different between dither vs thither

English

Etymology

Variant of didder, from Middle English didderen (“to tremble”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *titr?n?, whence also derived Old High German zittar?n (German zittern) and Old Norse titra (Faroese titra, Icelandic titra).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d?ð?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?ð?/
• Rhymes: -?ð?(?)

Verb

dither (third-person singular simple present dithers, present participle dithering, simple past and past participle dithered) (intransitive)

1. To tremble, shake, or shiver with cold.
   • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 8

     Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.

2. To be uncertain or unable to make a decision about doing something.
   • 2012, The Economist, Sept. 22nd issue, Indian Reform: At Last

     The dithering Mr Singh of recent times may worry that his reform proposals are already too bold. The reforming Mr Singh of yore would see them as just the start.

3. To do something nervously.
4. (computer graphics) To render an approximation of (an image, etc.) by using dot patterns to approximate (the features of) colors not in the system palette.
5. To intentionally add noise to a signal to randomize errors.

Derived terms

• ditherer
• dithering
• ditheringly
• dithery

Related terms

• dodder

Translations

Noun

dither (countable and uncountable, plural dithers)

1. The state of being undecided.

1. A form of noise which is intentionally applied to randomize errors which occur in the processing of both digital audio and digital video data.
2. (computer graphics) The use of dot patterns to approximate colors not available in the palette.

Derived terms

• in a dither

Translations

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “dither”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• drieth, rideth, thirde

English

Etymology

From Middle English thider, from Old English þider, an alteration (probably by analogy with hider (“hither”)) of earlier þæder (“to there”), from Proto-Germanic *þadrê.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ð?ð??/, /???ð??/
• Rhymes: -?ð?(r)

Adverb

thither (not comparable)

1. (chiefly literary or law, dated) To that place.

   • Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Episode 12, The Cyclops:

     And there rises a shining palace whose crystal glittering roof is seen by mariners who traverse the extensive sea in barks built expressly for that purpose, and thither come all herds and fatlings and firstfruits of that land for O'Connell Fitzsimon takes toll of them, a chieftain descended from chieftains.

2. (dated) To that point, end, or result.

Synonyms

• there, over there, away there; yonder (archaic or dialect)

Antonyms

• thence

Derived terms

Related terms

• hither
• whither

Translations

Adjective

thither (not comparable)

1. (archaic) The farther, the other and more distant.

Synonyms

• See farther

See also