-eth
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English -eth, -th, -ith, from Old English -eþ, -aþ, -þ, from Proto-Germanic *-þi, *-di, from Proto-Indo-European *-ti.
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /-əθ/, /ɪθ/
- There is some evidence that verbs written with this ending in Early Modern English were pronounced as if they ended in -s, which was common in speech before becoming common in writing. Alternatively (or in addition to the former) the Northumbrian dialect of Old English's third-person singular present indicative suffix, -s, may have eventually displaced the -eth suffix.
Suffix
-eth
- (archaic) Used to form the third-person singular present indicative of verbs.
- Pride goeth before a fall... The good Lord giveth and the good Lord taketh away...
- (humorous) Used broadly with various verb forms for ironic pseudoarchaic or pseudoecclesiastical effect.
See also
- (pseudoarchaic): -e
Etymology 2
From Middle English -th, -eth, -the, -ethe, from Old English -þa, -þe, -oþa, from Proto-Germanic *-þô, *-tô, *-udô, *-dô, from Proto-Indo-European *-tós.
Suffix
-eth
Middle English
Alternative forms
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