pl. tidings. Forms: see sense 2 below. [Late OE. tídung f., early ME. tiding, as if f. OE. tíd-an vb. to happen, befall + -ING1; but prob. ad. ON. tíðendi, -indi neut. pl., ‘events, occurrences, the reports of these, news, tidings,’ f. tíðr adj. happening, occurring + -endi, -indi, nominal suffix (see Vigfusson, Icel. Dict., xxxiii/1); thence MSw. tidhende event, occurrence, news, Sw. tidender m. pl., Norw. and Da. tidende n. sing. tidings. In form, late OE. tídung (obl. cases *tídunge (-a), pl. nom. -a (-e), gen. -a, dat. -um) might well be a deriv. of tíd-an, TIDE v.1; but the fact that, beside it, early ME. had also tíðende, -inde, tīthend, clearly from Norse, also tīðing(e, with Norse stem and Eng. suffix, and tīdende, G -inde, with Eng. stem and Norse suffix, together with the fact that the word is unknown to OE. before the late 11th or early 12th c., and is recorded first in the transferred sense ‘tidings,’ makes it probable that the whole group in Eng. was adopted from ON., in the north in the Norse form, in the south anglicized, in intervening districts with various mixtures of the two forms. It is noticeable that the English or fully anglicized form is that which happens to occur earliest in an extant writing, and also that which survives in mod.Eng., though the Norse type (with Eng. pl. -s) tithand(e)s, tithans, came down to 15th c. in north. Eng. and to 16–17th c. in Sc.
In ON. tíðindi is only plural; so Sw. tidender; in Norw. and Da. tidende is sing.; in early ME. tiðende was sing. or pl., with a tendency to make the sing. tiðend; the anglicized tídung, -ing, normally had the pl. *tídunga, tidinge; but, as in other fem. sbs., the -e of the oblique cases of the sing. was often taken by the nom. A single instance of pl. tiðenden occurs in the later text of Layamon; but from c. 1275 the plurals became tidinges and tithand(e)s. The existing form tidings is usually construed as pl., but sometimes as sing.: cf. news. Ger. zeitung, MHG. zîtunge (1321 in Niederrheinisch) = MLG. tidinge (1458 in Bremen Doc.), Du. tijding, which agree in form with Eng. tiding, are of later appearance, and by some held to be due to Scandinavian influence (Kluge).]
1. Something that happens; an event, incident, occurrence. Obs. or arch.
(This is the etymologically earlier sense; though not exemplified in Eng. quite so early as sense 2, it was no doubt current in the Danelaw district from the first. In the two late quots. a literalism of translation.)
c. 1205. Lay., 7543. Þa isæh Cesar tiðend þat him wes sær [c. 1275 tidinge þat was sor].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 628. How that this blisful tidyng [Petw. MS. tydyngges] is bifalle.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), V. vi. 411. In the delytes of paradyse is neuer founde ony varyacyon, alwayes in loue without tydynges.
1861. Dasent, Story of Burnt Njal, I. 107. It must be told what tidings [Icel. hvat tíðenda] happened at home. Ibid. (1864), Jest & Earnest (1873), II. 192. The tokens that are left of those tidings which happened there.
† b. Custom, usage. Obs. rare.
(Cf. ON. tíðr customary, habitual, that happens, tíðska custom, usage, fashion.)
c. 1205. Lay., 396. After þen heðene tidende [c. 1275 lawe] Þe wes in þan lande. Ibid., 2052 [see TIR]. Ibid., 14325 Hit beoð tiðende [c. 1275 þe wone] Inne Sæxe-londe … þat [etc.].
2. The announcement of an event or occurrence; a piece of news (now obs. or arch.); usually in pl. tidings, reports, news, intelligence, information.
α.1 Sing. 1–2 tídung, 3–4 tidinge, (3 tidding), 3–6 tydinge, 3–7 tyding, 4–5 tid-, tydyng(e, (5 tytynge), 2– tiding.
1069–1125. O. E. Chron., an. 995 (MS. F.). Ða wearþ se cing swyþe bliðe þissere tidunge.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2907. Moyses told hem ðis tidding.
c. 1275. Lay., 1376. Þe tiding com to Corineum, þat [etc.]. Ibid., 22323. Þe tyding com to þan kinge.
