Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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

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  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛrθ(ə)/, /ˈdirθ(ə)/, /ˈdɛːrθ(ə)/, /ˈdeːrθ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
  • (Late ME also) IPA(key): /ˈdarθ(ə)/

Noun

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derthe (uncountable)

  1. A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.
  2. (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply (of a specified thing)
  3. (rare) Amazingness, success, magnificence.

Descendants

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  • English: dearth
  • Scots: dearth, darth, deart, daart

References

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