Obs. exc. dial. Also 9 dial. laith(e. [OE. lađian = OFris. lathia, ladia, OS. lađian, OHG. ladôn (MHG., mod.G. laden), ON. lađa, Goth. laþôn; cogn. w. Goth. laþaleikô willingly.] trans. To invite, call.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. iii. [v.] (1890), 160. Þonne laþode he hi þæt hi onfengan þam ʓeryne Cristes ʓeleafan.
c. 1050. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 429. Inuitat me, he me lathath.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 145. Ach him is wel þet is ilaðed from lutel weole to muchele.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 144. Eihte þinges nomeliche munegeð & laðieð us to wakien i sume gode.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 163. To þis frelych feste þat fele arn to called, For alle arn laþed luflyly.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 275. Hengistus callede or lathede by treason the kynge of Briteyne.
1859. Waugh, Poems & Lanc. Songs, II. (1870), 82. Aw’ll laithe a rook o’ neighbour lads.
Hence † Lather, one who invites or summons.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 235. An þesser laȝe of þe witȝin wer laðieres moche. Ibid., 237. An þisser beoð bedeles and laðieres. [Cf. laver, lavier (Pembrokesh.): see E. D. D.]
