Glossary

Ancient English Christmas Carols
1400-1700
Martha Edith Rickert
London: Chatto & Windus, 1914.
Pages 303 - 310

 

Phrase	English Translation
Adesto nunc propicius	Be now propitious
Agnoscat omne seculum	Let all the world acknowledge Thee
Alleluia	Hallelujah
Alma Redemptoris mater	Dear mother of the Redeemer
Alma beata Trinitas	Dear blessed Trinity
Amice Christi, Johannes	John, Christ's friend
A Patre Unigenitus	The only Son of the Father
Armati sunt permentes	The armed men are slaying
A solis ortus cardine	Arisen from the quarter of the sun
Atque semper virgo	And virgin ever
Aurora lucis rutilat	The dawn of light reddens
Aurum, tus, myrram offerent	They shall offer gold, frankincense and myrrh
Ave Maria	Hail, Mary!
Ave maris stella	Hail, star of the sea
B
Benedicamus Domino	Let us bless the Lord
Bevvex bien par tutte la company	Drink well, all the company
Bona natalicia	Happy birthday feast
Bona voluntaria	Blessed offering
C
Caput apri defero	I bring the boar's head
Celis tesaurizare	To heap up treasures in the heavens
Christe, Redemptor omnium	Christ, the Redeemer of all
Christo paremus canticam, excelsis gloria	Let us prepare a song to Christ, glory on high
Christus natus est	Christ is born
Circumfultus undique	Shone upon from all sides
Clar David germine	Of the illustrious race of David
Conditor alme siderum	O blessed Founder of the stars
Circumfuso sanguine	With the shedding of blood
Congaudere mihi	To rejoice with me
Consolamini	Ye are consoled
Consors Paterni luminis	Consort of the light of the Father
Constanter	Steadfastly
Contra regis consilia	Contrary to the king's counsels
Corpous Christi	The Body of Christ
Cum magna injuria	With great injury
Cum pudoris lilio	With the lily of chastity
Cum sua malicia	With their wickedness
Cum sua potencia	With his power
Cum venerit judicare	When He shall come to judge
Cunctis reparatrix	Renewer (fem.) of all things
D
De fructu ventris	Of the fruit of the womb
Dei mater alma	Gentle mother of God
Demonis potencia	By the power of the devil
Deo gracias	Thanks to God
Deo Patri sit gloria	Glory be to God the Father
De te, genetrice	Of thee, His mother
Deus homo natus est	God is born man
De virgine Maria	Of the virgin Mary
De virgine purica	Of a virgin most pure
Dicam vobis quia	I shall tell you wherefore
Dieus wous garde, bewe sieurs	God keep you, gentlemen
Digno Tu (Te?) scandente	Thou fitly ascending
Dolore	With sorrow
Dono cœlestis gratiæ	With the gift of heavenly grace.
E
Ecce ancilla Domini	Lo, the handmaid of the Lord
Ecce sum humilima ancilla Domini	I am the most humble handmaid of the Lord
Ego dixi	I have said
Eia, Iesus hodie	Lo, Jesus today
Eia, martyr Stephane	Lo, Stephen the martyr
Enixa est puerpera	The woman in childbed is delivered
Et dixit: "Maria ne timeas,"	And said: "Mary, fear not."
Eterna Lux credencium	Eternal Light of believers
Eterne Rex altissime	O eternal King on high
Et Princeps gloriae	And Prince of glory
Eva peccatrice	By sinful Eve
Estortum est	He arose (lit. it has arisen)
Exultet celum laudibus	Let heaven rejoice with praises
F
Felix celi porta	Blessed gate of heaven
Felix fecundata	Blessed in thy fertility
Ferens mortis tedia	Bearing the burden of death
Ferventes insania	Raging in their madness
Fevore	With raging
Fevore gentis impiae	By the rage of a wicked race
Fraudenter	Deceitfully
Fulget Resurreccio	The Resurrection shineth
G
Gabriele nuncio	From Gabriel the messenger
Gaudeamus	Let us rejoice
Gentibus in Judæa	Among the tribes of Judea
Gloria in excelsis (Deo)	Glory on high (to God)
Gloria Tibi	Glory to Thee
Gloria Tibi, Domine	Glory to Thee, O Lord
Gracia Divina	By Divine grace
H
Hic erit Altissimi Filius	He shall be the Son of the Most High
Hostis Herodes impie	O Herod, impious foe
I
Iam lucis orto sidere	Now the star of light having risen
Iam ortus solis cardine	Now arisen from the quarter of the sun
Illaque favente	By her favour
In celi palacio	In the palace of heaven
In die Nativitatis	On the day of the Nativity
In die novissima	On the last day
In dulci iubilo	In a sweet song of joy
In excelsis gloria	Glory on high
Infans quem lactasti	The Child whom thou hast suckled
Infantis	Of the Child.
