Forms: see below. [In OE. þæt, nom. and acc. singular neuter of the simple demonstrative pronoun and adjective se, séo, þæt, the adjectival use of which has also produced the ‘definite article’ THE, under which the history and obs. inflexional forms are given. The is the resultant form, used for all genders, numbers, and cases of the article; that the unweakened neuter singular, used as demonstrative pronoun and adj. for all cases of the singular. The original plural in both uses was þá, in ME. þā and THO, q.v., surviving in Sc. and north. dial. as THAE, but superseded in literary English by THOSE. The demonstrative was also used in OE. as a relative pronoun, for which see below.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. In OE. inflected for gender, number, and case: see the inflexional forms under THE. Some of the inflexions remained in early ME., and in some dialects even to 1400. A few examples of these, in which the sense is demonstrative, follow here. For the plural forms see THO and THOSE.
(The masc. and fem. pronouns se, séo, and 14th-c. Kentish ze, zy, were often equivalent to ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘it.’)
Beowulf (Z.) 470. Se wæs betera ðonne ic. Ibid., 506. Eart ðu se Beowulf se ðe wið Brecan wunne?
c. 825. Vesp. Ps. vii. 16. Seað [he] ontynde & dalf ðone [= cum]. Ibid., cxlv. 4. In ðæm [= illa] deʓe.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 597. Her ongon Ceolwulf ricsian … Se wæs Cuþaing, Cuþa Cynricing [etc.].
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 9. Seo Ægyptus þe us near is. Ibid., II. iv. § 8. Sco ilce burʓ Babylonia, seo ðe mæst wæs & ærest ealra burʓa. Ibid., V. ix. Ic … secgan scyle,… hwa þæs [= of that] ordfruman wæron.
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. vii. (1890), 118. Þæm [Mellitus] sona æfterfylʓde Iustus in biscophade.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. x. 23. Ðonne hi eow ehtaþ on þysse byriʓ, fleoþ on oþre, and ðonne hi on þære [Hatton G. þare] eow ehtaþ, fleoþ on þa þryddan. Ibid., John iii. 29. Se ðe bryde hæfð, se is brydguma.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 235. Si [the Law of Moses] ȝeleste sume wile.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 37. Do þine elmesse of þon þet þu maht iforðien.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 221. Se þe her doð ani god.
c. 1200. Ormin, 17621. To þann comm icc off heffne dun.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 882. Þat beoþ her wo is hom þes.
c. 1300. Harrow. Hell (MS. O.), 65. Þou miȝt wel witen þe bi þon [MS. E. 79 for þan] Þat ich [am] more þen ani mon.
1340. Ayenb., 102. Zy þet ne serueþ bote to onlepy manne. Ibid., 117. Ze þet ne heþ þise uondinges.
2. Forms of the singular neuter, and, at length, general uninflected form that.
1–3 ðæt, þæt, ðet, 1–4 þet, (3 ðat, þut), 3–6 þat, (3–5 þatt, 4 þate, 5 þatte, 5–6 thate, 6–7 thatt), 4– that. (Also written 4–6 yat, 4–8 yt, yt.)
Beowulf (Z.), 1372. Nis þæt heoru stow.
835. Charter of Abba (Kentish), in O. E. Texts, 448. ʓif hiʓan ðonne oððe hlaford þæt nylle … ʓeunnan.
c. 836. O. E. Chron., an. 787. Þæt wæron þa ærestan scipu Deniscra monna þe Angel cynnes lond ʓesohton. Ibid. (c. 1134), (Laud MS.), an. 1127. Þet wes eall ðurh þone kyng Heanri of Engle land.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 33. On cristes prisune … þet is in helle.
c. 1200. Þatt [see B. II. 1].
c. 1205. Lay., 4542. Þet is þere quene scip.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 59. Ðat was ðe firme morȝen tid … Wid ðat liȝt worn angles wroȝt.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6773. He was glad of þut cas.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1926. Englysche holden þate heritage.
c. 1400. Þat [see B. II. 5].
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 840. He sayde he mervaylede muche of þatte.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. i. 40. That at is dry the erth shalle be.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. i. (S.T.S.), I. 132. Tak away þat odious name tarquyne fra þe pepill.
1583. T. Watson, Poems (Arb.), 45. But I (alas) might curse yat dismall day.
1638. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 45. I had lytill hoope of uoorking of thatt by treatie.
