WordGarden.iokith
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˈɪθ/
US
- /kˈɪθ/
Meanings
Noun
friends, acquaintances, and familiar people
Beyond the definition
"Kith" is an old-fashioned word for the people you know well, especially friends, neighbors, and others from your community. It has a familiar, human feel, as if it points to the circle of people around you who are part of your everyday world. Unlike "kin," which means family, "kith" refers to people connected to you through friendship, familiarity, or shared place. Today, you will most often see it in the phrase "kith and kin," a poetic way of talking about the people close to you, both friends and family.
The word "kith" refers to the people one knows well, especially friends, neighbors, and familiar members of a community. It comes from an Old English root linked to knowledge and familiarity, which helps explain its sense of closeness and recognition.
Unlike "kin," which refers to family or relatives, "kith" points to people connected to you through friendship, neighborhood, or shared life in a place. It does not necessarily mean an intimate inner circle, but rather those who are known and familiar to you. In older uses, the word could also relate to one's native place, country, or the customs one knew well, though that sense is now rare.
While it is uncommon in everyday modern English, "kith" still appears in literary, historical, or formal writing. Most often, it shows up in the phrase "kith and kin," where it is paired with "kin" to mean the people one knows and the family one belongs to. When used on its own, it carries a slightly poetic tone and suggests a world of familiar human ties built not only through blood, but also through shared life and community.
Examples
- 1
Homesickness
After ten years abroad, she missed her kith and kin back home.
- Usagekith and kin
friends and family; this is the common modern phrase
- 2
Wedding
The wedding was small, with only close kith and kin around the table.
- 3
Literary use
He left the valley and all his kith behind to start a new life in the city.
- Usage
kith alone is rare and sounds old-fashioned or literary
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- kith and kin
- one's kith and kin
Explore
- social circle
- community
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- kithnoun