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Definition 2024

ithand

ithand

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

ithand ‎(comparative more ithand, superlative most ithand)

  1. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Industrious; assiduous; continually busy; diligent.
  2. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Plodding; constant; continual.
  3. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland, of mental or moral qualities) Conscientious; considerate; watchful; careful; attentive.
  4. (Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland, usually of weather) Continuous; persistent.

Derived terms

  • ithandly

Etymology

From Middle English ithand, an alteration (due to assimilation to suffix -and) of Middle English ithen, from Old Norse iðinn ‎(“assiduous, diligent”), from iðja, iðna ‎(“to do, perform”), from ið ‎(“a restless motion”), equivalent to ithe +‎ -and and/or ithe +‎ -en. Cognate with Icelandic iðinn ‎(“diligent”), Norwegian idig ‎(“busy”), Danish idelig ‎(“continual”), and perhaps to English eddy.

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