B. Signification and uses.
The pronominal use goes back to the earliest OE. The adjectival demonstrative use in OE. corresponded to that of L. is, ea, id, or the unqualified French ce, cette, and is often indistinguishable from that of the modern definite article. But by 1200 the adjectival use of that began also to be more definitely demonstrative (= L. iste, ille, F. ce … là), and to be implicitly or explicitly opposed to THIS (= L. hic, F. ce … ci). As this appears first in Ormin, it may have been due to the influence of Norse, in which the adjectival use of þat as a demonstrative, opposed to þetta ‘this,’ is of earlier appearance.
I. Demonstrative Pronoun. Pl. † THO (obs.), THOSE, q.v.
* As simple demonstrative pronoun.
1. Denoting a thing or person pointed out or present, or that has just been mentioned: cf. II. 1.
a. a thing (concrete or abstract).
Often serving instead of repetition of the name of the thing, and directing the attention back to it (thus more emphatic than it). Also, for emphasis, used pleonastically in apposition to the sb.; also, in mod. use, as in quot. 1880, placed (as subj.) after the predicate sb., with ellipsis of the copula. In quot. 1905, applied to a person contemptuously spoken of as a thing or creature.
Beowulf (Z), 2200. Eft þæt ʓe-iode ufaran dogrum, hildehlæm-mum.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Þæt eart ðu. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., i. 28. Soðlice ða eaʓan þæt bioð ða lareowas, & se hrycg þæt sint ða hiremenn.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 346. Haran cyslyb ʓeseald on wines drince, þæt wel ʓehæleþ.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 12560. Pryue synne and sacrylage, That loue y moste.
13[?]. in Hampole’s Wks. (1896), I. 108. Luk nogth efter ylke a mans wile to do it, bot luk whilke es myne & do þat.
1451. Capgrave, St. Augustine, 36. But þe principal cause whech Augustin supposed to spede, þat failed.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 14. And with that I sall put sik thing langand warldly understanding.
1579. W. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 74. The errour of Vibicus. And that was this.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Medit., IV. v. To serve him that can give That, and much greater.
1709. Lond. Gaz., No. 4599/4. It had a black Ribbon tied to it, and the Key of the Watch fastened to that.
1808. Eleanor Sleath, Bristol Heiress, I. 63. Rank, high life, fashionable amusement—that’s the go.
1842. Browning, Pied Piper, iv. ‘Bless us,’ cried the Mayor, ‘what’s that?’
1878. T. Hardy, Ret. Native, VI. iv. ‘What noise was that?’ said Clym.
1880. Tennyson, Sisters, 14. A sweet voice that—you scarce could better that.
1905. El. Glyn, Viciss. Evangeline, 127. ‘Would you like to marry Malcolm?’ I asked. ‘Fancy being owned by that! Fancy seeing it every day!’
b. a person. Now noting a person actually pointed out (not one just mentioned, exc. in emphatic pleonastic use as in a). Chiefly as subject of the verb to be in stating or asking who or what that (person) is. (See also 6 c.)
Colloquially used in expressions of commendation, or in mod. use of anticipatory commendation by way of persuasion or encouragement (esp. to a child).
Beowulf (Z.), 11. Þæt wæs god cyning.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3044. Ȝif þer is Eny mon so wis Þat beste red conne rede, merlin þat is.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18131. Þat king o blis, quat es he, þat?
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2463. Ho wayned me vpon þis wyse … Þat is ho þat is at home, þe auncian lady.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xxv. 73. What damoysel is that?… That is the lady of the lake.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iii. 47. That’s my good Son. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, III. v. 81. Hel. Which is the Frenchman? Dia. Hee, That with the plume. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., IV. ii. 36. Who’s that at doore? Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 299. After two daies I will discharge thee. Ar. That’s my noble Master.
1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, IX. 215. By my Soul if that bee a Lady, my Husband may bee a Lady too.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. of W., vii. ‘Very well,’ cried I, ‘that’s a good girl.’
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, III. 276. Why, there! Is not that Pippa … under the window?
1854. Thackeray, Rose & Ring, viii. ‘Who’s that laughing?’ It was Giglio laughing.
Mod. Come along, that’s a good boy! That’s the man for me!
c. a fact, act, or occurrence, or a statement or question, implied or contained in the previous sentence: often used instead of repeating a clause or phrase (cf. a).
