Metynge

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic spelling of a coming together of people or things ; a gathering of people for a shared purpose
2. An old form of a chance encounter between individuals ; an assembly of people brought together for a common reason
3. A Middle English term for the act of coming face to face ; a formal or informal group of people convening in one place

Etymology: In Middle English, "metynge" was an older spelling of "meeting," and at first the noun meant the act of coming face to face or encountering someone. The sense of a gathering of people grew out of that encounter sense, so the word described the event of meeting before it described the crowd. The verb "meet" comes from Old English "mētan," and it is related to the Old English noun "gemōt," meaning an assembly or public gathering. That older noun is the source of "moot," which originally referred to a public assembly that debated community matters. A "moot point" was once a question argued in such a gathering.