Dought
/dɔːt/noun
An archaic past tense of “dow,” meaning was able, was useful, or availed.
Did you know?Dought survives in “doughty,” meaning brave and resolute, preserving the old association between usefulness, strength, and heroic power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeugʰ-
“To be fit, suitable, useful, or of worth.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*duganą
“To be good, be suitable, or be of use.”
Old English
Old English
dugan
“To be worth something, be useful, or have power.”
Old English
Old English
dōhte
“Was useful, availed, or was able; the past form of dugan.”
Middle English
Middle English
dought
“Was able, could, or was of service.”
Modern English
English
dought
“An obsolete or archaic form meaning was able or availed; preserved chiefly in historical and poetic writing.”