Middle English Dictionary Entry
thōs(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | thōs(e adj. Also thoes, thoez, thoise, (EAngl.) thosez & (early or chiefly N & NM) thas(e, (N) thaes, thais, yais & (early dat.) þis(s)en, þissan, ðissum, ðesen, (gen.) þissere, þisseræ, (?error) þeses. For forms yas(e, yaes, yaisse, yayes, yos, yose, yoes, yois, see LALME 4.6. |
| Etymology | In earlier ME from OE þās, pl. nom. & acc. of þes adj.; gen. þisra, þissera; dat. þissum, ðisum, þeos(s)um, (K) ðis(s)em. In later ME perh. from thō def. art. & adj.(2), with influence from thēs(e adj., to which the form þeses may belong. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Referring to specific members of a class and used anaphorically, pointing to persons or things previously mentioned: those, these: (a) with noun, pron., or num. as noun; (b) with noun, now further specified by an adj., a ppl. as adj., a prep. or infl. phrase, or a rel. clause; (c) with pron. referring to part of a group; ~ other.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Be twix þas worde þa geornde seo abbe þet he scolde him tyþian þet he æt him geornde.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)53/31 : Þa dælde se casere þæt..rice on feower & sette þærto feower gebroðre..Þa wæs an þyssere gebroðre Philippus gehaten.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)57/32 : Þu erest & sawst & eft gaderest, þu grintst..Leornigeð nu..þæt ge cunnen þæt ece lif geearnigen, on þan þe ge nan þyssere geswynce ne þrowigeð.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)44/28 : Þa weccan he eft cydde þus..Æfter ðissum weccæn, þa festene beoð hihtlice to lufitenne [read: lufiȝenne].
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)86/32 : Uðwiten..secgæð þet ðare sawle ȝecunde is þreofeald..Tweȝen þisseræ dæle habbæð deor & nyten mid us.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)10/12 : Aris & isih þis wunder þe on ðissum ȝrydon iwroht is.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Alswa doð monie of þas wimmen: heo smurieð heom mid blanchet.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5217 : Basian..Gezan..Þær aras muchel ballu bi-twenen þissen broðeren.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12614 : Þas twælfe heore wai ferden.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)139 : Þos [Jes-O: þeos] word aȝaf þe niȝtingale.
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.134 : Of þos þeuis hi takeþ mede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4948 : Þen spac ruben þe eldest broþer Stilli menand til þas [Frf: þase] oþer.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19859 : Petre þais [Frf: þa] vnbestes sagh.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.112 : Bifore þat tyme weren þos wordis spoken of Crist.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1278 : To Alexander onone þas [Dub: þees] auntirs him tellis.
- c1450 Bk.GGrace (Eg 2006)558/21 : To þase abbesses owre lorde gaffe þankkynges with fulle pleysynge ande softe wordes.
- (1469) Ills under 3 Kings in Camd.10 (AshR 33)46 : True subgettes of diverse partyes of this his realme at Engelond have delivered to us certeyn billis of Articles, whiche we suppose that ye have in thoos parties.
- a1500(?a1471) ME Chart.Leic.VB in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.1156 : Many..were loste that knewe not thoez vsagez.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1056 : Þen cairez he fro þoes cuntrees & kerues ouer þe stremes, Forth to francides he fared suche a ferme yle.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1667 : Takez hym to hys tresory, talentes hym shewys, Bade hym wale qwat he walde & wyld hym þæs oþer.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1499 : The last of þos lefe children was..Polexena.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Ic..mid þas kyningas & mid eorles & mid heorotogas & mid þægnas, þas gewitnesse mines gifes, to foran þone ærcebiscop Deusdedit ic hit festnia mid Cristes mel.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : Ic Oswald, arcebiscop of Eoferwic, geate ealle þas worde.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)1/17 : Se Halga Gast, he nis na acænned, ac he gæð of þan Fæder & of þan Sune gelice; Þas þry hades syndon an Ælmihtig God.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)41/27 : Eustochium &..Paulam..To þysen twam wifmannen awrat se ilca Jeronimus manigfealde tractbec.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)47/36 : Martha swanc & Maria sæt æmtig; On þyssen [OE ðisum] twam gesustren wæron getacnode twa lif.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)61/18 : Se þe underfohð ænne swylcne lytling..he underfohð me..Se þe geæswicað anum þyssere lytlingen, þære þe on me gelyfeð, selre him wære þæt his sweore wære getegd to anen cweornstane.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)104/3 : Alle þas ðing ic þe ȝyfe & sylle.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)99 : Þe þet ðurh gode iearnunge bi-cumð to þissan seofænfalden ȝefan, of þam halȝan gaste he haueð alle blisse.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Þos men, þe þus to-draȝed heore euencristene bi-hinden, heo habbeð þe nome of cristene ah þah heo beoð cristes unwines.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)237 : Þah we fif næmmie, alle hit on godes wille..Of þeses fif ceþen and of hare bedeles we habbeð ȝeu ȝesed.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)125/23 : Ne scal tu naure ȝesen mid ðase eiȝene, ðe þu mide ȝesiest sunne and mone, godd almihtin.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)149/21 : Fasten..wacchen..bede..manie of alle ðesen inamde mihten forfaren, for þi ðat hem trukede discrecio.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13142 : Ah for nauer nare speche þas [Otho: þe] þreo eorles riche nolden abiden.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)342 : Þoyse false þeues broken þus þis holy abbeye.
