adv. (conj.). Obs. Forms: 1–3 þæs, 2–4 þes, þas, 3 (Orm.) þess. [OE. þæs, gen. sing. masc. and neut. of se, séo, þæt: see THE A. 4 a, THAT A. 1. Retained in certain adverbial and conjunctive uses, after its simple genitive use became obsolete.]
1. a. Because of or on account of that; because. b. From that time, after that; from the time that, after. c. In the way that, according as, as. d. To that extent, so: cf. THAT dem. adv.
a. c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xlix. 379. Waa me ðæs [L. quia] ic swiʓode.
c. 1205. Lay., 2743. Wa wes Lumbardisce folc þes [c. 1275 þas]. Ibid., 5989. Wel wes Romanisce folc þæs [c. 1275 þas].
a. 1300. XI Pains of Hell, 208, in O. E. Misc., 153. Þat weren her, wo is ham þes.
b. c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. vi. § 12. Pæs ymb iii ʓear … þa consulas foran … on Africe.
a. 900. O. E. Chron., an. 894. Þæt wæs ymb twelf monað þæs þe hie ær hider … comon.
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. ix. [xii.] (1890), 44. Sona þæs ðe hi on þis ealond comon.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1387. Olyuer wax hol sone þas.
c. c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxiv. § 3. Men secað anfealde eadiʓnesse ðæs ðe him ðincð.
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xiv. [xxv.] (1890), 60. Þæs þe me ʓeþuht is & ʓesewen.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xliii. 7. We him andswaredon þæs þe he us axode.
c. 1000. St. Andrew & Veronica, 26. Ðaes ðe bec secgaþ.
d. a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 832. Nære flod þæs deop, nære stream þæs micel.
2. Thes the, þes þe (þess te), before a comparative: For that the (more, etc.); so much the (more, etc.); = OHG. desde, MHG. deste, Ger. desto (mehr, etc.).
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 123. Sio wund bið ðæs ðe wierse.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xx. 31. Þa clypodon hiʓ þæs ðe ma.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., ibid. Þa clepedon hyo þæs þe mare. [So Mark x. 48.]
c. 1200. Ormin, 444–5. Þatt hise frend mihhtenn off himm All þess te mare blissenn, & tatt te follc all þess te bett Hiss lare shollde follȝhenn.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 436, in O. E. Misc., 129. Þanne sal þe child þas þe bet worþen.
