The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tidings \Ti"dings\, n. pl. [OE. tidinge, ti?inge, tidinde, from
   or influenced by Icel. t[imac]?indi; akin to Dan. tidende,
   Sw. tidning, G. zeung, AS. t[imac]dan to happen, E. betide,
   tide. See Tide, v. i. & n.]
   Account of what has taken place, and was not before known;
   news.
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         I shall make my master glad with these tidings. --Shak.
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         Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
         Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned.
                                                  --Goldsmith.
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   Note: 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.
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               Now near the tidings of our comfort is. --Shak.
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               Tidings to the contrary
               Are brought your eyes.             --Shak.
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   Syn: News; advice; information; intelligence.

   Usage: 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.
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                Evil news rides post, while good news baits.
                                                  --Milton.
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                What tidings dost thou bring?     --Addison.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

tidings
    n 1: information about recent and important events; "they
         awaited news of the outcome" [syn: news, intelligence,
         tidings, word]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

23 Moby Thesaurus words for "tidings":
   advice, broadcast journalism, information, intelligence,
   journalism, news, news agency, news medium, news service,
   newsiness, newsletter, newsmagazine, newspaper, newsworthiness,
   press association, radio, reportage, telegraph agency, television,
   the fourth estate, the press, wire service, word