Dought

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An obsolete past tense of the verb dow, meaning was able to do something or had the strength for it
2. Archaic simple past form of the old verb dow, used to say someone was capable or strong enough to act
3. A rare historical past form of dow, indicating that a person had been able or competent to accomplish a task

Etymology: "Dought" is the past tense of the Old English verb "dugan," meaning "to avail" or "be of use." Its first and third person singular past was "dohte," which Middle English turned into "doghte." The form lasted for centuries as a plain verb form, long after the verb itself had faded from everyday speech. The modern spelling is a back-formation from "doughty," so the form was shaped backward from that adjective rather than inherited directly in its current shape. Scots keeps a close relative in "doucht," from "douchty," and the whole group is related to "dow," meaning to be able or to thrive.