FromMiddle Englishdrihten, fromOld Englishdryhten(“a ruler, king, lord, prince, the supreme ruler, the Lord, God, Christ”), fromProto-West Germanic*druhtin, fromProto-Germanic*druhtinaz(“leader, chief, lord”), fromProto-Indo-European*dʰrewgʰ-(“to hold, hold fast, support”), equivalent todright(“army, host”) +-en. Cognate withScotsdrichtin,drichtine(“lord, the Lord”), and withOld Frisiandrochten(“lord”),Old Saxondrohtin(“lord”),Old High Germantruhtin,Middle High Germantruhten,trohten(“ruler, lord”) (dialectalGermanTrechtin,Trechtein(“lord, God”)),Danishdrot(“king”),Swedishdrott(“king, ruler, sovereign”),Icelandicdróttinn(“hero, ruler, lord”),Finnishruhtinas(“sovereign prince”). Related also toOld Englishdryht(“a multitude, an army, company, body of retainers, nation, a people, men”),Old Englishġedryht(“fortune, fate”),Old Englishdrēogan(“to serve in the military, endure”). More atdree.
drighten (pluraldrightens)