The spelling of the word "doeth bidding" is quite unusual and may cause confusion for those unfamiliar with Middle English. The word "doeth" is spelled with the archaic letter "eth," which signifies the third-person present tense form of "do." Meanwhile, "bidding" is spelled with "-ing," instead of the modern "-ing" suffix. It is pronounced as /dʊθ ˈbɪdɪŋ/, where the "th" denotes a voiced dental fricative sound and the stress falls on the second syllable.
The phrase "doeth bidding" is formed by combining the archaic form of the verb "doeth," derived from "do," and the noun "bidding." It carries a historical and somewhat poetic connotation, primarily associated with the language of the King James Bible and other older texts.
"Doeth" is the third-person singular present form of "do" in early modern English. It signifies the act of performing or executing an action, often used to refer to someone accomplishing tasks or carrying out an assigned duty. "Bidding," on the other hand, refers to a command, order, or instruction given by another person, usually with the expectation of obedience or compliance.
When combined, "doeth bidding" means willingly or dutifully undertaking or fulfilling the commands or requests of someone else. It conveys the notion of obedience, loyalty, or acceptance of authority. This phrase implies a sense of submission, suggesting that the individual who "doeth bidding" is willingly responding to the wishes or desires of another, regardless of their own desires or preferences.
In contemporary usage, the term "doeth bidding" is rarely employed, as it belongs to an older form of English. However, its essence can still be found in modern expressions such as "carrying out orders" or "fulfilling demands."
The phrase "doeth bidding" can be analyzed by examining the etymology of its individual words:
1. "Doeth" is the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb "do" in Middle English. It originated from the Old English word "déð" and stems from the Proto-Germanic word "*dōną". This can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*dhe-", meaning "to set, put".
2. "Bidding" is a noun form of the verb "bid" and ultimately comes from the Old English word "biddan". It can be linked to the Proto-Germanic word "*bidjaną", which means "to ask, entreat". This word finds its origin in the Proto-Indo-European root "*gʷʰedʰ-", meaning "to request, pray".