þeoden

Old English

Alternative forms

• ðeoden — edh spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þeudanaz, from the same source as þēod. Cognate with Old Saxon thiodan, Old Norse þjóðann, Gothic 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽𐍃 (þiudans).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθe͜oː.den/

Noun

þēoden m (nominative plural þēodnas)

1. (poetic) prince, lord, ruler, chief

   Mære þeoden æþeling ærgod unbliðe sæt. ― The famous ruler, the ever-good chieftain, sat dismayed. (Beowulf, ll. 129-130)

Derived terms

• þēodenlēas (“leaderless”)