† douth Obs.
(duːθ)
Forms: 1 duᵹuþ, -oð, 2–3 duȝeð, 3 duȝeþ(e, duheð(e, doȝeþ(e, doweþ, 4 douþ(e, duþ(e, douth.
[OE. duᵹuþ, -oþ worth, virtue, excellence, nobility, manhood, force, a force, an army, people, OFris. duged (MDu. döghet, Du. deugd), OHG. tugund, MHG. tugent, Ger. tugend virtue, ON. dygð virtue, probity (Sw. dygd; a Com. Germanic deriv. of dugan to be good or worth: see dow v.1]
1. Virtue, excellence, nobility, power, riches.
| a 1000 Hymns iii. 24 (Gr.) Ealra duᵹeða duᵹuð, drihten hælend! c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 103 Slewðe..bið eure unȝearu to elchere duȝeðe. a 1225 Juliana 5 Þe modi Maximien..heiende heaðene maumez..wið heh duheðe. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 177 in O.E. Misc. 112 Dowethes louerd. |
b. Good deed, benefit.
| a 1000 Crist 601 Secᵹen Dryhtne þonc duᵹuða ᵹehwylcre. c 1205 Lay. 10438 Þa duȝeðe þe he us dude whilen. |
2. Manhood.
| a 1000 Andreas 152 (Gr.) Todælan duᵹuðe and ᵹeoᵹoðe. a 1250 Owl & Night. 634 Lutle childre..Doþ al þat in heore ȝeoȝeþe þat hi forleteþ in heore duȝeþe. |
3. Men collectively; company; army, retinue.
| O.E. Chron. an. 626 Se cining..wæs ᵹefullod..mid eallum his duᵹoðe. a 1000 Cædmon's Exod. 91 (Gr.) Duᵹoþ Israhela. c 1205 Lay. 28005 Duȝeðe gon sturien. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 597 Þe dome of þe douþe for dedez of schame. Ibid. 1367 Vche duk wyth his duthe & oþer dere lordes. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1815 Þe douthe dressed to þe wod, er any day sprenged, to chace. a 1400–50 Alexander 2627 Sone as ser Darie þe deth of his douth sees. |
4. Comb., as duȝeðe-wiht, douth-king, douth-mon. Also duȝeðlice adv., virtuously, worthily.
| c 1205 Lay. 16844 Þat heo maȝen drihten duȝeðliche hærien. |