Kith

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪθ

Origin

From Middle English kith ("kinsmen, relations"), from Old English cȳþþ, cȳþþu ("kinship, kinsfolk, relations"), from Proto-Germanic *kunþiþō ("knowledge, acquaintance"), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenǝ-, *ǵnō- ("to know"). Cognate with Old High German kundida ("kith"), kundī ("knowledge"), Gothic 𐌺𐌿𐌽𐌸𐌹 (kunþi, "knowledge"). More at couth, -th.

Full definition of kith

Noun

1. (obsolete) friends and acquaintances
• , 2000-08-03, Michael Kelly, New Hope For Nice Guys, The demography-crossing thing that undergirds this election year, I think, is a strong, broad desire to punish Clinton and his kith with a denial of further power.

Derived terms

• kith and kin
• kithless