In OE. and in Sc. often referring to a following statement, where mod. Eng. commonly uses this. Cf. II. 1, and THIS B. I. 1 d.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 755. Ða on morʓenne ʓehierdun þæt þæs cyninges þeʓnas … þæt se cyning ofslæʓen was.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 1168 (Gr.). Þæt is ʓedafenlic, þæet þu dryhtnes word On hyʓe healde.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John i. 19. Pæt is Iohannes ʓewitnes.
a. 1131. O. E. Chron., an. 1122. On þone lenten tyde þær toforen for bearn se burch on Gleawe ceastre … Þet wes þes dæies viii id’ Mr.’
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10348. Wan þou seist, quaþ þe king, þat þat was mi þouȝt.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 2034. Goo we hens, for that hold I best.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3. The iewes also se almyghty god, but that was in a more excellent maner.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. i. 56. To be, or not to be, that is the Question.
1693. J. Edwards, Author. O. & N. Test., 154. The Pagans would jeer the Jews for that.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., ii. 140. I can just carve Pudden, and that’s all.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xx. I will say that for the English,… that they are a ceeveleesed people to gentlemen that are under a cloud.
1838. Ruskin, Ess. Music & Paint., Wks. 1903, I. 285. If others do not follow their example,—the more fools they,—that’s all.
d. After various prepositions, referring to a precise time just mentioned, or an act or event in relation to the precise time of its occurrence: e.g. after that = after that time, or after that happened; by that = by that time, or by the time that happened; upon that, with that = as or immediately after that was said, done, etc. See also the prepositions.
In OE. prepositions governed other cases besides the accusative, as the dative, e.g., æfter, ǽr, mid, onmang tó ðǽm, the instrumental, e.g., for pý, mid pý, etc. These partly survived in early ME.; e.g., fro þan þat (see FRO prep. 3).
13[?]. Cursor M., 2827 (Cott.). Bi þat [v.r. þan] began þe light o dai.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 565. The sone was passed, by þat, mydday and mare.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 14360 (Laud). Fro that forth … There folowid Ihesu folk full fele.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B., 12. With that they cryed, and made a shoute.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxvii. 33. In the meane tyme, bitwixt that and daye.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. II. 278. A proclamation was upon that issued out.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. i. 17. Some time after that…, they were … agreeably surprised.
1802. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), III. 496. Probably on the 24th, or within two or three days of that.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. i. My young mistress went to bed about eleven, and the Count went to bed before that.
1862. Miss Braddon, Lady Audley, xl. With that the surgeon goes to fetch the envelopes.
† e. In apposition with a following clause introduced by thăt conj.; chiefly in phr. with prep., as for thát thăt = for that cause that, because; in thát thăt = in that circumstance that, inasmuch as; to thát thăt = to the end that, in order that. Obs.
Taking the place of OE. þǽm, þám, þon, or þý, in for þám þe, on þám þe, to þám þe, for þon þe, to þý þe or þæt.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men, I. iii. (1506), 31. To that that he be worthely dysposed to receyue the grace.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1883), 2. In that that manye of them were dead. Ibid. (1532), Confut. Tindale, Wks. 659/2. The knowen catholike churche is proued to be the verye churche of Chryste, in that that from the beginning it hath … been … kepte and contynued one.
1535. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 417. In that that the said frensh kyng hathe … answered at all tymes on the kinges parte.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 222. Kynge Edward in these hys last battayles was … fortunate for that, that he at sondry … tymes … was persecuted … of his enemyes.
f. Take that! († have that!): a phrase used in delivering a blow, etc.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 16290 (Trin.). Wiþ his hond a buffet He ȝaf ihesus … He seide … Take þat to teche þe lore.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 3119, in Macro Plays. For þi coueytyse, haue þou þat, I schal þee bunche with my bat.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 23. Thinkst yu I iest? hold, take thou that, and that.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xii. I must do my duty, Sir,… so take that—and that—and that—(thrashing the man with his rattan). Ibid., xiii. Then I’ll turn Protestant and damn the Pope—take that now, Father M’Grath.
2. Used emphatically, instead of repeating a previous word or phrase. a. Preceded by and (rarely but), and referring to something in the previous clause. [Cf. L. et id, idque, F. et cela.]