13[?]. Cursor M., 5114 (Gött.). Þis tyding his soru slake.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1424 (Hypsipyle & Medea). There was swich tydyng [v.rr. tidynge, tiding] oueral & swich loos.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 238. This tyding Of Jason.
a. 1400. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), 7979 (MS. B). Þer of com to normandie þe tydynge attelaste. Ibid., 9178 (MS. B). Tytynge him com Þat [etc.].
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1087. To me þis is a Ioyfull tydyng.
1620. I. V., trans. P. du Moulin’s Serm., 4. It is a blessed tyding of which Jesus Christ not only is the subject and substance, but also the bearer and proclaimer.
1879. L. Shepherd, trans. Guéranger’s Liturg. Year, I. vi. 68. At such a tiding as this, what else can I, than cry out,… Lord! I am not worthy.
α.2 Plural. 1 *tídunga (-e), 2–3 tid-, tydinge, tidynge, 3–4 tiding; 3–6 tid-, tydinges, -ynges, 4–6 -ingis, -yngys, -yngges, 5 tidenggez, 5–8 tydings, 6 tid-, tydyngs, Sc. -engs, 6– tidings.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 17. Ic scal iheren reuliche tidinge.
c. 1205. Lay., 3601. Þe swein … seide þas tidinge [c. 1275 þeos tiding]. Ibid. (c. 1275), 1038. Þeos tidinge him were loþe. Ibid., 8582. Þe tidinges him were lefue. Ibid., 24427. Many tidynge Mid Arthur þan kinge.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4877. Þe murþe … mad for þo tiding whan þei told were.
13[?]. Cursor M., 7798 (Gött.). I cum, to telle þe tydinges lele.
1486. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 54. Sir, as for tydings, here is but few.
1535. Coverdale, Jonah iii. 6. The tydinges came vnto ye kinge of Niniue.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 62. Her Son,… left at Jordan, tydings of him none.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, xlii. What news? what news? your tidings tell.
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos, I. ii. 13. Further tidings were anxiously awaited.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1875), III. xiii. 260. Perplexed for a moment by the suddenness of the tidings.
β.1 Sing. 3 tiðinge, (3 tiþingue), 4 teþinge, 4–5 tiþ-, tyþ-, tyth-, tith-, -ing, -yng(e, (6 teytheyng).
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 6/190. He seide þat one tiþingue to him fram is fader he brouȝte.
c. 1305. St. Lucy, 155, in E. E. P. (1862), 105. A ioyful teþinge ic ȝou telle.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 14. Þat Brittrik was dede him com tiþing.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 454. He wes blyþ off þat tithing.
1483. Cath. Angl., 389/1. To telle Tythynge, romificare.
1596. King & Barker, 62, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 7. Y know now teytheyng, the thanner seyde.
β.2 Pl. 2–3 tiðinge; 3–5 tiþ-, tithinges, 4 tethinges, 4–6 tyþ-, tyth-, tith-, -inges, -ynges, -yngus, -ingis, -ingys, 5 tithyngs, tythings, tithings.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 93. Ða iwearð þer muchel eie … on alle þam þat þeos tiðinge iherdon.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 31. Gode tiðinge and murie to heren.
c. 1290. Beket, 1493, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 149. Þo þeos tiþinges to þe kingue … cam.
c. 1300. Ibid., 695 (Percy S.), 34. Tethinges to the kinge come.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 198. Good tiþingis of þe kyngdom of hevene.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 119. When any tythings er herd in þe cuntree.
c. 1440. Partonope, 2697. Sone after haue they tithings.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., Prol. What tythinges or news.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 49. To zow thir tythingis trew I bring.
γ.1 Sing. 3 tiþennde (Orm.), tiðende, -end, -ind, 4–5 tythand(e, 4–6 tiþ-, tithand(e, (4 tyȝ-, tiȝand), 5 tiþond(e, (9 tithand).
c. 1200. Ormin, Ded. 158. Goddspell onn Ennglissh nemmnedd iss … god tiþennde.
c. 1205. Lay., 1376. Þa tiðind [c. 1275 tiding] com to Corineum þat [etc.]. Ibid., 7543. Þa isæh Cesar tiðend [c. 1275 tidinge] þat him wes sære.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12785. Þai sent þair messageres … To bring fra iohn certan tiþand [Fairf. tiþande, Trin. tiþond).
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 156. They … tolde the kynge hur tythande.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. vii. [vi.] 50. How now, Panthus, quhat tithand do ȝe bryng?
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 69. He’d got some tithand from the coast.
