See Also: lithe(1)(dictionary)
lithe(2)(dictionary)
lithe(3)(dictionary)
lithe(4)(dictionary)
lithe(dictionary)

lithe(1) (iou)



lithe adjective & verb1.
[Old English liTe = Old Saxon liTi, Old High German lindi (German lind) soft, gentle, from West Germanic, from Germanic from Indo-European base also of Old Norse linr soft, yielding, Old English linnan LIN verb.]
A. adjective.
Of a person, action, etc.: gentle, meek, mild. Long Scot. rare. OE.
Of a thing: mild, soft; agreeable, mellow. obsolete exc. dial. OE.
b. Of weather: calm, serene. Of water: smooth, still. ME-L16.
c. Comfortable, sheltered. Scot. LME.
Easily bent, flexible; (of a person) supple, agile, (gracefully) slim and muscled. ME.
D. H. Lawrence He had that fine, lithe physique, suggestive of much animal vigour. V. Seth John..talking to a lithe nymphet.
Of broth etc.: smooth, thick. Chiefly dial. M17.
b. verb trans.
Make gentle or mild; assuage, relieve, soothe; make supple; subdue. OE-M17.
Make thick; thicken (broth etc.). Long Scot. rare. L17.
lithely adverb OE.
litheness noun ME.