cometh
Very LowArchaic, Poetic, Religious, Literary
Definition
Meaning
An archaic verb form meaning 'comes' or 'is coming', used for the third person singular present indicative.
Used poetically or in religious contexts to denote arrival, often with a sense of inevitability, divine presence, or momentous occasion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Exclusively a historic/archaic form. Its use in modern English is purely stylised, for effect in quotations, titles, or to create an antique/solemn tone. It is not used in contemporary speech or writing outside these specific contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No practical difference in usage, as the word is equally archaic in both varieties. It is recognised from the same historical/literary sources (e.g., the King James Bible).
Connotations
Strongly connotes the King James Bible, Shakespearean English, formal prophecy, or epic poetry. Can be used humorously to mock pretentious or overly dramatic speech.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both. Slightly higher frequency in British English only due to a marginally greater prevalence of quoting the KJV in certain formal/public contexts (e.g., royal ceremonies).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + cometh (intransitive)Subject + cometh + Adverb/Prepositional Phrase (e.g., cometh quickly, cometh from the east)Subject + cometh + to-infinitive (archaic, e.g., cometh to judge)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cometh the hour, cometh the man”
- “The night cometh, when no man can work”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics, literary analysis of Early Modern English texts, or theological studies.
Everyday
Not used. Any use would be a deliberate quotation, joke, or affectation.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- As the prophecy foretold, the champion cometh.
- Behold, the postman cometh, bearing tidings.
American English
- In the old script, the sheriff cometh to town at noon.
- The line from the film, 'Winter cometh for us all.'
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old book says, 'The king cometh.' It means 'The king comes.'
- In the Bible, Jesus says, 'The hour cometh, and now is.'
- The poet wrote, 'Darkness cometh before the dawn,' using old-fashioned language for effect.
- Analysing the soliloquy, the line 'Misery cometh not as single spies, but in battalions' demonstrates the archaic verb form for gravitas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'cometh' as 'come' + 'eth', the old-timey ending for 'he/she/it' verbs. Think: 'He COMETH from the past.'
Conceptual Metaphor
ARRIVAL IS A FORCE (often divine or inevitable). TIME/EVENTS ARE ENTITIES THAT APPROACH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not interpret '-eth' as a plural marker; it is singular. "He cometh" = "Он приходит", not "Они приходят".
- Avoid using it in modern contexts unless translating a historical text or creating a specific stylistic effect. The modern equivalent is 'comes'.
- It is not a more formal or polite version of 'comes'; it is simply obsolete.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cometh' in modern writing or speech as a normal verb.
- Incorrectly conjugating it (e.g., 'I cometh', 'they cometh'). It is ONLY for third person singular.
- Mispronouncing the final '-eth' as /eθ/ (like 'Beth'); it is /ɪθ/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the use of 'cometh' be most appropriate today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'cometh' is an archaic form. It is only used today in direct quotations from historical texts (like the King James Bible), in poetry, titles, or for deliberate stylistic/humorous effect.
The modern third person singular present indicative form of the verb 'to come' is 'comes' (e.g., he comes, she comes, it comes).
The '-eth' ending (and '-th') was the standard inflection for the third person singular present indicative in Early Modern English (c. 1500-1700). It was gradually replaced by the '-s' ending we use today.
No, that would be incorrect. '-Eth' was specifically for the singular (he/she/it). The plural form in that period was simply the base verb (e.g., they come). 'They cometh' is a common modern mistake when trying to sound archaic.