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 278. On þam [berries] ys sæd and þæt sweart.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. Crist godes sune wes ibuhsum … to þa deðe, and þet to swulche deðe swa [etc.].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Friar’s T., 294. I haue been syk, and that ful many a day.
c. 1485. Digby Myst., IV. 1067. We shall here tidinges…, And þat I trust shortlye.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings iv. 3. Borowe without of all thy neghboures emptye vessels, & that not a fewe. Ibid., Ps. xlvi. 5. God helpeth her, & yt right early.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 62. Exercise indeede wee doe, but that very fore-backwardly.
1772. Wesley, Jrnl., 2 June. A man began to scream, and that so loud that my voice was quite drowned.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 168. It was necessary … to act, and that promptly.
b. Representing a word or phrase in the previous clause or sentence: usually standing first in its own clause, with inverted construction (that I will = I will do that). colloq.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4161. Hete hem þider wende … Þat i wol, seide william.
a. 1450. Cov. Myst., xxiii. (1841), 222. Hath any man condempnyd the? Mulier. Nay forsothe that hathe ther nought.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. v. 60. Was there a wise woman with thee? Fal. I, that there was.
1642. Suddaine Answ. to Sud. Moderatour, 3. The Moderator is full of Rhetorick and Oratory too, that he is.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Man of Many Fr., I. 196. ‘I can say ’em all!’ ‘That you can’t,’ said Tom.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 29. To feel with them, we must be like them; and none of us can become that without pains.
1872. ‘L. Carroll,’ Through Looking-Glass, vi. ‘They must be very curious creatures.’ ‘They are that,’ said Humpty Dumpty.
1900. F. P. Dunne, in Westm. Gaz., 13 June, 1/3. ‘They’ll be out here nex’ week.’… ’They will that,’ Mr. Dooley replied.
3. In opposition to this (cf. II. 2): esp. in phr. this and (or) that = one thing and (or) another: see THIS B. I. 3. Also occas. that … that = one thing … another thing.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 2. Þonne lufað sum dæt, sum elles hwæt.
1390–. [see THIS B. I. 3].
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xvi. 84. Wheþer a good spirit or an euel stire þe to desire þat or þat. Ibid., lv. 130. Lete oon seke þat, a noþer þat.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xvi. Lay that and that thegither!
1842. Marryat, Perc. Keene, xiv. Young as I was, I also could put that and that together.
b. spec. (after Latin idiom). The former: correl. to this = the latter: see THIS B. I. 3 b. Now arch. and literary.
c. 1440–1868. [see THIS B. I. 3 b].
1654. Z. Coke, Logick (1657), A iij b. Corruption of manners, and mazing Errors…. These delude and distract, that doth deboish a people.
4. As quasi-sb., with pl. thats. Also (with capital T) as quasi-proper name: see THIS B. I. 3 c, d.
1656–1895. [see THIS B. I. 3 c, d].
1910. Contemp. Rev., March, 307. The immediacy of faith … will furnish us with the That, whilst we may have to look to other sources for the What.
5. Phrases, belonging to senses 1 and 2.
a. That is (more fully that is to say, † to wit, etc.): introducing (or more rarely following) an explanation of the preceding word, phrase, or statement (or a modifying correction of it).
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 105. Þe oðer mihte is Castitas, þet is clenesse on englisc.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 348. Efter schrifte, hit falleð to speken of Penitence, þet is, dedbote.
1340. Ayenb., 210. Huanne þou woldest bidde god … wisliche and diligentliche, þet is ententifliche and perseuerantliche.
a. 1440. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 8. The thirde sacrement es callede penance, þat es sothefaste for-thynkynge þat we hafe of oure synne.
1523. [Coverdale], Old God & New (1534), B j. In all poyntes, yt is to wyte bothe in his doctryne and also in his lyuynge.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., I. i. Look to me,… That is look on me, and with all thine eyes.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxiii. (ed. 2), 440. Every animated being has its sensorium, that is, a certain portion of space, within which perception and volition are exerted.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 21. Those who ‘intrude’ (thrust, that is) themselves into the fold.
b. All that: all that sort of thing; that and everything of the kind. And all that, and so forth, et cetera (see ALL A. 8 c); so, in same sense, and that. Not so … as all that: not so … as that amounts to; not quite so … as that. For all that: see FOR 23 a. Like that, of that kind, or in that manner: see LIKE a. 1 ¶, adv. 1.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 76. Ȝitt for all þat, manye of þe iewys hadden gret indignacyoun of hem.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 36. It is for all that a greater matter to expresse in Achilles his picture the very same Art.
