A derivational suffix frequent in abstract nouns of OF or AF origin usu. denoting a quality, state, or condition, e.g., auctorite (c1230), bestial(i)te, charite (?a1160), communalte, contrariete, debonairete (c1225), equalite, fidelite, generalte, gentilete, hilarite, indempnite, leaute, mageste, neifte, plenteth, poverte (c1230), roialte, seurte, soverainte, specialte, tardite, vilte (c1230), voluptuouste; sometimes a thing, e.g., bounte 3.(b), casuelte 3., deinte (a1250) 1., deinteth (c) & (d), and realte (1) 1.(b) & (d); occas. a geographical unit or kingdom (principalite (b), realte (1) 1.(c)), an office, a department, or an institution (amiralte, mairalte, universite 1.), or a group of people (laite). Most of these OF derivatives are 14th and 15th cent., but some are 13th cent. (see dates in preceding lists), and at least one, charite, is 12th cent. The -tẹ̄ is also a living suffix in ME, where it can be added to an adj., usu. one of OF/AF or L origin, to form a new abstract noun, e.g., contagiouste, ferste, hidouste, jelouste, likerouste, and tediouste. But occas. the formation involves an adj. of OE or ON origin, e.g., everlastingte, ivelte, loulite, and overte. In a few words the ME adj. contributes to the new formation along with the OF noun, e.g., preciosite, simplete, temporalte, venimouste, voluptuosite, and perh. clerte. An exception to the normal ME pattern of derivation from the adj. is emperorite, in which the -tẹ̄ is added to the noun emperour. Another word appears to be derived from a noun, empirete (from empire) in the Ayenbite of Inwyt, but it is really Dan Michel's misinterpretation of two words in his corrupt OF original, empire + te pronoun. Further ME formations arise, in words derived from L or ML, from the substitution of -tẹ̄ for the L -(i)tas of the original, e.g., absurdite, generosite, imperialite, and prob. monstruosite, and in at least one word the -tẹ̄ appears to be added directly to an OF or a L adj.: modestite.