Douth

Pronunciation

• enPR: douth, IPA: /daʊθ/
• Rhymes: -aʊð

From Middle English douthe, duwethe ("body of retainers, people, might, dignity, worth"), from Old English duguþ ("manhood, host, multitude, troops"), from Proto-Germanic *dugunþō, *dugunþiz ("power, competency, notefulness, virtue"), from *duganą ("to be useful"), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeugʰe- ("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.

Full definition of douth

Noun

1. (rare or obsolete) Virtue; excellence; atheldom; nobility; power; riches.
• 2012, Yahoo! Canada Answers - What does the Bible say about a Christian going into debt?The Book warns against debt, and extols the douth of not going into debt, but does not forbid debt.
2. (obsolete) A good deed; a benefit.
3. (obsolete) Manhood.
4. collectively Men; people.
5. A company; army; retinue.
6. Reliability; ease; security; shelter.There's no sic much douth in a wire fence.

Derived terms

• douth-king
• douthly
• douthman
• douthwight

Adjective

1. Snug; comfortable; in easy circumstances.

Noun

1. Alternative form of dought