1702. Mouse grown a Rat, 3. My mighty Bulk does even elevate and surprize, and all that.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 150. To talk of my repenting, alas! ’tis past all that with me…. It is too late.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 127. If People will set up for Virtue, and all that, let ’em be uniformly virtuous.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 89. Full of chat, In passing harmless jokes ’bout beaus and that.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lx. Dob reads Latin like English, and French and that.
1884. Ruskin, Lett. to F. Randal, Wks. 1907, XXX. Introd. 65. What do you think I would give to be your age, and able to draw like that!
c. At that (orig. U.S., colloq. or slang): estimated at that rate, at that standard, even in that capacity, in respect of that; too; ‘into the bargain’: ‘a cant phrase … used to define more nearly or intensify something already said’ (Bartlett).
Prob. extended from dear at that, cheap at that (price).
1855. Blackw. Mag., Sept., 324/2. ‘Now then, mister,’ turning to the man at the bar, ‘drinks round, and cobblers at that.’
1883. Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 167. Yet water it was, and sea-water at that.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 226. A shoemaker, and a poor one at that.
1897. Trans. Amer. Pediatric Soc., IX. 73. The infant was underfed, and did not receive the correct food at that.
** As antecedent pronoun.
(= F. celui, Ger. der, derjeuige.)
6. As antecedent to a relative (pron. or adv.) expressed or understood.
Here, and in 7 and 8 usually (as in II. 3) definitive rather than demonstrative, the relative clause (or dependent phrase) serving to complete the definition.
a. Of a thing, in general sense: that thăt, that which = the thing which, what; so that whereby, wherein, wherewith, whence, etc.
Sometimes following the relative clause, which then begins with what: that being in this case now pleonastic and emphatic.
[a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. vii. [ix.] (1890), 178. Hwelc pæs cyninges ʓeleafa & modes wilsumnis in God wære, þæt æfter his deaðe … was ʓecyðed.]
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 535. Wyrkez and dotz þat at ȝe moun.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xvi. (Magdalena), 605. For-þi be sikker in þat,… Þat scho þe taucht.
1399. Rolls of Parlt., III. 452/1. Havyng consideration to that that was prayed by the comon, that thát that was evell … shuld be … amended in this Parlement.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 48. Þat þat semys to ȝow yn þys matere.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. xi. 23. That which I gave vnto you I receaved off the lorde.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 127. Though the chylde reiecte and vomyte vp agayne that the whiche it receaueth.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 226. Hah … that thou hadst seene that, that this Knight and I haue seene.
1650. Gentilis, Considerations, 233. Coriolanus, who could not attain to that as he wanted, should have forsaken that which he had received.
1674. Grew, Anat. Trunks, II. ii. § 3. What the Mouth is, to an Animal; that the Root is to a Plant.
1875. F. Hall, in Lippincott’s Mag., XV. 341/1. There was that about the place which filled me with a sense of utter dreariness.
b. Referring to a preceding sb., and equivalent to the with the sb.: e.g., in first quot., that which = ‘the bread which.’
1634. Holland, Pliny, II. 141. The Sitanian bread, i. that which is made of three months corn.
1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Rimula Laryngis, that which is covered by the Cartilage of the Epiglottis.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xv. Breaking into your apartment, [he] transported you to that where I myself received you from his arms.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 68. The proportion … between the load at the maximum and that by which the wheel is stopped.
1859. Ruskin, Two Paths, ii. § 54. Fine Art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart … go together.
c. Of a person. Now only as in 1 b. In quot. 1542 that which = ‘he who’ or ‘one that.’
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 35. He … taunted Plato, as yt whiche in rebukyng hym did committe the veraye selfe same faulte.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 87. Who is that that spake?
Mod. That was our member who spoke first at the meeting.
7. With ellipsis of a following relative (subj. or obj. of the relative clause): = that person or thing (sc. ‘that’ or ‘which’). Now only where that is definitely demonstrative or emphatic, as in 1.
In earlier use the antecedent pronoun was omitted: see THAT rel. pron. 3. From the 16th c. onwards there are examples in which it is difficult to say whether the single that is the antecedent or the relative. Wherever it is emphatic it may be considered the demonstrative. Cf. also THAT rel. pron. 3 and 10.
[1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. 295. For that is myne is yours.]
