search of conies, male or female. SPECIAL, "my predelict _special_" (M39,_a_), favourite: most frequently used of a paramour, male or female. SPIRITUALTY, "an officer of the _spiritualty_" (IP343,_c_), the hierarchy of the Church: here = an officer of the Ecclesiastical Courts. SQUAT, "_squat_ out ons brain" (R256,_d_), squash. STARVE, see Grass. STATE, "a great _state_" (N68,_d_)--"haled up with _states_" (R267,_c_)--"to compare with a _state_" (IP339,_c_), a person of rank or importance. "When _states_ ... sit in the cool."--Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II., 258,_b_. STATT, see Stow. STILE, see Hedge. STORE, "_store_ is no sore" (R184,_c_), in Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), 12,_c_; 176,_d_. STOW, "_stow, statt, stow_!" (M32,_b_), "_Stow, stow_, says Halliwell, was formerly addressed to a hawk by a falconer to make it come to his fist." STRUSSIONERS, "such _strussioners_ as these" (R265,_c_), destructioners + constructioners. STUD, "Doth you _stud_ your brains" (R228,_b_). People's perversion (perhaps intentional) of "study." SUFFER, "he _will not suffer_" (R213,_a_); in original _nil_ _not_, and it should have been so printed in text. _Nil_ = will not n[e w]il[l]: cf. namnot, ninnat. SUPERATE, "now it is _superate_" (M15,_a_), conquered, overcome. SUPERSEDEAS (R261,_d_), a writ having in general the effect of a command, to stay or forbear, on good cause shown, my ordinary proceedings which might otherwise be proceeded with: hence a stay, a stop. "To give a _supersedeas_ to industry."--Hammond, _fl._ (1605-60), _Works_, i. 480. TAGETIVE, "Am I a _tagetive_" (WH277,_c_). I can find no trace of this word. Can Wealth be regarded as offended at being spoken to as if he were one of the "tag" or rabble? TANE (WH294,_b_; 305,_a_), taken. TENDERANCE, "cometh of great _tenderance_" (N52,_d_), watchfulness. THE, "God let you never _the_" (M., _et passim_), prosper, thrive. THIRLETH, "a short prayer _thirleth_ heaven" (M25,_a_), ascends to, pierces, penetrates. "If ony _thirle_ or make an hole in a feble walle."--_Gesta Romanorum._