derthe

== Middle English == === Alternative forms === derth, derþ, derþe, dierþe, dyrthe === Etymology === From West Saxon Old English *dīerþ, *dīerþu and Old English *dēorþ, *dēorþu, from Proto-West Germanic *diuriþu, from Proto-Germanic *diuriþō; equivalent to dere +‎ -the (abstract nominal suffix). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈdɛrθ(ə)/, /ˈdirθ(ə)/, /ˈdɛ̝ːrθ(ə)/, /ˈdeːrθ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/ (Late ME also) IPA(key): /ˈdarθ(ə)/ === Noun === derthe (uncountable) A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine. (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply (of a specified thing) (rare) Amazingness, success, magnificence. ==== Descendants ==== English: dearth Scots: dearth, darth, deart, daart ==== References ==== “derth(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 30 June 2019.