Obs. Forms: 1 þiod, 1–3 þeod, 2 þiode, 2–4 þeode, þede, 4–5 thede, (4 þedd, 5 Sc. theid). [OE. þíod, péod OS. thioda, thiod, OFris. thiade, OHG. diota, MHG. diet, ON. þióð, Goth. þiuda:—OTeut. *peuðô, by Verner’s Law:—Indo-Eur. *teutá- fem.; cf. Lith. tautà, OIr. túath, Osc. touto, Sabine touta people.]
1. A people, race, nation.
855. O. E. Chron., an. 627. Her Edwine kyning wæs ʓefulwad mid his þeode on Eastron.
a. 1000. Hymns, viii. 9 (Gr.). We þe … þanciað, þioda waldend.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxi. 10. Þeod arist aʓen þeode.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 237. Þurh false godes þe ælc þiode ham selfe macede.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 115. Wa þere þeode þer þe king bið child.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3438. Tatt þeod wass hæþene þeod. Ibid., 16057. To spekenn wel Wiþþ alle þede spæchess.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2302. Quene he comen in vnkinde ðeden.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4177 (Cott.). Marchands of an vncuth thede.
c. 1400. Melayne, 1008. The chefe of hethyn thede.
b. pl. (biblical.) The nations, the Gentiles.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. x. 18. To kyningum & ʓeroefum ʓe bioþ ʓelædde … in cyþnisse [h]eora & þeodum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 96. Se þeoda lareow Paulus.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 241. Ur hlaford sanctes paulus þe is þeoden lareaw.
2. The district occupied by a people; a country.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 7. An hearpere wæs on ðære ðiode ðæt Ðracia hatte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5792 (Cott.). I sal þam bring … In-till a land, a wonsun thede.
13[?]. K. Alis. (Bodl. MS.), 7947. Þou shalt haue Perce, & Mede, And Babiloyne, þis riche þede.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1803. In thorps & in many thede þar ȝe þurȝe ride.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 174. All the wyis and welth he weildis in theid.
3. Comb., as thede-folk (OE. *þéod-folc), people of a country, natives. (The OE. combinations and derivatives were very numerous.)
c. 725. Charter of Nunna, in Birch, Cart. Sax., I. 211. On ðeodweʓ norð ofer þone weʓ.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr. xxix. 22. Þæt hi þiowien swilcum þiodfruman.
c. 1205. Lay., 26494. Þusende of þan þeod-folke.
