tithe

plural tithes

1. archaicA tenth.

   But really that gold was not half That a king might have hoped to compel— Not a half, not a third, not a tithe.

   1936, Robert Frost, “The Vindictives”, in A Further Range

2. historicalThe tenth part of the increase arising from the profits of land and stock, allotted to the clergy for their support, as in England, or devoted to religious or charitable uses; a tax taking ten percent of land or stock profits, used for religious or charitable purposes.

   For this is abundantly confuted by the Constitutions and Practice of these Christian States where Tithes have been variously settled, for maintenance of the Evangelical Priest-hood ; and other pious Uses, by legal and civil Tithes, which imply a Debitum Justitiæ.

   1705, William Forbes, A Treatise of Church-lands & Tithes, page 284

   1 more example

   That there is and from time immemorial has been within that part of the parish called Mablethorpe St. Mary's a laudable custom that, if any outdweller take ancient pasture ground, he shall pay a modus of 4d. an acre, and so in proportion, on the 1st of August, in lieu of all manner of tithe; and that if any of the ancient pasture be once ploughed up or meadowed, it shall, when restored to pasture again, pay 4d. the acre in the hands of such outdweller.

   1917, The English Reports: Exchequer, page 789

   Synonyms: decim, decima, decimate, decimation, tithing, titheling

3. A contribution to one's religious community or congregation of worship (notably to the LDS church).
4. A small part or proportion.

   I scarcely know any thing that really interests me, and I would give a great deal not to be so quick-sighted as I am; it would be so pleasant to believe only a tithe of the professions that are made me.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Presentiment”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 126

   1 more example

   Prayers and calling-over seemed twice as short as usual, and before they could get construes of a tithe of the hard passages marked in the margin of their books, they were all seated round, and the Doctor was standing in the middle, talking in whispers to the master.

   1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

1. archaicnot comparableTenth.

   Euery tythe ſoule, 'mongſt many thouſand diſmes,

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

present singular third person tithes · participle present tithing · participle past tithed · past tithed

1. To give one-tenth or a tithe of something
   1. transitiveTo pay something as a tithe.

      He teoðode gynd eall his cyne rice ðone teoðan del ealra his landa.

      854, "Grant by Adulf" in Cartularium Saxonicum, Book ii, 79

      1 more example

      A reply sent to a young member by the sect's letter-answering department was more precise: ‘A person working for wages is to tithe one-tenth of the total amount of his wages before income tax, national health, or other deductions are removed.’

      1967 August 6, Observer, section 4

   2. transitiveTo pay a tithe upon something.

      ...ge tiogoðiað eowre mintan & eowerne dile & eowerne kymen.

      c. 897, King Alfred translating St Gregory, Pastoral Care, Chapter lvii

      2 more examples

      The maner of tiething pigge and gose is, yf one have vijᵗʰ, to pay one.

      1562, F.J. Furnivall, editor, Child-marriages... in the Diocese of Chester A.D. 1561-6, page 138

      Here with the sacred money [Xenophon] built an altar and a temple, and ever after, year by year, tithed the fruits of the land in their season and did sacrifice to the goddess.

      1901, Xenophon, translated by H.G. Dakyns, Anabasis, Book V, Chapter iii, §9

   3. intransitiveTo pay a tithe; to pay a 10% tax

      Þe prest þe meneȝeð rihtliche teðien.

      a. 1200, Trinity College Homilies, 215

      1 more example

      They went to the Six Hickories church—tithed—and behaved themselves.

      1942 September, Esquire, page 174

      Synonyms: decimate

   4. figurativelyintransitiveTo pay or offer as a levy in the manner of a tithe or religious tax.

      Former Southern officers prospered and tithed up to 50 percent for Civil War II, which never came.

      1976 June 20, Billings Gazette, C1

      1 more example

      These slaves are either the sonnes of Christians, tithed in their childhoods, Captives taken in the warres, or Renegadoes.

      1630, Anonymous translation of Giovanni Botero, anonymously translated as Relations of the Most Famous Kingdomes and Common-wealths, p. 510

2. To take one-tenth or a tithe of something, particularly

   gif we teoðiað þas gearlican dagas, þonne beoð þær six and ðritig teoðing-dagas.

   c. 1000, Ælfric, Homilies, Vol. I, 178

3. To take one-tenth or a tithe of something
   1. transitiveTo impose a tithe upon someone or something.

      Leeuy, that took tithis, is tithid.

      1382, Wycliffite Bible, Hebrews 7:9

      1 more example

      The cost... has been defrayed by tithing the whole Mormon Church. Those who reside at Nauvoo... have been obliged to work every tenth day in quarrying stone.

      1843, Frederick Marryat, chapter XI, in Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in California, Sonora, & Western Texas, volume III, page 212

   2. transitiveTo spare only every tenth person, killing the rest (usually in relation to the sacking of the episcopal seat at Canterbury by the pagan Danes in 1011).

      The multitude are tith'd, and every tenth only spar'd.

      1670, John Milton, The History of Britain, vi, 256

      1 more example

      Þe folk of Crist was tiþed, þat is to seie, nyne slayn and þe tenþe i-kepte.

      1387, Ranulf Higden, translated by John de Trevisa, Polychronicon, VII, 89

   3. transitiveTo enforce or collect a tithe upon someone or something.

      When the parson or Procter commeth to tythe his wooll.

      a. 1642, Henry Best, The Farming and Memorandum Books of Henry Best of Elmswell, published 1984, page 26

      1 more example

      The Monkes the Priors and holy cloystred Nunnes, Are all in health,...

      1591, The Troublesome Raigne of Iohn King of England, i, G

      Synonyms: decimate, tithe out

   4. obsoletetransitiveTo decimate: to kill every tenth person, usually as a military punishment.

      By decimation, and a tithed death, / ... take thou the destin'd tenth

      1606, William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens

      2 more examples

      The Thebane Legion... was first tithed, that is, every tenth man thereof was executed.

      1609, A. Marcellinus, translated by Philemon Holland, The Romane Historie, D, iii

      Keeping aliue... two principall persons, that they might be tithed with the soldiors... Every tenth man of the Normans they chose out by lot, to be executed.

      1610, William Camden, translated by Philemon Holland, A Chorographicall Description of... England, Scotland, and Ireland, i, 705

      Synonyms: decimate

   5. intransitiveTo enforce or collect a tithe.

      Those who tithe and toll upon them for their spiritual and temporal benefit.

      1822, Thomas Love Peacock, chapter VI, in Maid Marian, page 210

4. obsoletetransitiveTo compose the tenth part of something.

   Her sorrowes did not tith her ioy.

   1586, William Warner, Albions England: A Continued Historie, i, v, 15