maþum
Old English
Alternative forms
- māþm
- māþþum
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *maiþmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *moītmos, from *moīt- (“to exchange”). Cognate with Old Saxon mēðom, Old Norse meiðmar (“valuables”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌼𐍃 (maiþms). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Latin mūtāre (“to exchange”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmɑːðum/
Noun
māþum m (nominative plural māþmas)
- precious or valuable thing, treasure, object of value, jewel, ornament, gift
- Máððum óðres weorp, gold mon sceal gifan. — Treasures of others are cast away, gold must be given.
Descendants
- Middle English: madmes
- English: mathom