Withs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Flexible twigs or slender branches used for binding or weaving; practical means or resources at one’s disposal; restraints or constraints that can be manipulated or adjusted
2. Thin, pliable shoots commonly utilized for crafting or securing objects; metaphorical tools or options available in a situation; adaptable restrictions or forces that can be shaped
3. Slender stems often employed for tying or weaving purposes; figurative instruments or faculties one possesses; modifiable confines or influences impacting action

Etymology: The word "withs" is simply the plural of "withe," a flexible twig or rod used for binding things together, such as bundling faggots of wood or tying thatch. The singular "withe" comes from Old English "wiþþe," which shares its root with the Old English "wiþ," meaning "against" or "toward." The link is one of physical use: a withe was a pliant shoot that could be twisted around something and used to hold it fast. The confusion with the preposition "with" is a matter of spelling rather than meaning. Both come from the same family of Old English words, but the preposition has taken on a very different life. Its earliest sense was opposition, "against," and only in Middle English did it shift toward meaning association, "together with," displacing the older preposition "mid." The noun "withe" kept its concrete sense and never made that journey.

Synonyms: willows, flexible branches