mither

English

WOTD – 21 July 2012

Etymology 1

Late 17th century, unknown origin, possibly Welsh moedrodd to worry or bother. Possible alternative from the Welsh meidda (“to beg for whey”) or perhaps meiddio (“to dare or venture”). Bear in mind that the "dd" in Welsh corresponds in sound to the "th" in mither, and English also has moider and moither.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmaɪðəɹ/

Verb

mither (third-person singular simple present mithers, present participle mithering, simple past and past participle mithered)

  1. (intransitive, Northern England) To make an unnecessary fuss, moan, bother.
  2. (transitive) To pester or irritate someone. Usually directed at children.
    Will you stop mithering me!
Translations

Etymology 2

Late variant of Old English mōdor.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmɪðəɹ/

Noun

mither (plural mithers)

  1. (Scotland and Northern England) mother

Anagrams

Norman

Etymology

From Old French mirer (“to look at; to watch”), from Latin mīror, mīrārī (“be amazed at”).

Pronunciation

  • Audio (Jersey)(file)

Verb

mither

  1. (Jersey, reflexive, s'mither) to look at oneself in the mirror

Scots

Etymology

Variant of mother, from Old English mōdor. Compare moder.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈmɪðər]
  • (Mid Northern Scots, Shetlandic) IPA(key): [ˈmɪdər]

Noun

mither (plural mithers)

  1. mother

Derived terms

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