Middle English Dictionary Entry
the particle
Entry Info
Forms | the particle Also (early) þæ, (after s) te & (?error) þa. |
Etymology | OE þe particle |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Following subordinating conjunctions introducing adverbial clauses: (a) the) lesse ~, for-thi lesse ~, lest [see also the adv. 3.]; (b) thanne (ther, tho) ~, when; after; also, in the circumstances when [quots. a1225(c1200), 1st & 3rd]; (c) thenne ~, from which place, whence; (d) ther (wher) ~, where; wherever; (e) thanne (ther-while, the-yet, tho, while) ~, while, during the time when; (f) tho ~, though, even though; though ~ [see though conj.].
Associated quotations
a
- a1150 Rwl.G.57 Gloss.(Rwl G.57)24 (2nd occurrence) : Ne [nulli] placeas: þe læs þe þulice.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/11 : He sceal smeaȝen..swiðor embe þa ecan þonne embe þa ateoriendlice, forþi læs ðe his mod beo bineoðan his lichame.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)106/3 : Ne sceole we nenne mon bylȝen, læs þe ure bene ne beo noht.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)125/29 : Nemeð discipline of all ðe misdades ðe ȝe deð, þe las te godd him wraðþi and ȝie forfaren of ða rihte weiȝe!
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1013 : Þa þe he ongean com, þa offrede hit Crist & sancte Peter.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)120/29 : Þa þe heo heoræ eaȝæn up ahofen, þa n[e] isæȝen heo þær nenne mon buton Crist ane.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)79 : Þa þe he [Adam] heuede scome aȝeines his scuppende, þa he hefde þurst and hunger.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)191 : Ne ne wite wanne..ne awiche wise he hem wile bisette þanne þe he hem unwarliche his dintes giueð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)29/33 : Ðies ilke haliȝe mihte, ðar ðe hie cumeð and bieð mid ðe manne, hie makeð him unwurð alle ðo faire þinges ðe on ðare swikele woreld faire þencheð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)103/24 : Þo þe hie findeþ upe ðe of here werkes, ne mai þe helpen non angel ðat tu ne scalt in to pine.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)137/13 : Moyses..fastede fowerti daȝes þar ðe he þe laȝhe nam of godd self uppe ðe munte of Synay.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12682 : Speke we of Arðure..þa þe he bisoht hafde his þeines sele and ælc wes ham iuare þer he lond hafde.
- ?a1300(a1250) Harrow.H.(Dgb 86)25 : Þo þe he to helle cam, Sucche wordes he bigan, 'Harde gates haui gon.'
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)6/1 : Gyf þe þynce þæt þu towræne sy, wit þæt þinre ceola, for þan seo ceola is þære wambe freond, þanen þe cumeð þa unnytte lustes.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)118/13 : Þa þe fullfremede byð on geðohte, on worde & on weorca..becumeð heo to heofona rice..þanen þe [OE þonon] þu geherdest þone fægerne dream.
d
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/31 : Ȝe sceolden ilome gan to þam halȝe husle..swa swa mon deþ ȝehwær þær ðe me wæl halt þone cristendom.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)88/21 : Ðer ðe þat imynd bið, þær þat anȝit & þe willæ.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)9 : Bet heo heolden heore wurðing dei þene we doð and ȝet doð þer þe heo beoð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/25 : Ðar ðe ðin hord is, þær is þin herte.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)109/12 : Whar ðe godd ȝifð ðese mihte, hit kydh hit sone.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)36 : Þu ȝiuest eche reste ful of swete blisse þer ðe neure deað ne come.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))22 : Þenne hy mowen sculen and ripen þer þe hi ær seowen.
e
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)223 : Þa ðæ he slep, þa ȝename he ribb of his sidan.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)55 : Þe þet echte wile habben wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden, Giue hies for godes luue.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)265 : Þer inne boð..þa þe untrownesse duden þon þe ho sculden bon holde.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)47/16 : Ic am michel þenchinde ðar hwile ðe ic on ðese wrecche lichame am wuniende.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)137/9 : Crist self halȝede ðis fasten þo þe he faste fowerti daiȝes on ða wilderne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4853 : Scipen he þer funde þat to-ȝenes him weoren ibonned þe ȝet þe [Otho: þe ȝet] he wes i Rome.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)336 : Hii..bede hine come to helpe..wile þe hii weren isund.
f
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)49/15 : Ðo ðe Crist..was ȝelich godd his fader on ielde and on mihte..he litlede him seluen to-foren mannes eiȝen.
2.
