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]