ident

ident · adjective¹

1. Old Norse · derived fromiðinn“assiduous, diligent”
2. Middle English · derived fromithen
3. English todayident

From a later form of ithand, itself an alteration (due to assimilation to suffix -and) of Middle English ithen, from Old Norse iðinn (“assiduous, diligent”), from iðja, iðna (“to do, perform”), from ið (“a restless motion”), equivalent to ithe + -and and/or ithe + -en. Cognate with Icelandic iðinn (“diligent”), Norwegian idig (“busy”), Danish id (“pursuit, calling, business”). More at ithand.

ident · noun²

A shortened form of identification.

ident · verb³

A shortened form of identify.

Words from the same roots