TITHE

I. verb (~d; tithing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English teogothian, from teogotha tenth Date: before 12th century transitive verb to pay or give a tenth part of especially for the support of the church, to levy a ~ on, intransitive verb to give a tenth of one's income as a ~, II. noun see: ten Date: before 12th century a tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax especially for the support of a religious establishment, the obligation represented by individual ~s, tenth , a small tax or levy