English edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English etlien, atlien, from Old Norse ætla (to think, mean, suppose, intend, purpose), from Proto-Germanic *ahtalōną (to strive, think), from Proto-Indo-European *ok- (to think, intend, purpose); partly from Middle English aghtelen, ahtlien (to think, esteem, purpose, set out, arrange), from a frequentative variant of Old English eahtian (to estimate, esteem, fix the character or quality of something, consult about, consider, deliberate, mediate, devise, watch over, speak of with praise), from Proto-West Germanic *ahtōn (to think, believe, fear), from Proto-Germanic *ahwjaną (to believe, intend, think, fear), from Proto-Indo-European *okʷ-, *h₃ekʷ- (to see).

Cognate with Dutch achten (to deem, regard, esteem, think), German achten (to heed, respect, value), Danish agte (to esteem, intend, observe, heed), Gothic 𐌰𐌷𐌾𐌰𐌽 (ahjan, to think). More at eye.

Verb edit

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettling, simple past and past participle ettled)

  1. (transitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To aim; purpose; intend; attempt; try.
  2. (transitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To expect; reckon; count on.
  3. (intransitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To take aim.
  4. (intransitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To make attempt.
  5. (intransitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To direct one's course.
  6. (intransitive, dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To aspire; be ambitious.
Derived terms edit

Noun edit

ettle (plural ettles)

  1. (dialectal, chiefly Scotland) Intention; intent; aim.
Synonyms edit

Etymology 2 edit

A variation of addle (to earn).

Verb edit

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettling, simple past and past participle ettled)

  1. (obsolete) To earn.
Related terms edit

Anagrams edit

Scots edit

Etymology edit

From Old Norse ætla.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettlin, simple past ettle't, past participle ettle't)

  1. to intend, mean
  2. to try, attempt