apeth

English

Etymology 1

From ha'p'orth, a contraction of halfpennyworth.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeɪ.pəθ/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

apeth (plural apeths)

1. A halfpennyworth.
   • 2003, Jeanne Lawrence, A Glint of Black Stocking: The Royal Infirmary, iUniverse, page 162:

     “Oh Harry, it doesn't matter an 'apeth we're here to see Joni?' “Hello luv,” Dad walked in. “Hello Dad.” “Had a good week then?”

2. (Northern England, informal, endearing) A silly or foolish person.
   • 2003, Chris Brown, Of Ghosts and Faeries - A Firefighter's Tale, WritersPrintShop 2004, page 61:

     Oi, that water's not free, y'know. It has to be pumped up here yer daft ’apeth. It's not a bloody river.

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeɪ.pəθ/

Verb

apeth

1. (archaic) third-person singular simple present indicative of ape
   • 1842, Martin Farquhar Tupper, “Of Beauty”, in Proverbial Philosophy: A Book of Thoughts and Arguments, Originally Treated (Second Series), London: J[ohn] Hatchard and Son, […], →OCLC, stanza 15, page 90:

     Fashion, the parasite of Rank, apeth faults and failings, / Until the general Taste depraved hath warped its sense of beauty.

   • 1885, Richard Francis Burton (translator), Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Kessinger Publishing (2003), page 155:

     I know that whoso apeth a stronger than he, wearieth himself and haply cometh to ruin.

   • 2000, Richard J Carr, Wyndedanse: A Royal Chronicle of 17th Century Siam, Xlibris Corporation, page 187:

     The way you talk now, Richard, apeth the voice of the interloper.

Anagrams

• hepta-, petha