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 212. May be the knaue bragg’d of that he could not compasse. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., V. i. 153. Be that thou know’st thou art, and then thou art As great as that thou fear’st. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., I. ii. 314. Thy Honorable Mettle may be wrought From that it is dispos’d.
1850. Neale, Med. Hymns, 20. Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants That they supplicate to gain.
1852. M. Arnold, Tristram & Iseult, i. 7. Who is that stands by the dying fire?
1883. Whittier, Our Country, 12. The best is that we have to-day.
1894. H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 49. She was not of his fold! It was that she thought of.
8. Followed by defining words (of or other prep. with a sb., or a pple. or other vbl. adj.) which serve to qualify or particularize that in the manner of a relative clause.
a. Referring to something just mentioned, and equivalent to the with the sb., or the one. (Cf. 6 b.)
c. 1400. Maundev., ii. (1839), 13. Ȝif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes…. I haue seen … many times that of Paris and that of Costantynoble:… thei were bothe … made of russches of the see.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 54 b. So doth their Pearch exceed that of other countries.
1707. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., III. xi. (ed. 22), 387. That at Radcliff was founded by Nicholas Gibson.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Rubrica, The best in England is that from several parts of Derbyshire.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., xii. Turning from the history of meanness to that of enthusiasm.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Sutherl., I. 92. The post arrived, and brought letters…. That from his sister was full of tender solicitude.
Mod. Which house? That with a verandah. That formerly occupied by Mr. A.
b. In general sense = the thing that is…, what is … (Cf. 6 a.)
1607. C. Newporte, in 3rd Rd. Hist. MSS. Comm., 54/1. Not having any man to put in trust of the ship and that in her.
1844. Browning, Laboratory, iv. That in the mortar—you call it a gum?
1867. Morris, Jason, VI. 325. Careful of that stored up within our hold.
† c. Referring to a statement or saying cited immediately after: usually in that of (the author).
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. v. § 2. The Ægyptians ara supposed to have been best skilled as to the form of the year, according to that of Macrobius, Anni certus modus apud solos semper Ægyptios fuit.
1677. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 309. Perhaps the largess may be the greater, according to that, ‘The booty which is sought for by many hands is quickly acquired.’
1679. T. Puller, Moder. Ch. Eng. (1843), 147. Alleging that of St. Berward: ‘Such a number of festivities is fiter for citizens, than for exiles and pilgrims.’
II. Demonstrative Adjective. Pl. as in I.
1. The simple demonstrative used (as adjective in concord with a sb.), to indicate a thing or person either as being actually pointed out or present, or as having just been mentioned and being thus mentally pointed out. (Now distinguished from the definite article THE as being demonstrative, i.e., pointing out, and not merely definitive, i.e., distinguishing or singling out.)
The use before a possessive, as in quot. 1551, is obs. or arch., the periphrasis with of (see OF 44) being now substituted for the possessive.
In Sc. also referring to something mentioned immediately after, where mod.Eng. uses this. C. I. 1 c, and THIS B. II. 1 b.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2490. Þe Laferrd haffde litell rum Inn all þatt miccle riche.
c. 1250. [see A. 2].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 205. Ich wille telle þat cas.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 671. He wend to haue lauȝt þat ladi loueli in armes.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 63. Joseph … said he sulde com agayn þat day viij dayes.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. iii. 79. That gentilwoman was causar of my faders deth.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., Ep. to W. Cecylle (1895), 16. Though no commoditie of that my labour … should arise.
1661. Walton, Angler, xix. (ed. 3), 238. [This fish] was almost a yard broad, and twice that length.
1746. P. Francis, trans. Horace, Ep., II. ii. 16. My stock is little, but that stock my own.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxiii. She hardly dared to suffer her thoughts to glance that way.
1821. Byron, Juan, III. lxxxvi. xii. The tyrant of the Chersonese Was freedom’s best and bravest friend; That tyrant was Miltiades!
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Man of Many Fr., I. 189. Sophy, put down that knife—Maria, that child will cut her fingers off.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 47. The gates were closed at nine o’clock, and on no pretext opened after that hour.
1897. Pall Mall Mag., Feb., 188. The wife of the that time Governor.
b. Indicating a person or thing assumed to be known, or to be known to be such as is stated. Often (esp. before a person’s name: cf. L. iste) implying censure, dislike, or scorn; but sometimes commendation or admiration. Freq. standing before a noun or noun-phrase in apposition with another.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11815. Þis herods … Þat caitif vn-meth and vn-meke.
a. 1400. Stac. Rome, 405. Pope pelagius, þat holy mon.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1909), 50. The aungeles songen that ioyful songe Gloria in excelsis.
