“Yclept” functions as a poetic synonym for “named,” often in constructions like “a knight yclept Sir Guy.” It appears in Spenser and medieval romance to introduce characters with archaic flair. Its passive form adds formality and rhythmic variation to epithets. Though obsolete, “yclept” survives in literary contexts to evoke heraldic or legendary naming traditions, enriching character introductions with historical texture.

Yclept (also ycleped) is the archaic past participle of "clepe," meaning "named" or "called." The "y-" prefix marks past participles in Middle English, derived from Old English "ge-." Chaucer uses yclept regularly: "a knight ther was, and that a worthy man, yclept Sir Thopas." Students should recognize yclept as specifically medieval—even by Shakespeare's time it was deliberately archaic. Spenser employs yclept for medievalizing effect in The Faerie Queene. The construction typically follows "he was yclept [name]" or "by name yclept [name]." Understanding the y- prefix helps recognize other archaic past participles (ywis = known certainly, ywrought = wrought). Modern readers encounter yclept almost exclusively in Chaucer and conscious medieval imitation. The term completely disappeared from living language by 1600. In modern fantasy literature, yclept occasionally appears for pseudo-medieval atmosphere. Compare "called" (modern), "named" (modern), "cleped" (archaic present), and "yclept" (archaic past participle).