þéttan

þéttan is an Old English word, a masculine accusative singular form of the adjective *þétt*, meaning "tight," "dense," "thick," or "solid." Its etymology traces back to the Proto-Germanic *þihtaz*, which also conveyed meanings of closeness and solidity. In Old English literature, *þéttan* often appears in contexts describing physical substances, such as a *þéttan wudu* (thick wood) or *þéttan mist* (dense mist). It could also be used metaphorically to describe something closely knit or compact, like a *þéttan gefeoht* (close fight). The word's usage highlights the Germanic emphasis on concrete descriptions of physical properties. Modern English has descendants of *þétt* in words like "tight," though the direct form *þéttan* is no longer in common use. Understanding *þéttan* provides insight into the descriptive vocabulary of the Anglo-Saxons and their perception of the physical world.