1526. Tindale, 2 Tim. i. 12. He is able to kepe that which I have committed to his kepynge agaynst that daye.
1563. Homilies, II. Gluttony (1859), 301. Holofernes … had his head stricken from his shoulders by that seely woman Judith.
1591. Spenser, Tears of Muses, 401. Thy gay Sonne, that winged God of Loue.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. iv. 15. That Drug-damn’d Italy.
1646. R. Baillie, Lett. (1841), II. 349. Will that fool Johnstone never take any course for your books?
1713. Steele, Guard., No. 1, ¶ 1. Mr. Airs, that excellent penman.
1800. Wordsw., Andrew Jones, 1. I hate that Andrew Jones; he’ll breed His children up to waste and pillage.
1865. G. Macdonald, A. Forbes, 51. He’s a dour crater, that Murdoch Malison.
1866. G. Meredith, Vittoria, xxviii. ‘Ah! in that England of yours, women marry for wealth.’
c. Used with a plural sb. or numeral, instead of those: now only with plurals treated as singulars (e.g., means, pains) or taken in a collective sense.
In some Sc. dialects used before plural sbs. generally.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 2492. And in on graue thei were leyde, That hende knyghtes both two.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3605. He come þere þat ladyes to, And tolde hem alle.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, Hh ij. From that vaynes that be not yet affixed vnto the chorion. Ibid., 72. Also to wasshe that partes in water.
1575. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 473. The present troublis quhairwith that cuntreis ar inquietit.
1654–66. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 204. I will spare thee that pains.
1710. Swift, Examiner, No. 16, ¶ 7. That ill manners … I have been often guilty of.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, I. There’s that ten guineas you were sending to the poor gentleman.
1861. Trollope, Framley P., I. xiii. 252. As to that five thousand pounds.
1865. Miss Braddon, Only a Clod, xxiv. During that rainy six weeks.
1868. G. Macdonald, R. Falconer, I. xx. Maybe ye wad like to luik at that anes.
d. That once, that one time: see ONCE 9 c.
e. = ‘The same’ (obs. rare). That same, † that self: see SAME A. 5, B. 2, 4, SELF B. 1, 2.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 190. The Rose that is eaten with the Canker is not gathered bicause it groweth on that stalke yat the sweet doth, neither was Helen made a Starre bicause shee came of that Egge with Castor.
2. In opposition to this: properly denoting the more distant of two things, but often vaguely indicating one thing as distinguished from another. Cf. I. 3 above.
13[?]. [see THIS B. I. 3].
1551–. [see THIS B. II. 2].
b. Strengthened by there (also abbrev. ’ere, ’air) immediately following: see THERE B. 3 c. Cf. this here (HERE adv. 1 d). dial. and vulgar.
3. In concord with a sb. which is the antecedent to a relative (expressed or understood). Cf. I. 6, 7.
Usually definitive rather than demonstrative, serving for introduction or anticipation of the relative clause, which completes the description; thus often interchangeable with the (cf. THE a. 14), but usually more emphatic. (Similarly with a noun further defined by a pple., as in quot. 18131.)
c. 1470. Ashby, Dicta Philos., 701. That kyng that maketh his Region To be obedient to his iuste lawe.
c. 1500. Melusine, 24. Erle Emerye and Raymondin … stode … on that syde as them semyd that the stryf was.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 450/2. A manne may saye ‘the man that we spake of was here,’ or ‘that man that we spake of was here.’
1637. Heylin, Brief Answ., 75. It was ordeined, that that mans tongue should be cut out which did speake any slanderous … words.
1647–8. Cotterell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 21. Brought … to that issue as was intended.
1658. Dryden, Cromwell, xiii. Like that bold Greek who did the East subdue.
1690. Locke, Govt., I. iv. § 42. By withholding that relief God requires him to afford.
1779. Mirror, No. 50, ¶ 2. That listlessness and languor which attend a state of total inaction.
1813. Eustace, Italy (1815), III. xi. 394. On that peninsulated rock called La Spilla, hanging over yonder deep cavern.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., iii. (1814), 56. The root is that part of the vegetable which least impresses the eye.
b. In advb. phrases of time or place, with following relative clause (with relative usually omitted); e.g., † by that time (that) … = by the time that … (obs.). (In quot. 1573 with advb. clause.) Now rare (replaced by the), unless emphatic.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3160. Fulle seke he was By þat tyme þat he þedur þo come.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. 240. By that tyme it was day, they came to the mountayne.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 93. That night before they should sail in the morning, appeared unto Simonides the self-same man.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., I. ii. (1622), 21. [They] beset the wood, that way the army should returne.