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)798/252 : And þos kinges [Belin and Brenni] of þis lond furst ywonne Rome Longe er Iulius þe emperour euere wonne þis lond.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8510 : Her apon even furth wyth yais ij obligacions and ye defesance was taken and delyverd to Haseley.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)656 : Bathe þase trauelde knyghtes trewly þay taghte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)42 : He was prynce holden..Of Eruge & Anyon, thos erledoms ryche.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)82/4 : Saynt Barnard..commawndid þat ilk man sulde hafe a candyll byrnand in his hand, And with all þase candels he cursid þis fend.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)40 : Syr Turpyn Alle those dedys wrote in latyn.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)332 : Þis meyny of aȝte I schal save of monnez saulez, and swelt þose oþer.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1260 : Þe doghety knyghtis on horse dange In tournament wyth swerdis lange: Thase oþir byhelde ylkane.
1b.
With noun or cpd., referring to specific members of a class and pointing to persons or things not previously mentioned, but instead understood from the context or already known: those, these;—occas. further specified by an adj.
Associated quotations
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1124 : Willelm hefde numen Fulkes eorles gingre dohter to wife of Angeow, & for ði se king of France & ealle þas eorles heolden mid him & ealle þa rice men.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)50/30 : Þone ic fram ferde gecerre, ic towurpe þas burh..Nis me uncuð þin dyrstignysse, & þyssere burhware.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Þa westre sona [?read: þestreden] þas landes, for æuricman sone ræuede oþer þe mihte.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)18/26 : On dæȝe biddæþ þa ðe ðenne biddæþ, na on swearte ðeostrum ðisseræ costnungæ.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/16 : He sceal..his lif sceadæn fram alle synlic lust & fram þissen eorþlice ȝytsunge.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)217/90 : Fol vellet..þos ydres..of watere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.17.6 : In þose daies was no kyng in Israel.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)2590 : Þan suld þe ospring of abraham vnto þair land cum freli ham..As it was hite bifore þas [Vsp: þaa] dais.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)624 : To thei hym myght restor agayne..The dignite..Wyth wrang lost befor þose dayes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)58 : Sythyn wente into Wales..to hunt at þe hartes in thas hye laundes.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)24/11 : Thes knyghtes wer chosen for the best that was in thos dayes.
1c.
With noun, referring to specific members of a class and pointing to persons or things neither previously mentioned nor understood from the context nor already known, particularized by a rel. clause, a prep. phrase, an adj. and a rel. clause, quoted words following, etc.: the, those, these.
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)72/7 : Se Hælend beleac þiss godspell mid þysen worden: 'Heofon & eorðe gewiteð, & mine word næfre gewiteð.'
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)90/21 : Þaræ sawle mihtæ beoð þas feower þing..Prudentia, Iusticia, Temperantia, Fortitudo.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)157 : Swiche teres schedde iob þa þe he þos word seide: 'Wa is mine saule þet mi lif þus longe ilest.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13144 : For nauer nare speche þas þreo eorles riche nolden abiden ær heo comen riden forn to þas teldes deoren þer-inne wes þe kaisere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14076 : Þa stod him up Walwain..and þas [Otho: þeos] word saide.. 'whi is hit..Modred þis morð hafueð itimbred.'
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)49.32/2 : Murree: Flour of ris oþur of amydon, þe hwuch may best beon ivounden; þenne þoes colours of saundrez schullen beon wel ibrayed in an morter, [etc.].
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.134 : Þos king is ministris beþ ischend, To riȝt and law þat ssold tak hede.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4328 : If thosez sumes of mony wheche be to pay unto Thoms Heth for the maryage sylver of Anne..then schall the seyd myles..payn restoryn unto all maner persones the surplusage.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.WB.(Eg 2726)D.195 : Thos [Heng: I shal seye soth tho housbondes þat I hadde, As three of hem were goode and two were badde].
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)30/5 : What losyng of tyme es it to trauelle abowte þase thynges þat na perfet commes of.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)102/53 : Cryst saue vs..ffrom those mens grefys That oft ar agans vs.
- -?-(1459) Will in Som.RS 16192 : I wol and charge all thos persones that I have enfeoffid in alle my Landes.
2.
Having unique reference: ~ mountes, the Alps.
Associated quotations
- a1300(OE) Deed Crediton (CotR 2.11)115 : Hoþer archebischopes and bissopes on þisser side þas mountes walelondes..ich alle hi-soȝte hoþer bi wise sende.
3.
Having generic reference, with noun or occas. cpd. or adj. as noun denoting a class or type or representatives of a class;— sometimes with generic reference specified by an adj. or adj. phrase.
Associated quotations
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)68/5 : Behealdeð þas fictreowwe & ealle oðre treowwe, þonne heo sprytteð, þonne wyte ge þæt hit sumerlæceð.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)18/20 : Gyf we forleoseð þas hlæne wurd þing, þonne scule we wyten þæt ure wunung nis na her.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)15 : Þas ruperes and þas reueres and þas þeues, þet nulleð nu nefre swike heore uueles, þu aȝest luuan heore saule for cristes luue.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))41 : Þos riche men wened ben sikere þurh walles and þurh diche; he ded his eitte on sikere stede þe he sent to heuene-riche.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6649 : Heo habbeoð me i-tald..þat..þere Densemonne king þas Denen wulle at-sechen.
- ?c1335 Lollai lollai (Hrl 913)7 : Bestis and þos foules, þe fisses in þe flode, and euch schef aliues..whan hi commiþ to þe world, hi doþ ham silf sum gode.
- a1500(?a1471) ME Chart.Leic.VB in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.1165 : Thoes pore all wey paied and the grete were fauoured.