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)

  1. 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
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