guerdon

noun

guer·​don ˈgər-dᵊn How to pronounce guerdon (audio)
guerdon transitive verb

Did you know?

Guerdon and Shakespeare

Guerdon dates back to the 14th century, when Geoffrey Chaucer used it in The Romaunt of the Rose (ca. 1366): "He quitte him wel his guerdon there." It derives from Anglo-French and is thought to be related to the Old High German widarlōn, meaning "reward." Shakespeare used guerdon a couple of times in his plays. In Love's Labour's Lost, for example, Berowne, attendant to King Ferdinand, sends the clown Costard to deliver a letter to Rosaline, attendant to the princess of France, handing him a shilling with the line, "There's thy guerdon; go." Guerdon is a rare word today, but contemporary writers do use it on occasion for poetic effect.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French guerdun, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German widarlōn reward

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guerdon was in the 14th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near guerdon

Cite this Entry

“Guerdon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guerdon. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!