"Doth it" is an archaic phrase primarily used in literature, meaning "does it." The spelling of "doth" is pronounced as /dʌθ/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The use of archaic language can add depth and character to a text, but it may also be difficult to understand for modern readers. In most contemporary writing, the phrase "does it" would be used instead of "doth it." However, in historical or fantasy novels, the use of archaic language can create a sense of timelessness and otherworldliness.
"Doth it" is the archaic third-person singular form of the verb "doth," which is derived from the Old English term "doth" or "dooth." The word "doth" is the present indicative form of the verb "do," and is mainly associated with formal or poetic language usage.
"Doth it" is an outdated usage that is rarely employed in modern English. It is predominantly found in older literature, particularly works from the Middle English period, including the works of Shakespeare and the King James Version of the Bible.
"Doth it" is used as a question or statement to express an action performed by someone or something in the present moment. The verb "doth" indicates the act of carrying out, performing, or executing a particular action. It functions as a present tense auxiliary verb, typically preceded by a noun or a pronoun.
For example, in the phrase "Doth it rain outside?", "doth" is used to ask if it is currently raining.
While "doth it" seems peculiar to modern speakers, its usage was common in the Middle English period and is seen as a significant part of the historical evolution of English. Today, the modern equivalent of "doth it" would be "does it," which is commonly used to express present indicative actions by the third-person singular.
The word "doth it" is a phrase rather than a single word, which consists of the verb "doth" and the pronoun "it". Therefore, we need to look at the etymology of each component separately.
1. Doth: The word "doth" is the third-person singular present form of the verb "do", which was commonly used in Early Modern English. It is derived from Old English "dōþ", which itself originated from the Proto-Germanic word "dēþi" meaning "does". Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the word evolved, and "doth" became the standard form used by speakers of Early Modern English.
2. It: The pronoun "it" can be traced back to Old English "hit", derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*hit", meaning "that, this".