English

Alternative forms

• sithe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /siːθ/
• Rhymes: -iːθ

Noun

sith ‎(plural siths)

1. (obsolete) A journey, way.
   • The Towneley Plays (1460-1500)ː

     The holy ghost […] on his sith.

2. (obsolete) One's journey of life, experience, one's lot, also by extension life, lifetime.

   Christ's sith of sorrow and suffering.‎

3. (obsolete) A time, a point in time or an occasion.
   • Secretum Secretorum in Ashmoleː

     Of them the other philosophers have, by siths, taken their beginning.

   • Spenser (1590)

     The foolish man.. humbly thanked him a thousand siths.

   • Hall (1598)

     He.. wishes for home a thousand siths a day.

Usage notes

"Sith" fell out of common usage in the 16th century. 14th and 15th century mentions are plentiful and the presence of this word in such works as The Towneley Plays (which were performed up until the latter half of the 16th century) indicates that the word was still probably in use throughout the first half of the 16th century, mostly in various idioms and set expressions. The phrase "by siths" used to mean at times, sometimes.

References

• The Middle English Dictionary
• The Dictionary of Early English

Etymology 2

Short for sithen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪθ/

Conjunction

sith

1. (archaic) since.
   • 1602 : Hamlet by William Shakespeare, act 2 scene 2 lines 6-7

     Sith nor th'exterior nor the inward man / Resembles that it was.

   • Latimer

     We need not fear them, sith Christ is with us.

   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Ezekiel 35:6:

     Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.

Anagrams

• hist , Hist, hits, ****, this, tish, Tish