grith

See also: grið and griþ

English

Etymology

From Middle English grith, griþ, from Late Old English griþ, from Old Norse grið (“domicile, home”), in the plural with a meaning "truce, peace; sanctuary, asylum".

The English word is attested from the early 11th century, and after the end of the Anglo-Saxon period assumed a meaning of peace in general, especially by association with frith. The word became obsolete by the 16th century, or during the 17th century in Scottish English, but was revived in the context of historical novels in the 19th century.

The verb griþian (“to make peace”) appears in the Laws of Æthelred (Þæt hi Godes cirican æȝhwar ȝeorne griðian and friðian) and in Middle English is attested occasionally during the 13th century.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɡɹɪθ/
• Rhymes: -ɪθ

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

grith (countable and uncountable, plural griths)

1. (obsolete) Guaranteed security, sanctuary, safe conduct.
2. (historical) Security, peace or protection guaranteed in particular instances in Old English law.
3. (historical) A place of protection, a sanctuary.

Synonyms

• asylum

Anagrams

• girth, right

Middle English

Alternative forms

• girth, grið, griþ, griþe, griþþ, gryth, gryþ, gryþe, gyrth, gyrþe

Etymology

From Late Old English griþ, from Old Norse grið.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡriθ/, /ɡirθ/

Noun

grith (uncountable)

1. peace (lack of fighting)
2. peaceableness, tranquility
3. refuge, sanctuary
4. safety, protection
   • c. 1300, “Of þe state of þingis be-fore adam synnid”, in Þe Cours of þe Werlde (Cursor Mundi, Fairfax Ms. 14)‎^[1], page 7b, lines 657–658:

     bot þis tree ys done in my friþe / for I. wil þat hit haue griþe […]

     But this tree was put in my forest, because I want it to have protection […]

5. mercy, leniency

Related terms

• griþen

Descendants

• English: grith

References

• “grith, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.