Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A letter (capital Ð, small ð) introduced into Old English to represent its dental fricative, then not distinguished from the letter thorn, no longer used in English but still in modern use in Icelandic, Faroese, and phonetics to represent the voiced dental fricative "th" sound as in the English word then.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

The sound /ɛ/ followed by the sound of the letter, by analogy with other letter names, such as those of f, l, and m.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word eth.

Examples

  • Basically the only "medieval" joke is ending every verb in "eth," such as in the phrase, "I bloggeth about SpongeBob and expresseth my horror at how bad the episode was."

    Medieval SpongeBob Richard Nokes 2006

  • I was pleased to see that it has survived in modern Icelandic, together with its confrere, the letter "ð", known as eth and used to represent the same sounds in those ancient languages.

    Holyrood Chronicles 2008

  • However, many wireless cards are assigned and work properly with the device name eth (x).

    PCLinuxOS-Forums 2008

  • Ethoxylated chemicals: Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate, PEGs, ceteareth-20 and other chemicals with "eth" in the name are often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a probable human carcinogen that may also be toxic to the kidneys, brain and respiratory system, according to the California EPA.

    Marcia G. Yerman: What Price Beauty? New Legislation Seeks Safety Regulations 2010

  • Ethoxylated chemicals: Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate, PEGs, ceteareth-20 and other chemicals with "eth" in the name are often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a probable human carcinogen that may also be toxic to the kidneys, brain and respiratory system, according to the California EPA.

    Marcia G. Yerman: What Price Beauty? New Legislation Seeks Safety Regulations 2010

  • From Caleb, teaching Anda to read: "TH is called 'eth'; SH is called 'esh'; CH is called 'etch'."

    Kids say funny things Becca 2006

  • From Caleb, teaching Anda to read: "TH is called 'eth'; SH is called 'esh'; CH is called 'etch'."

    Archive 2006-10-01 Becca 2006

  • PEG compounds (e.g. PEG-60): Look also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol).

    Ottawa Sun 2010

  • PEG compounds (e.g. PEG-60): Look also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol).

    Ottawa Sun 2010

  • When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).

    The National Ledger - News 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • The name of the Old English/Icelandic letter �? ð

    June 16, 2008

  • Thith ith how people with lithpth thay "S".

    July 11, 2008

  • Lisp, itself, is such a cruel word :-(((((

    July 11, 2008