different between atheldom vs douth

English

Alternative forms

• etheldom

Etymology

From athel +? -dom. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Oadeldum (“nobility”), Dutch adeldom (“nobility”).

Noun

atheldom (uncountable)

1. (rare) The state or condition of being athel or noble; nobility.

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: douth, IPA^(key): /da??/
• Rhymes: -a??

Etymology 1

From Middle English douth, douthe, duweðe (“body of retainers, people, might, dignity, worth”), from Old English duguþ (“manhood, host, multitude, troops”), from Proto-Germanic *dugunþ? (“power, competency, notefulness, virtue”), from *dugan? (“to be useful”), from Proto-Indo-European *d?ewg?- (“to be ready, be sufficient”). Cognate with North Frisian døgd, døged (“ability, good deed”), Dutch deugd (“virtue”), German Tugend (“virtue”), Swedish dygd (“virtue”), Icelandic dygð, dyggð (“virtue”). Related to dow, doughty.

Noun

douth (usually uncountable, plural douths)

1. (obsolete) Virtue; excellence; atheldom; nobility; power; riches.
2. (obsolete) A group of people, especially an army or retinue.
3. (dialectal) Reliability; ease; security; shelter.

   There's no^[sic] much douth in a wire fence.

Adjective

douth (comparative more douth, superlative most douth)

1. (dialectal) Snug; comfortable; in easy circumstances.

Etymology 2

Noun

douth (plural douths)

1. Alternative form of dought

Middle English

Alternative forms

• douthe, duthe, douþe
• (Early ME) dugeð, duweðe, du?eðe, do?eðe, du?eþe, duheðe, duhþe, du?d

Etymology

From Old English duguþ, from Proto-Germanic *dugunþ?.

Pronunciation

• (Early ME) IPA^(key): /?du???/
• IPA^(key): /du??/

Noun

douth (uncountable)

1. A group, band, or company of people:
   1. The personal military force of a ruler or potentate.
   2. Any group of armed people; an army or troop.
2. (rare) Potency, might, worth.
3. (rare) An individual person.
4. (rare) Something beneficial; a boon.
5. (rare) The state of being mature.

Related terms

• doughty

Descendants

• English: douth
• Scots: duthe, douth

References

• “douth, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-06-05.