douthe

Middle English

Alternative forms

• douth, douþe, duthe
• doȝeðe, dugeð, duȝde, duȝeðe, duȝeþe, duheðe, duhþe, duweðe (Early Middle English)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English duguþ, from Proto-West Germanic *dugunþu, from Proto-Germanic *dugunþō.

The final vowel is generalised from the Old English oblique forms; for further notes on phonological development, see youthe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈduːð(ə)/, /ˈduːθ(ə)/
• (early) IPA^(key): /ˈduːəð(ə)/, /ˈduɣəð(ə)/

Noun

douthe (uncountable)

1. A group, band, or company of people:
   1. A retinue or comitatus; the personal military of a ruler.
   2. An army or troop; a group of armed people; an army or troop.
2. (rare) Potency, might, worth.
3. (rare) An individual person.
4. (rare) Something beneficial; a boon.
5. (rare) Maturity; the state of being mature.

Related terms

• doughty

Descendants

• English: douth
• Scots: duthe, douth

References

• “douth, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-06-05.