English Explanatory Dictionary

douth

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Virtue; excellence; atheldom; nobility; power; riches.
  2. A group of people, especially an army or retinue.
  3. Reliability; ease; security; shelter.
adj
  1. Snug; comfortable; in easy circumstances.
noun
  1. Alternative form of dought.

Pronunciation

douth /daʊθ/

Word forms

douth douths more douth most douth

Etymology

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

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