Edith

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A female forename of Old English origin, historically borne by English queens and saints
2. A woman's personal name derived from Anglo-Saxon elements meaning wealth and strife
3. A female given name common in English-speaking cultures, particularly from medieval times onward

Etymology: Edith is a given name rather than a common word, and its roots lie in Old English. It descends from "Ēadġȳþ," formed from two Germanic elements: "audaz," meaning wealth or riches, and "gunþiz," meaning battle. Together the name suggests a warrior bringing or possessing wealth, the kind of compound that Anglo-Saxon families often built from pairs of meaningful elements. The name was borne by Saint Edith of Wilton, a tenth-century English saint, which helped keep it in use through the medieval period. Her association with the name is the most notable historical link. Her sister-in-law, Saint Edith of Polesworth, was also venerated, and the name remained a feature of English naming tradition from that point on.