1656. S. Holland, Zara (1719), 65. By that time they were half over Styx, they espyed an aged Person.
1760. Impostors Detected, IV. iii. II. 179. He … got me a wife by that time I had attained my fifteenth year.
1805. Emily Clark, Banks of Douro, I. 48. Enraptured at that time the event took place.
4. Indicating quality or amount: Of that kind or degree; such, so great. Const. that (conj.), as (with finite vb. or inf.), inf. (without as), or rel. pron. (also with ellipsis of the conj. or rel.); rarely without correlative. Now chiefly arch. (or dial.).
(Cf. THAT dem. adv.)
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1906), 131. She … wepte for her synnes, þat was the loue of God and the drede that she had for her misleuinge.
1530. Tindale, Prol. Deut. When I am brought in to that extremite that I must ether suffre or forsake god.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., iii. (1870), 133. Saynt Partryckes purgatory … is not of that effycacyte as is spoken of.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. v. 48. From me, whose loue was of that dignity, That it went hand in hand, euen with the Vow I made to her in marriage.
1648. Milton, Tenure Kings (1650), 57. With that cunning and dexterity as is almost imperceavable.
1678. Walton, Life Sanderson, 53. An Error of that Magnitude, that I cannot but wonder.
1734. Duchess Queensberry, in Lett. C’tess Suffolk (1824), II. 94. This enlivened us to that degree that we were mighty good company.
1821. Shelley, in Lady, S. Mem. (1859), 155. I hope that I have treated the question with that temper and spirit as to silence cavil.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlvii. He … struck her … with that heaviness, that she tottered on the marble floor.
1865. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly (1870), 241. He blushed to that degree that I felt quite shy.
† 5. As neuter sing. of the definite article: see THE A. I c. Obs. (exc. in that ilk: see ILK a.1). That one, that other = the one, the other: see ONE 18, OTHER B. 2; also TONE, TOTHER. Obs.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Orosius, I. i. § 1. Tweʓen dælas: Asia, and þæt oþer Europe.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7017. Þat þe on broþer … in nede helpeþ þere þat oþer.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 305. [He] toke him by þat on arme & threw him in a welle.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. ix. 427. Two bretheren, that one hyght Aleyn, and the other hyghte Tryan.
1509. Sel. Cas. Crt. Star Chamber (Selden), 194. Half of that brigge appertaigneth to the said abbot and that other half to the said Town.
1576. Gascoigne, Steel Gl. (Arb.), 68. That one eye winks…. That other pries and peekes.
III. Demonstrative Adverb. [Closely related to the adjective use in II. 4.]
To that extent or degree; so much, so. (Qualifying an adj., adv., or pple., † rarely a vb.) Now only dial. and Sc. (exc. as in b).
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6279. His sekenes þat encrest, He gert beere him … Aboute þe contre on a bere.
1616. in J. Russell, Haigs, vii. (1881), 160. If I had been that unhappy as to have such a foolish thing.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1693), 67. This was carried with that little noise that … the … Bishop was not awaked.
1803. Boswell, Change Edin., 5. Gowd’s no that scanty.
1852. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxiv. I was on my guard for a blow, he was that passionate. Ibid. (1870), E. Drood, ii.
1884. Mrs. Riddell, Berna Boyle, vii. The rooms are that small you might reach a book off the opposite wall.
1888. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xxi. He was that weak as he could hardly walk.
1902. O. Wister, Virginian, xxxv. You were that cool!
Mod. Sc. He’s grown that big ye wad hardly ken him. He was that cunning!
b. With an adv. or adj. of quantity, e.g., that far (= as far as that), that much, that high: more definite than so, as indicating the precise amount.
1634. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 126. I repose that much in His rich grace that He will be loath to change upon me.
1805. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 39. His family, which he had sent that far in the course of the day.
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred, i. I. 5. I never liked anything that long [= six weeks].
1870. Miss Bridgman, Rob. Lynne, II. xi. 224. ‘I … recollect you that high’—holding her hand about six inches off the table.
