mægþ

Alteration of earlier mæġeþ, with irregular syncope. See there for more.

• IPA^(key): /mæjθ/

mæġþ f

1. alternative form of mæġeþ

Consonant stem, irregular:

From mǣġ (“a relative”) +‎ -þ (suffix forming abstract nouns). Cognate with Old Norse mægð (“affinity by marriage”). Compare the formation of modern English kindred.

• mǣġeþ

• IPA^(key): /mæːjθ/

mǣġþ f

1. family, kindred
2. tribe, nation, province
   • late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History

     In ðā ilcan tīd wǣron in Ēastseaxna mǣġðe æfter Swiðhelme, bī þǣm wē ǣr beforan sǣġdon, tweġen cyningas Siġhere ⁊ Sebbe, þēah hē hēo Wulfhere Mercna cyninge underþēodde wǣren in hērnesse.

     At this time there were two kings in the nation of the East-Saxons, Sighere and Sebbe, who came after Swithhelm, whom we have mentioned before, though they were subjects of Wulfhere, king of Mercia.

Strong ō-stem:

• mǣġþmoþor
• mǣġþsibb

• → English: maegth (learned)

From Proto-Germanic *maigiþō (“shamelessness, wantonness, wickedness”), from *maigaz (“wicked, shameless”).

• ġemǣgþ, ġemægþ, ġemǣhþ

• IPA^(key): /mæːɡθ/, [mæːɣθ]

mǣgþ f

1. importunate desire; ambition; greed
2. power, greatness

• māh, ġemāh