Mede
/miːd/noun
An archaic or poetic form of “meed,” meaning a reward or recompense.
Did you know?In Old English heroic poetry, mēd was not merely money but the honor, treasure, or status granted for loyal service—especially by a lord to a warrior.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*misdʰeh₂
“A payment, reward, or compensation”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*mizdō
“A reward or payment for service”
Old English
Old English
mēd
“Reward, gift, or recompense”
Middle English
Middle English
mede
“Reward, merit, or recompense”
14th–15th Century
English
mede
“An archaic poetic spelling of “meed””
Modern English
English
meed
“A deserved reward; “mede” survives mainly in historical or poetic usage”