Following pronouns in conjunctive phrases, chiefly prep. phrases, introducing adverbial clauses: (a) of time [see also than pron.(1) 3.(a)]: after than ~, thas ~, after; amonges than ~, while; er than ~, before; until; mid than ~, when; (b) of manner [see also than pron.(1) 3.(b), thas pron. 2.(d)]: after (bi) than ~, after (of) that ~, to the degree that; according as; ilichest than ~, as if; than iliche ~, in the same way that, as; thas ~, according to what, as; as far as; to (mid) than ~, in whatever way; to thas ~, in such a way that, as; (c) expressing cause: bi than ~, for-than (than) ~, for-thi ~, for tho ~, since, for the reason that, because [see also for-than adv. & conj. 2.(b)]; (d) of consequence: for-than ~, ?for which reason, wherefore; ?therefore, consequently [cp. than pron.(1) 3.(b)]; (e) of purpose or condition: with than (that) ~, on condition that, provided; so that; (f) expressing a less preferred or inappropriate action or a condition to be prevented: er than ~, rather than; with than (that) ~, lest.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1105 : On mang þam þe he þær wunode, he gewann of his broðer Caþum & Baius.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1107 : Ðis wæs rihtlice ymbe vii gear þæs þe se cyng Henri cynedomes onfeng.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)28/33 : Him com to Godes hæs þæt heo scoldan fram þære manfulle stowe fare, ær þan þe seo wraca come.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)148/14 : Ða mid þam þe þæt wif gehyrde þæs mædenes gretynge, þa blissode þæt cild Johannes on his moder innoðe.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)227/8 : After þam þe he þane drenc ȝedruncan habbe he seal gan & hine stirien.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)12/19 : On þare Friȝenihte..hæfde ure Hælend, ær þam ðe he ðrowode, swiðe longsume spæce wið his leorningcnihtæs.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)20/18 : He forlet middaneard mid þam ðe he up astah..to þam unsæȝenlice.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)98/14 : Elias..feste eac þæt ilce festen feowertiȝ daȝe & nihtæ tosomme, æfter þan ðe he æt þene mæte ðe þe engel to him brohte.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)34/7 : Binnon þreom daȝum þæs ðe þeo haliȝ rod ifunden wæs, iudas ȝeaf sancta helenæ þa fif næȝlæs ðe ure drihten mid inæȝlæd wæs.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)227 : Næ worhte he þah nane wndre openlice er þan þe he was þritti wintre.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Efter þan þe hie weren wuniende in ierusalem and weren..sikere of her giue..þo hie forleten godes lore.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)83/21 : Þære wucan rædestre ganȝe to hlafe & drince ærdan [read: ærðan] þe heo beȝinne to rædenne.
b
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Soðfeste men..sæidon, þes þe heom þuhte, þet þær mihte wel ben abuton twenti oðer þritti horn blaweres.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)102/3 : Petrus cwæð beo þan mannen, þe heora synnen bewepeð, & eft..þa ilca synne wyrceð..þæt hit wære gelicost þan þe se hund wære eft gecerred to his spywðen.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)16/17 : Us þincð þæt hit rihtlice to hire gebyreð, beo-þan-þe ure larðeawes us doð to understandene.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)89/11 : Ȝenim þeos ylca wyrt & huniȝ & hlaf þe si mid smeruwe ȝebaccen, þam ȝelice þe ðu clyðan wyrce.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)95/11 : Þeos wyrt þæt man temolum..nemneð, þisse wyrte wos is swiþe fremful, &, þæs þa [OE þæs þe] Omerus sehȝ, his wyrte beo[r]htust & þæt Mercurius hi scolde finde.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)199/6 : Wið lungen-adle..þeos silfe wyrt wel fremeð, ȝeþiȝed ðam ȝelice þe we her beforem cwæðon.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)24/4 : Ða wæron ða underkyngæs þam casere underðeode, to ðam ðe heo wolden.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)32/15 : Þa com hire an stæfne, to ðæs ðe hire iðuht wæs, þæt hit godes engel wære.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)37 : Þet oðer is do þine elmesse..and to seke gan..and helpen heom mid þon þe þu maȝe.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)137 : Æuric mon scal eft mowen bi þon þe he nu saweð.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)153 : Ech man shal understonden mede of his er dede and efter þat þe he meðegeð nu his dede shal eft ben meðeged his mede.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.Creed (Trin-C B.14.52)17 : Alle cunne ower crede þaste ich wene, þeih ge alle nuten hwat hit biqueðe.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))173 : After þan þe he haued idon, he scal þar beon idemed.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)318 : Sum þar haueþ lasse mureþe & sum þar haueþ more, Euere after þat þat he dude her, of þat [Eg(1): after þan] þe he bisuanc sore.
c
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : Se cyng..him æfter sende forþan þe he wæs ut of þis lande gefaren.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)31/15 : Swylce byð þa genyðerunge þe heo þonne þoleð, for þy þe heo nolde ær on life heo mid ænigre carfulnysse foresceawigen.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)44/28 : Maria is wlitigre þone se mone, for þan þe heo scinð buten ateorunge hire brihtnysse.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)44/5 : Þam reowsiȝendum witodlice is þeo wæcce to biganne, forþam ðan ðe heo to heofenum up ahæfð þæs reowsiendæn wæstmæs.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)58/28 : Me idafenæð to wyrcenne his weorc þe me sende þa hwile ðe dæȝ bið; forðan þe ðeo deorce niht cymæð, þonne nan mon ne mæȝ naht to gode don.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)41 : On þon deie þa engles..ham iblissieð forði þe þa erming saulen habbeð rest of heore pine.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)235 : 'Nell ic forȝete þe,' cweð drihten, be þam þe he fader is.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)25 : We clepieð ure fader for two þing: on his for þo þe he us shop.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7678 : Bruttes scupten þan londe nome for Sæxisce monnen scome & for þan swike-dome þat heo idon hæfden for þan þe heo mid cnifen biræueden heom at liue.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)226 : Hi..secheþ reste, ac hi ne muȝe ymete, Vor þan þe hi nolde, þe huile hi miȝte, hure sennes bete.
