Tidings

Ti"dings (?), n. pl. [OE. tidinge, ti?inge, tidinde, from or influenced by Icel. tī?indi; akin to Dan. tidende, Sw. tidning, G. zeung, AS. tīdan to happen, E. betide, tide. See Tide, v. i. & n.] Account of what has taken place, and was not before known; news.

I shall make my master glad with these tidings.

Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned.

☞ Although tidings is plural in form, it has been used also as a singular. By Shakespeare it was used indiscriminately as a singular or plural.

Now near the tidings of our comfort is.

Tidings to the contrary
Are brought your eyes.

Syn. -- News; advice; information; intelligence. -- Tidings, News. The term news denotes recent intelligence from any quarter; the term tidings denotes intelligence expected from a particular quarter, showing what has there betided. We may be indifferent as to news, but are always more or less interested in tidings. We read the news daily; we wait for tidings respecting an absent friend or an impending battle. We may be curious to hear the news; we are always anxious for tidings.

Evil news rides post, while good news baits.

What tidings dost thou bring?