idelhed

Middle English

Etymology

From ydel +‎ -hede.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈiːdəlheːd/

Noun

idelhed (uncountable)

(hapax) idleness, inactivity

Usage notes

The pronunciation with /eː/ is guaranteed by a rhyme with leod; this probably represents a dialectal pronunciation of the suffix -hede that existed besides the more usual pronunciation in /ɛː/.

Descendants

>? English: idlehead (obsolete)
- ⇒? English: idlehood
  - → Scots: ydelheid (calque)

References

“īdelhẹ̄d, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

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