Infantum festa colentes	Keeping the feast of the Children
Innixum Patris destere	Set on the right hand of the Father
In praesepio	In the manger
In quo Christus natus est	On which Christ was born
In quo Salvator natus est	On which the Saviour was born
In Regis curia	In the king's palace
In reginensi atrio	In the royal hall
In sua malicia	In their malice
J
Jesu, Fili Dei	Jesus, Son of God
Jesu, Fili virginis	Jesus, Son of the virgin
Jesu, Salvator seculi	Jesus, Saviour of the world
Jesum semper amare	To love Jesus always
Johannes, Christi care	John, Christ's beloved
K
Kireleyson	Lord, have pity
L
Lapidaverunt Stephanum	They stoned Stephen
Laudamus Te Dominum	We praise Thee as Lord
Laus Tibi	Praise to Thee
Laus Tibi sit gloria	Praise be to Thee (and) glory
Letare	Rejoice
Luto gratulante	Delighting in filth
Lux fulgebit	The Light shall shine
M
Malorum	Of the wicked
Mane nobiscum, Domine	Abide with us, O Lord
Maria, ne timeas	Mary, fear not
Marya ventre concepit	Mary conceived in her womb
Mater dulcissima baba	The sweetest mother kisses (?)
Mater gratiosa	Gracious mother
Mater honorata	Revered mother
Mater salutaris	Healing mother
Matris in geremio	In His mother's lap
Michi plausus oscula dada	Clapping hands, give me kisses(?)
Mira plenitudine	In marvelous abundance
Mirabile misterium	Wonderful mystery
Miranda res	Wonderful thing
Miserere me (nobis)	Have mercy on me (us)
Misterium mirabile	Wonderful mystery
Motu fertur proprio	He is borne by His own motion
Munera portantes	Bringing gifts
N
Natus est de virgine	He was born of a virgin
Nec dare	Nor give
Ne memtem sompnus opprimat	Let not sleep oppress the mind
Nobis preparavit	He has prepared for us
Nomen Maria virginis	The name of the virgin (is) Mary
Non ex virili semine	Not of man's seed
Non poterit alligare	He will not be able to bind
Nova cantica	New songs
Nova, nova: Ave fit ex Eva	Tidings, tidings: Out of Eva is made Avé
Novus sol de virgine	A new sun of a virgin
Nowell	Christmas. In Middle English often tidings as if from French nouvelles; but really from Latin natalem=birthday
Nullus memoravit	None has told
Nunc gaudet ecclesia	Now the church rejoices
Nunc gaudet Maria	Now Mary rejoices
O
O facies plena gracie	O countenance full of grace
O flos de Jesse virgula	O Flower of the branch of Jesse
O Jesu parvule	O little Jesus
O lux beata Trinitas	O blessed light of the Trinity
O martyr invictissime	O martyr most unconquered
Omnes de Saba venient	All shall come from Sheba
Omnes gentes plaudite	All ye nations, rejoice
Omnia fecisti	Ye have done all things
Optans celi gaudia	Hoping for the joys of heaven
O Puer optime	O best of children
P
Par amour	For love's sake
Parens et puella	Mother and maiden
Pares forma	Equal in form
Pergens ad celestia	Attaining to heaven
Per regis imperia	Through the king's realms
Poscente	Entreating (it)
Potencia demonis	By the devil's power
Potente	O powerful One
Precantis	Praying
Proface	Welcome`
Pro peccante homine	For sinful man
Prophetaqrum carmine	By the word (lit. song) of the prophets
Pro sua superbia	For his pride
Protomartyr Stephane	O Stephen, first of martyrs
Psallite gaudentes	Sing rejoicing
Puer natus	A Son is born
Puer natus est nobis (nobis natus est)	Unto us a Son is born
Q
Que vocatur Maria	Who is called Mary
Quia lapidaverunt Stephanum	Because they stoned Stephen
Quia missus est angelus Gabriel	Because the angel Gabriel is sent
Quia Salvator mundi natus est	Because the Saviour of the world is born
Quia tecum est Dominus	Because the Lord is with thee
Quia virum non cognosco	Because I know not a man
Qui creavit omnia	Who created all things
Quid petis, O Fili?	What seekest Thou, O my Son?
