mithen

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English mīþan (“to hide, conceal; keep to oneself, dissemble; conceal oneself, remain concealed; avoid, shun, refrain from”). Cognate with Dutch mijden (“to avoid, evade”), German meiden (“to avoid, shun, forbear”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmiːðən/

Verb

mithen (third-person singular simple present mitheth, present participle mithende, mithynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle mithed)

  1. (transitive) To avoid; shun; evade.
  2. (transitive) To escape the notice of.
  3. (transitive) To conceal; dissemble (feelings, etc.).
    ca 1300, w:Cursor Mundi, line 10942
    Þof þat þai mournand were, Þai mithed it mikel wit þair chere ("Though they were mouning, they hid it much with their cheer". See also this version.)
  4. (intransitive) To remain concealed; escape notice

Conjugation

Conjugation of mithen (weak in -ed)
infinitive (to) mithen, mithe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular mithe mithed
2nd-person singular mithest mithedest
3rd-person singular mitheth mithed
subjunctive singular mithe
imperative singular —
plural1 mithen, mithe mitheden, mithede
imperative plural mitheth, mithe —
participles mithynge, mithende mithed, ymithed

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

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