Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
nith. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
nith, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
nith in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
nith you have here. The definition of the word
nith will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
nith, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Middle English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Inherited from Old English nīþ (“envy, hatred, affliction”), from Proto-West Germanic *nīþ, from Proto-Germanic *nīþą, from Proto-Indo-European *neyH- (“to be angry”).
Cognate with Dutch nijd (“envy”), German Neid (“envy, jealousy”), regional Swedish nid (“hatred, envy”), Icelandic níð (“hatred, envy”).
Pronunciation
Noun
nith (uncountable) (poetic)
- Enmity, spite; hate towards another person.
- (rare, more generally) Evil, affliction, harm.
Related terms
References
Old Saxon
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *nīþ, from Proto-Germanic *nīþą. Cognate with Old English nīþ, Dutch nijd, Old High German nīd (German Neid), Old Norse níð (regional Swedish nid), Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐌹𐌸 (neiþ). Compare the Old Norse níðingur.
Pronunciation
Noun
nīth m
- envy, jealousy
- hostility, hatred
Declension
Declension of nīth (masculine a-stem)
Derived terms
Descendants
Welsh
Etymology
Proto-Brythonic *nėθ, from Proto-Celtic *nextī, from Proto-Indo-European *néptih₂ (“niece, granddaughter”)
Noun
nith f (plural nithoedd, not mutable)
- niece
Further reading
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “nith”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies