tithe
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /taɪð/
rhymes: -aɪð
Forms: form: tithes
Etymology: From Middle English tithe, tythe, tethe, from Old English tēoþa, tēoða, teogoþa (in verb senses via Middle English tithen, tythen, tethen, from Old English tēoþian, teogoþian), from a proposed Proto-Germanic *tehunþô, *tehundô (“a tenth”), with its nasal consonant being lost according to the Ingvaeonic nasal spirant law. Cognate with West Frisian tsiende (“tithe”), Saterland Frisian Teeged (“tithe”), Dutch tiende, German Low German Teihnte, German Zehnt (“tithe”), Danish tiende (“tithe”), Icelandic tíund (“tithe”), Dutch tiende (“tithe”).
Senses: examples: text: But really that gold was not half
That a king might have hoped to compel—
Not a half, not a third, not a tithe.
ref: 1936, Robert Frost, “The Vindictives”, in A Further Range:
glosses: A tenth.
examples: text: For this is abundantly confuted by the Constitutions and Practice of these Christian States where Tithes have been variously settled, for maintenance of the Evangelical Priest-hood ; and other pious Uses, by legal and civil Tithes, which imply a Debitum Justitiæ.
ref: 1705, William Forbes, A Treatise of Church-lands & Tithes, page 284:
text: That there is and from time immemorial has been within that part of the parish called Mablethorpe St. Mary's a laudable custom that, if any outdweller take ancient pasture ground, he shall pay a modus of 4d. an acre, and so in proportion, on the 1st of August, in lieu of all manner of tithe; and that if any of the ancient pasture be once ploughed up or meadowed, it shall, when restored to pasture again, pay 4d. the acre in the hands of such outdweller.
ref: 1917, The English Reports: Exchequer, page 789:
synonyms: word: decim
word: decima
english: Italian contexts
translation: Italian contexts
word: decimate
word: decimation
word: tithing
word: titheling
glosses: The tenth part of the increase arising from the profits of land and stock, allotted to the clergy for their support, as in England, or devoted to religious or charitable uses; a tax taking ten percent of land or stock profits, used for religious or charitable purposes.
glosses: A contribution to one's religious community or congregation of worship (notably to the LDS church).
examples: text: Prayers and calling-over seemed twice as short as usual, and before they could get construes of a tithe of the hard passages marked in the margin of their books, they were all seated round, and the Doctor was standing in the middle, talking in whispers to the master.
ref: 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
text: I scarcely know any thing that really interests me, and I would give a great deal not to be so quick-sighted as I am; it would be so pleasant to believe only a tithe of the professions that are made me.
ref: 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Presentiment”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 126:
glosses: A small part or proportion.
Derived terms: Saladin tithe
tithe barn
titheless
titheling
titheman
tithe-man
tithe-payer
tithe-pig
tithe proctor
tithe-proctor
tither
tithing
Related terms: english: levier or collector of a tithe
translation: levier or collector of a tithe
word: tithe proctor