ithand

The story

1. Old Norse · derived fromiðinn“assiduous, diligent”
2. Middle English · inherited fromithand
3. English todayithand

From Middle English ithand, an alteration (due to assimilation to suffix -and) of Middle English ithen (“diligent”), from Old Norse iðinn (“assiduous, diligent”), from iðja, iðna (“to do, perform”), from ið (“a restless motion”). Cognate with Icelandic iðinn (“diligent”), Norwegian idig (“busy”), Danish idelig (“continual”), and perhaps to English eddy.

Words from the same roots