Qui estis in convivio	Ye who are at the feast
Qui hodie natus es nobis	Who is born to us on this day
Qui natus est (es-second person) de virgine	Who is born of a virgin
Qui regnat super ethera	Who reigns in heaven
Qui triumphavit hodie	Who triumphed today
Quod Puer natus est nobis	Because a Child is born to us
Quot estis in convivio	As many as are at this feast
R
Reddens laudes Domino	Giving thanks to the Lord
Redemptoris mater	Mother of the Redeemer
Regem natum venerantes	Worshiping the King that is born
Reges de Saba venient	Kings shall come from Sheba
Regina celi, letare	Queen of Heaven, rejoice
Regnat Dei gracia	The grace of God reigns
Reluxit nobis hodie	Has shone upon us today
Repente	Suddenly
Res miranda	Wonderful thing
Rex pacifix	The peacemaking King
Rosa sine spina	Rose without thorn
S
Sacra fluenta potare	To drink of the sacred fountains
Salvator mundi, Domine	Saviour of the world, Lord
Salvator mundi natus est	The Saviour of the world is born
Salbatorem mundi	Saviour of the world
Salvator sine crimine	The Saviour without sin
Salve	Hail
Salve regina, mater misericordie	Hail, queen, mother of pity
Secreta que non noverat	The secrets which she knew not
Secundum verbum Tuum, fiat michi	Let it be done to me according to Thy word
Sevire cantico	To serve it with song
Servite cum cantico	Serve it with song
Sicut voluisti	As you have wished
Sine contumelia	Without disgrace
Solamen miserorum	Comfort of the wretched
Sol de stella	Sun of a star
Spes eterne glorie	Hope of eternal glory
Stelle ducti lumine	Guided by the light of the star
Sua morte pia	By His blessed death
Sua morte propria	By his own death
Sua nocte pessima	On his worse night
Summi Largitor premii	Dispenser of the supreme reward
Summi Patris gracia	By the grace of the Father Most High
T
Tam gnare	So wisely
Te confitemur, Te eternum	We acknowledge Thee as eternal
Te Deum laudamus	We praise Thee as God
Te laudamus, Te Dominum	We praise Thee as Lord
Te Reformator sensuum	Thee, renewer of the senses
Teste prophecia	By the witness of the prophets
Trahe me post Te	Draw me after Thee
Transeamus	Let us follow
Trinitatis unitas	The Oneness of the Trinity
Tutrix orphanorum	The guardian (fem.) of orphans
Tuum precor Filium	I pray to Thy Son
U
Ubi sunt gaudia	Where joys are
Ullo sine crimine	Without any sin
Ut castytatis lyllyum	As the lily of chastity
Ut nos purget a crimine	That He may cleanse us from sin
Ut nova	Lo, news
Ut supra	As above
V
Velut maris stella	Like a star of the sea
Veni coronaberis	Come, you shall be crowned
Veni, Creator Spiritus	Come, Creative Spirit
Veni, Redemptor (omnium) genciuum	Come, Redeemer of (all) mankind
Venter puelle baiulat	A maiden's womb bears
Ventre quem portasti	Whom thou didst bear in thy womb
Ventus de terra orta est	A wind has arisen from the earth
Verbo concepit Filium	She conceived a Son by the Word
Verbo prophese	In the word of prophecy
Verbum caro factum est	The Word is made flesh
Verbum Patris hodie processit ex virgine	The Word of the Father proceedeth this day from a virgin
Verbum superum prodiens	Showing forth the high Word
Vere consolatrix	Truly a consoler (fem.)
Vere nuncuparis	You shall be called truly
Veritas de terra orta est	Truth is arisen of the earth
Victore triumphante	Victor triumphing
Virgo gloriosa	Glorious virgin
Virgo rosa virginum	A maiden, the rose of maidens
Viri sine semine	Without seed of man
Volente	Willing
Vox clara ecce intonat	Lo, a clear voice sounds

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