d
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : He æfre þas leode mid here & mid ungylde tyrwigende wæs, forþan þe on his dagan ælc rihte afeoll.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)32/32 : Ða sæde him ðe Hælend syððan þis biȝspel..For þan ðe he us lærde mid þare licnesse & nolde þæt we loseden.
e
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)152 : Eure he walde her inne wawe and ine wene wunien Wið þet [Eg(1): wid þan þe] þe mihte helle pine bi-flien and bi-sunien.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)45 : Wille we mid þese þre lokes cuðlechen us wið alre kingene king and mid swiche weldede cuððen as wið him..wið þan þe he us lede of..þis weorld wowe and to eche blisse lede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)445 : Ich hine wille freoien ȝif he me ȝefeð..alle his maðmas wið þon þa [Otho: þe] he mote libben.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4116 : Al þine wille he wule don wið þon þe þu him ȝeue grið.
f
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)33/18 : Wið þan þe man blod up welle þur his muð, ȝenim þeos wyrt þreo tyrmesa wæȝe.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)39/10 : Eft wyd þæt [OE þon] þe man on wamba forwexen si, seoð þane [we]ȝebrade swiðe & ete swiðe.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)76/12 : Heom leofere wæs to swæltanne for þæs Hælendes namen ær þam þe heo hine wiðsocen.
3.
Following rel. pronouns: se (thare, the, tho) ~, who; which; than (thane) ~, whom; which; thas ~, which; whom ~, whom [some exx. could also be construed as rel. pron. following dem. pron.].
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)2/32 : Þa wearð he to deofle awend se þe ær wæs mære ængel geworht.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)9/14 : An sawle is & an lif, & an edwist, seo þe hæfð þas þry þing on hire togædere wyrecende.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)32/11 : Gyf heo þas neosunge forgemeleasigeð, þan feondan heo byð betæht on hire geændunge to ecere witnunge, þan þe heo ær on life..gehyrsumede.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)32/13 : Þonne byð þa hire witneres..þa þe ær mid mistlicen lusten heo to þan lehtren forspeonnan.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)36/10 : Þu mann, hwæt hæfest þu þæs þe þu fram Gode ne underfenge?
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)47/26 : He [Christ]..hæfde soðne lichame, þurh þone þe him hingrode & þyrste.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)56/2 : Þiss is se cwide þæs godcundlicen domes, be þan þe is gecweðen, 'Se þe halig, is, beo he gyt swyðer gehalged.'
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)61/18 : Se þe geæswicað anum þyssere lytlingen þære þe on me gelyfeð, selre him wære þæt his sweore wære getegd to anen cweornstane & he swa wurde besænct on deoppre sæ.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)115/3 : Hwy onscunest þu to underfonne þinne lichame, þone þe þu miht buten lehtre gewinne heonanforð habben?
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)78/2 : He eode to Pilate, & abæd æt him Cristes lichame..& hine on his neowe þruh aleigde, on þære þe nan oðer mann on ne læg.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)84/24 : God..me benam Lazarum, þone þe ic heold deadne feower niht fæste gebunden, & ic hine eft cwicne ageaf þurh his beboden.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)15/24 (3rd occurrence) : Þanne is þis ðe læcecræft þe þe þærto ȝebyreþ.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Nicod.(Bod 343)6/33 : He wolde þæt he cyðe þa gastlice acennednysse, butan þare þe he ne mihte his folȝere beon.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)68/10 (2nd occurrence) : Hwæt is ðeo deorce niht buton helledimnes, on þære nan mon ne mæȝ naht to gode wyrcean þe ðe nu on his life þes lihtes ne ȝemð.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)100/29 (2nd occurrence) : Þa Iudeus wæren alle deofles limen þe ðæ ure Hælend to deaþe demdon.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)227 : Þa..was se soðe sceppende se þe ane is god, forsewen and ȝeunwurðed.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)227 (2nd occurrence) : Of þa cynn come alle þe heahfederes and witiȝen þaðe cyddon Christes to-cyme to þis life.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)159 (2nd occurrence) : Þos fure kunnes teres boð þe fuwer wateres þa þe beoð ihaten us on to weschen.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)65/7 (3rd occurrence) : Hwar beoþ [nu] þeo goldfæten þeo þe guldene comen to þine honden?
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)239 (2nd occurrence) : Þe sculle beo inne [hell]..þe þe louede reuing & stale & unmetliche drunke.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)220 : Ascayn biȝet silvi, of ȝwan [vr. whom] þe brut com.