Lexerl translates gedranc as das dringen, gedrange; bedrangung, drangsal, gedrenge as gedringe . . . bedrangung, beengung, and dringen as sich dringen, andringen. These words are used with noticeable frequency to describe the disordered crowding which often occurs at the Arthurian court, and an examination of the frequency and the application of these words in given situations shows their particular significance in the poem. gedranc occurs 11 times in the entire work (according to the word list compiled by Senn and Lehmann2): 63, 26; 73, 12; 147, 15; 153, 19; 275, 8; 297, 22; 395, 4; 426, 16; 648, 10; 705, 2; and 802, 23.3 Of these 11 instances, 10 concern the press or crowding