dright

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɹaɪt/
• Rhymes: -aɪt

Etymology 1

(deprecated template usage)

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English drihte, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English driht, dryht (“a multitude, an army, company, body of retainers, nation, a people, men”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *druhtiz (“troop, following”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (“to hold, hold fast, support”). Cognate with (deprecated template usage) [etyl] North Frisian dregte (“people, crowd, escort, retinue, host”), Middle Low German drucht (“band, war-team”), Middle High German truht (“multitude, offspring”), Icelandic drótt (“people, entourage, bodyguard”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌷𐍄𐍃 (gadrauhts, “soldier”). Related also to German Truchsess (“steward”), from Middle High German truhtsæze (“chairman of a multitude, steward”, literally “sitting one/presider next to/in front of a multitude". The meaning "multitude" survives in present day German in the sense of "representing a court”), from Old High German truhtsāzzo.

Noun

dright (plural drights)

1. (obsolete) A multitude; army; host.

Derived terms

• drightfare
• drightfolk
• drightman

Etymology 2

(deprecated template usage)

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English dright, driȝt, earlier drihten, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English dryhten (“a ruler, king, lord, prince, the supreme ruler, the Lord, God, Christ”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *druhtinaz (“leader, chief, lord”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (“to hold, hold fast, support”). Cognate with Scots drichtin, drichtine (“lord, the Lord”), Old Frisian drochten (“lord”), Old Saxon drohtin (“lord”), Middle High German truhten, trohten (“ruler, lord”), Danish drot (“king”), Swedish drotten, drott (“king, ruler, sovereign”), Icelandic drottinn (“lord, master, ruler, God”), Finnish ruhtinas (“sovereign prince”). Related also to Old English dryht (“a multitude, an army, company, body of retainers, nation, a people, men”), Old English ġedryht (“fortune, fate”), Old English drēogan (“to serve in the military, endure”). More at dree.

Alternative forms

• drighten
• drightin (Scotland)

Noun

dright (plural drights)

1. Alternative form of drighten
2. A lord; ruler; chief; leader.
   • 2001, Diana Wynne Jones, The chronicles of Chrestomanci:

     "Hey, you!" Christopher called out in the most lordly way he could. "You there! Take me to the Dright at once!"

3. (often capitalised) The Lord; The Lord God; Christ.

Derived terms

• drightness
• drightful
• drightlike