A Middle English Vocabulary, Designed for use with Sisam's Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose

"A Middle English Vocabulary" by J.R.R. Tolkien is an academic book from the early 1900s. It functions as a guide to help people understand Middle English, especially when reading "Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose" by Kenneth Sisam. The book looks at common Middle English words and sayings, giving information about where they come from and how they were used, so readers can better understand the language. The book starts by explaining that it is not trying to be a complete list, but to give people a practical understanding of Middle English. Tolkien points out that it's more important to learn how everyday language works—like prepositions and common phrases—than just knowing a lot of uncommon words. Also, the vocabulary is designed to allow beginners to approach the study of Middle English with both confidence and clarity.