kith

Etymology

From Middle English kith (“kinsmen, relations”), from Old English cȳþþ, cȳþþu (“kinship, kinsfolk, relations”), from Proto-Germanic *kunþiþō (“knowledge, acquaintance”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”). Cognate with Old High German kundida (“kith”), kundī (“knowledge”), Gothic 𐌺𐌿𐌽𐌸𐌹 (kunþi, “knowledge”). More at couth, -th.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɪθ/

  Rhymes: -ɪθ

Noun

kith (usually uncountable, plural kiths)

1. (archaic or obsolete) friends and acquaintances
   • 2000 August 3, Michael Kelly, “New Hope For Nice Guys”, in Orlando Sentinel‎, retrieved 2013-04-06:

     The demography-crossing thing that undergirds this election year, I think, is a strong, broad desire to punish Clinton and his kith with a denial of further power.

2. (Northern England and Scotland, rural) An acquaintance or a friend

Etymology

Variant of kic to bite.

Noun

kith m

1. veil of mystery

Alternative forms

• (Early ME) cyððe, cuððe, cuþþe, kuþþe
• kyth, kiþ, kiþþe, kythe, kuythe, kiththe, kyþe

Etymology

From Old English cȳþþ, cȳþþu, from Proto-Germanic *kunþiþō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kiθ/, /ˈkið(ə)/, /kuθ/, /ˈkuð(ə)/

Noun

kith (plural kithes)

1. One's motherland or birthplace; the region or territory where one belongs
2. One's kin, ethnicity, or lineage; the people one belongs to.
3. One's descendant; a person from one's line.
4. Relation; connection by blood, heritage.
5. (rare) learning, facts
6. (rare) tradition, good manners.
7. (rare) The state of knowing someone.