γ.2 Pl. 3 tiðende; -en; 4 tiþandus, (tyȝandes, tiþans), 4–5 tythandis, 4–6 tiþandis, -es, tythands, 5 tythandes, -andys, -ondys, tithands, -anndez, -aundes, 6 -indes, Sc. tythance.
c. 1205. Lay., 1038. Þæs tiðende [c. 1275 þeos tidinge] him weren læðe. Ibid., 13996. Heo sæiden to þan kinge neowe tiðenden.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, iii. 53. Þe galay men … thanked God of þir tiþandes.
13[?]. Cursor M., 15912 (Cott.). For tiþans þat war tald. Ibid., 10312 (Gött.). Þis angel … Broght him tyȝandes sua gode. Ibid., 3322 (Fairf.). Þe maydyn ranne hame tiþandus to tel.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxiii. 60. Som new tythandys.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 7802. Þe tithands went to many towns.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 105/32. This promis is the vangel or ioiful tithandis.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sag., 115. Of ȝour tythance I am richt wonder glaid.
a. 1584. Satir. Poems Reform., xx. 26. At me thay speir Quhat tythands in this land?
δ.1 Sing. 3 tidende, tidind, 4 tydand, -ant, 4–5 tydande, 5 tydond, tydynde.
c. 1205. Lay., 17466. Þat tidende com to þan kinge. Ibid. (c. 1275), 9936. Come þe tidind [c. 1205 þa tiðende] to Maurus þan kinge.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5005. Men tolde þe kyng tydant, þat Romayns were aryue on land. Ibid., 15936. Til hym cam ful smert tydande [rhyme on lande].
13[?]. Cursor M., 10417 (Gött.). Quen þat scho herd þis tydand [Cott. tiþand, Laud tydond, Trin. tiþonde].
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 15242. To telle him of her tydande.
c. 1460. Launfal, 838. Everych man therfore was wo That wyste of that tydynde.
δ.2 Pl. 3 tidinde, -ende; 5 tid-, tydandes, -is, -annes, tytandis, 6 Sc. tydinnis, tydance.
c. 1205. Lay., 3332. For ȝef ferrene kinges Hiherde þa tidinde. Ibid., 5139. Selcuðe tidende.
1451. Capgrave, St. Gilbert, 72. Þe grete fere þat he hadde þat he schuld her no euel tytandis of hem. Ibid., 115. The archbischop … saide he was glad of þese tydannes.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xvii. 65. All the maist cruell tydinnis fillis his eris.
a. 1585. Montgomerie, Flyting, 72. Wee will heir tydance … of thy pow.
ε. Sing. and pl. 3 þyþingue, 4 thiþand, (thyȝandez), 5 thythyng, -es, thiþynges, 6 -thingis.
c. 1290. St. Lucy, 157, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 105. Ane Ioyeful þyþingue ich eou telle.
13[?]. Cursor M., 10994 (Cott.). To þam he moght tell na thiþand [v.rr. tiþand, tiþond, tydond].
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1567. I ȝif the for thy thyȝandez Tolouse þe riche.
c. 1400. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), 4251. Hom com tydinge [MS. β. thiþynges].
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1538. When he herde thys thythyng.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 2279. Whar that al thithingis goith and cumyth son.
b. plural const. as singular.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 15912 (Fairf.). Tiþinges þat was talde.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 115. The tydings comes, that they are all arriu’d.
1619. W. Sclater, Exp. 1 Thess. (1638), 214. When tidings is brought us of Brethrens faultings.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxxv. 22. Jacob’s great amazement at this sad tidings.
1839. Carlyle, Chartism (1842), 48. The tidings was world-old, or older.
† c. fig. Indications, traces. Obs. rare.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 367. Where the bore had wonte to bee; Tydyngys of hym sone he fonde, Slayne men on every honde.
3. Comb., as tidings-bearer, -bringer, -bringing, -maker.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 493/2. Tydyngys berare, rumigerulus.
1483. Caxton, Cato, g vj b. Thou arte a lyar and a tydynges maker.
1526. Tindale, Acts xvii. 18. He semeth to be a tydynges brynger off new devyls [Coverd. goddes].
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. iv. 17. Then answered the tydinge bringer, & sayde: Israel is fled before the Philistynes.
1552. Huloet, Tidynges carier, renuncius, ij.
1632. Sherwood, A Tidings bringing, nunciation.
Hence Tidingless a., without tidings.
1822. Blackw. Mag., XI. 398. As tidingless returning as before.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. 430. Tidingless a while day passed by day.
