What does tiding mean?
The word 'tiding' refers to a piece of news or intelligence, often conveyed through formal or official channels. It is commonly used in the plural form 'tidings', which can imply a sense of anticipation or expectation. For instance, 'The villagers awaited tidings of the king's return from the war.' The term can also be used to describe a report or announcement of an event or situation, such as 'The company will issue tidings of their financial report next week.' While somewhat archaic, 'tiding' remains a useful word for adding a touch of formality or elegance to one's language. Its usage is often found in literary or historical contexts, where it can help to create a sense of atmosphere or period authenticity.
nounTiding refers to a piece of news or intelligence, often used in the plural form 'tidings'. It can also imply a report or announcement of an event or situation.
- A piece of news or intelligence
- A report or announcement of an event or situation
"The villagers awaited tidings of the king's return from the war."
"The villagers awaited tidings of the king's return from the war."
"The company will issue tidings of their financial report next week."
Used as a countable or collective noun, often in formal or literary contexts.
"The villagers received tidings of the king's victory in the war."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tiding
The word 'tiding' originates from Old English 'tīding', which is derived from 'tīdan', meaning 'to tell' or 'to make known'. It has historical connections to the Proto-Germanic '*tōdiz' and Proto-Indo-European '*deh₁-', both related to concepts of showing or indicating. Cognates include Modern German 'Zeitung', meaning 'newspaper'.
Usage notes
Often used in the plural form 'tidings', which can be countable or collective. Formal or literary usage.