cither

C3I1T1H4E1R1
UK/ˈsɪθə/US/ˈsɪθɚ/

A form of cittern — A stringed instrument (chordophone), played with a plectrum (a pick), and most commonly possessing four wire strings and chromatic frets, which is a precursor to the modern day guitar.

Similar
zitherzitherncitterncitherncitolegittern
OriginLatin cithara ← Ancient Greek κιθάρα →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nouncither (plural cithers)

plural cithers

  1. alternativeAlternative form of cittern.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers

Similar
zitherzithern
Broader
stringed instrument

nouna 16th century musical instrument resembling a guitar with a pear-shaped soundbox and wire strings

Similar
citterncitherncitolegittern
Broader
guitar
Also see
citolecitterngitternzitherzithern

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκιθάρα
  2. Latincithara
  3. Englishcither

From Latin cithara, from Ancient Greek κιθάρα (kithára). Doublet of cithara, guitar, and zither.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

thriceTrichecerithrheticitcher
Cite this entry
APA

cither. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cither

MLA

“cither.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cither. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cither,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cither.

Source: cither on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.