different between uncouth vs couth

English

Etymology

From Middle English uncouth, from Old English unc?þ (“unknown; unfamiliar; strange”), from Proto-Germanic *unkunþaz (“unknown”), equivalent to un- +? couth.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ku??/

• Rhymes: -u??

Adjective

uncouth (comparative uncouther or more uncouth, superlative uncouthest or most uncouth)

1. (archaic) Unfamiliar, strange, foreign.

   Antonym: (obsolete) couth
2. Clumsy, awkward.

   Synonym: fremd

3. Unrefined, crude.

   Synonyms: impolite; see also Thesaurus:impolite

   Antonym: couth

Derived terms

• uncouthness

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• untouch

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ku??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ku?/
• Rhymes: -u??

Etymology 1

From Middle English c?uth (“familiar, known; evident, true; famous, respected, well-known; genteel, having good manners”), from Old English c?þ (“familiar, intimate, known, usual; certain, plain, manifest; famous, noted, well-known; excellent; friendly; related”), past participle of cunnan (“to be familiar with, know; can, to be able, know how”), from Proto-Germanic *kunnan? (“to be familiar with, know, recognize; to be able, know how”) (compare *kunþaz (“known”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *?neh?- (“to know”). The word is cognate with Dutch kond (“known”), Saterland Frisian cut (“known”), Gothic ???????????????????? (kunþs, “known”), Icelandic kuðr, kunnur (“known”), Latin gnosco (“to know”), Old High German kund, chund, chunt, Middle High German kunt (modern German kund (“known”)), Old Saxon k?th, cûth, cuð (“known; famous, renowned”), Scots couth (“familiar, known”); and is a doublet of could.

Adjective

couth (comparative more couth, superlative most couth)

1. (obsolete) Familiar, known; well-known, renowned.

   Antonym: (obsolete) uncouth
2. (Scotland) Variant of couthie.
   1. Agreeable, friendly, pleasant.
   2. Comfortable; cosy, snug.

Related terms

Translations

Verb

couth

1. (obsolete except in adjective use) past participle of can

Etymology 2

Back-formation from uncouth.

Adjective

couth (comparative more couth, superlative most couth)

1. Marked by or possessing a high degree of sophistication; cultured, refined.

   Antonym: uncouth

Translations

Noun

couth (usually uncountable, plural couths)

1. Social grace, refinement, sophistication; etiquette, manners.
2. (rare) A person with social graces; a refined or sophisticated person.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• chout, touch