derthe
Middle English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From West Saxon Old English *dīerþ, *dīerþu and Anglian Old English *dēorþ, *dēorþu, from Proto-West Germanic *diuriþu, from Proto-Germanic *diuriþō; equivalent to dere + -the (abstract nominal suffix).
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): /ˈdɛrθ(ə)/, /ˈdirθ(ə)/, /ˈdɛːrθ(ə)/, /ˈdeːrθ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
- (Late ME also) IPA(key): /ˈdarθ(ə)/
Noun edit
derthe (uncountable)
- A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.
- (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply (of a specified thing)
- (rare) Amazingness, success, magnificence.
Descendants edit
References edit
- “derth(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-06-30.