ithand

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English ithand, an alteration (due to assimilation to suffix -and) of Middle English ithen, from Old Norse iðinn (assiduous, diligent), from iðja, iðna (to do, perform), from (a restless motion), equivalent to ithe + -and and/or ithe + -en. Cognate with Icelandic iðinn (diligent), Norwegian idig (busy), Danish idelig (continual), and perhaps to English eddy.

Adjective

ithand (comparative more ithand, superlative most ithand)

  1. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Industrious; assiduous; continually busy; diligent.
  2. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Plodding; constant; continual.
  3. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland, of mental or moral qualities) Conscientious; considerate; watchful; careful; attentive.
  4. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland, usually of weather) Continuous; persistent.

Derived terms

  • ithandly
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.