maþum

Old English

Alternative forms

• maþm, māþm, māþþum

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *maiþmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *moītmos, from *moīt- (“to exchange”). Cognate with Old Saxon mēðom, Old Norse meiðmar (“valuables”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌼𐍃 (maiþms). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Latin mūtāre (“to exchange”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑː.θum/, [ˈmɑː.ðum]

Noun

māþum m (nominative plural māþmas)

1. precious or valuable thing, treasure, object of value, jewel, ornament, gift

   Máððum óðres weorp, gold mon sceal gifan. ― Treasures of others are cast away, gold must be given.

Descendants

• Middle English: mathem, madme
• → English: mathom