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

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