kith

[ kith ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. acquaintances, friends, neighbors, or the like; persons living in the same general locality and forming a more or less cohesive group.
2. kindred ( def 1 ).
3. a group of people living in the same area and forming a culture with a common language, customs, economy, etc., usually endogamous.

kith

/ kɪθ /

noun

1. one's friends and acquaintances (esp in the phrase kith and kin )

Word History and Origins

Origin of kith¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cȳth, earlier cȳththu “kinship, knowledge,” equivalent to cūth couth ² + -thu -th ¹; akin to Gothic kunthi, German Kunde “knowledge”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kith¹

Old English cӯthth, from cūth; see uncouth

Example Sentences

Poor working women had been doing this for some time, relying on “kith and kin” for child care in particular.

From Vox

Then spake the Earl to that man whose name 118 some say was Fin, but as others have it was of Finnish kith and kin.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not as relations; Bernard Harper's descendants are neither kith nor kin of mine, and this must be understood.'

From Project Gutenberg

Unstring thy strong bows for the sake of our liberal lords, O bounteous Rudra, be gracious to our kith and kin.

From Project Gutenberg

A thousand medicines are thine, O thou who art freely accessible; do not hurt us through our kith and kin!

From Project Gutenberg

I remember hearing of a match at Ottery, where he was one of an eleven of Coleridge kith and kin against the rest of Devon.

From Project Gutenberg