A derivational suffix forming nouns: (a) in composition with a noun as simplex, denoting (as in OE) rank or position, but also condition, quality, and (later) activity or qualities typical of the referent of the simplex; e.g. monkhede, -hod [OE munuchād], the status of a monk; kinghede, -hod, kingship; prentishede, -hod, apprenticeship; develhede (transl. L daemonium); childhod, -hede [OE cildhād], childhood; also, childlike behavior; wifhede, -hod; manhede, -hod; (b) sometimes replacing other suffixes, such as -rēde [OE -rǣden]; e.g. brotherhede, neigheborhede; (c) in composition with adj. or ppl. to form abstract nouns denoting quality or state; e.g. dronkenhede, boldhede, continuhede, fairhede, -hod, liklihede, -hod, onhede, -hod, sikerhede; (d) in nouns of the preceding types which have developed concrete or action senses; e.g. knighthede, coll. a body of knights; kinghede, a kingdom; brotherhede, members of a fraternity; afterhede, posterity; childhod, a puerile action; falshede, a lie.