Those

dem. pron. and adj. (pl.) Forms: α. 1–3 ðás, 1–4 þás, 4 þaas, þais, 4–5 þase, (5 þaes); 5 thas, thase, 5–6 thais. β. 3–4 þos (3 þosse), 4–5 þose, thoos, (5, 7 thoes, Scotticized thoise, thoys), 6 thoose; 4– those. [OE. þás, þās, ME. þōs, pl. of THIS, which during the ME. period became synonymous with þā, THO, pl. of that, which it at length superseded, and thus came to be used in its current sense. The identification of þās (þaas, þase, þais(e) with þā began in the north, where it is evidenced c. 1300–1340; the use of þōs (thoos, those) for þō, in midld. and south, came later. Chaucer has only tho; and most of the examples of thos(e before 1475 occur either in midld. versions of northern poems, such as the Anturs of Arthur and Sir Perceval, where the scribe transliterated thas(e into thos(e, or in the works of northern men, as Wyclif, whose native dialect had thas(e. In Eng. literature those, thoos, thoes, became common first in works printed by Caxton, and thenceforth those and tho continued to be used in the same sense, tho gradually becoming rarer, till c. 1550.

  The early southern ME. þōs = THESE, appears to have been retained longest in Kentish: see quot. 1340 in. I. 1. It was of course obsolete in Midld. Eng. before thos, thoos, those in the modern sense was accepted. It is doubtful whether thase ever found a footing in Scotland, where þā continued in use, and still exists as THAE pl. of that.]

  I.  Demonstrative pronoun.

  † 1.  Plural of THIS B. I = THESE B. I. Obs.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xliii. 18 [xliv. 17]. Ðas all cwomun ofer usic.

a. 900.  K. Ælfred, Laws, Introd. c. 49 § 9. Ic ða Ælfred cyning þas togædere ʓegaderode.

a. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. xix. [xxvii.] 242. Betweoh þas wæron tweʓen ʓeonge æðelingas.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. iv. 9. Ealle þas ic sylle þe.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 217. Ac ich ne mai ne ich ne can þosse [i.e., words] on openi.

1340.  Ayenb., 10. Vor alle þos byeþ ualse wytnesses. Ibid., 39. Þise makeþ þe ualse mariages. Þise benimeþ þe heritages, Þos doþ zuo moche kuead … and al þis hi doþ be hare greate couaytise.

  2.  Plural of THAT: indicating things or persons pointed to or already mentioned: see THAT B. I. 1.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6556. I fynde wryten paynes fourtene,… And whilk þas er I sal yhow telle.

a. 1400.  K. Alis., 4913 (Bodl. MS.). A folk woneþ biside þoos, Þat beeþ ycleped Farangos.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 33. He made diuers bookis of phisik … and of thoos, xij the most be studyed by ordre.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 225. A Sea of melting pearls, which some call teares: Those at her fathers churlish feete she tenderd. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., III. vii. 74. The Armour that I saw in your Tent to night, are those Starres or Sunnes vpon it?

1611.  Bible, Eccl. vii. 28. A woman among all those haue I not found.

1653.  Walton, Angler, ii. 65. Milk. What Song was it, I pray? was it, Come Shepherds deck your heads: or, As at noon Dulcina rested: or Philida flouts me? Pisc. No, it is none of those.

a. 1822.  Shelley, Serchio, 36. Melchior and Lionel were not among those.

Mod.  Who are those passing? Those are our neighbours Smith and Jones. I looked at all the books on the top shell, but it was not one of those.

  b.  Preceded by and, introducing an additional qualification of the things or persons mentioned in the previous clause: plural of THAT B. I. 2 a.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 162. Other and those very good archers in drawyng, loke at the marke.

1590.  Ryther, trans. Ubaldino’s Disc. Span. Invasion, 5. Through penurie of many and those necessarie things.

1601.  Holland, Pliny (1634), I. 529. If the vineyard lie pendant vpon the hanging of an hill, it requireth deeper ditches, and those raised vp well with earth.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 189. Lord of few Acres, and those barren too.

1701.  Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 53. Other figures … and those perfect ones.

Mod.  I have only three, and those not of the best.

  3.  In opposition to these; sometimes spec. = ‘the former’: plural of THAT B. I. 3, 3 b. For quots. see THESE B. I. 2, II. 2. Also in contrast to (the) others.

1653.  Walton, Angler, iv. 116. Palmer flies, not only those rib’d with silver and gold, but others that have their bodies all made of black.

1655.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. I. 6. Those affirming they had bargain’d onely for the fish, the others that they bought the draught at a venture.

  4.  As antecedent pronoun, followed by a defining word or phrase, viz. a relative clause (with relative expressed or understood), a participle (or other vbl. adj.), or a preposition (esp. of) with a sb. that serves to qualify or particularize those: plural of THAT B. I. 6–8. (= Ger. diejenigen or die, F. ceux, celles.)

  a.  In general sense: chiefly, now only, of persons: those who = the people who; those of = the people of, etc. Plural of THAT B. I. 6 a, c, 8 b.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7510. Alle þase þat wille þair syn forsake.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 67. Þase þat trowes perfitely in Godd sall be sauf.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 296. Þase at sulde bere hym myght gett hym no ferrer.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 115. Thoos that be nedy. Ibid., 129. Thoes that blame.

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. viii. 12. I am louynge vnto those that loue me.

1548.  Forrest, Pleas. Poesye, 55. Of thoise that they had too them made subiugate.

1554–9.  T. Watertoune, in Songs & Ball. (1860), 11. All thoys that have years this undarstande.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 48. Who are those at the gate? Ibid. (1598), Merry W., V. v. 57. Those as sleepe, and thinke not on their sins. Ibid. (1605), Macb., II. iii. 106. Those of his Chamber, as it seem’d, had don’t. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 398. Those are pearles that were his eies. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. i. 167. Pray thinke vs, Those we professe, Peace-makers, Friends, and Seruants.

1777.  Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), II. 216. Those who appeared more gentle and tractable.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., 50. Those from whom they are descended.

1856.  Geo. Eliot, Ess. (1884), 232. Those among our painters who aim at giving the rustic type of features.

1896.  Law Times, C. 410/1. Any person other than himself and those claiming under him.

Mod.  Of those expected only a few turned up.

  b.  Referring to things or persons mentioned immediately before, and equivalent to the with the pl. sb.; e.g., in quot. 1593, those = ‘the storms.’ Plural of THAT B. I. 6 b, 8 a.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 31. Diuerse opinions, And in especial thoos of plato.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 1589. These watergalls … Foretell new stormes to those alreadie spent.

1611.  Bible, Josh. iii. 16. The waters which came downe from aboue, stood and rose vp vpon an heape … and those that came downe toward the sea of the plaine … failed, and were cut off.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1790), VII. 51. The oysters … are by no means so large as those found sticking to rocks.

1779.  Mirror, No. 6, ¶ 10. The classical writers … were those from whose works he felt the highest pleasure.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IV. 778/2. The larvæ, which resemble those of the wasp.

1819.  Keats, Ode Grecian Urn, ii. Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter.

1874.  Dasent, Half a Life, II. 76. His laws being like those of the Medes and Persians.

  II.  Demonstrative adjective.

  † 1.  Plural of THIS B. II = THESE B. II. Obs.

a. 900.  K. Ælfred, Laws, Introd. Dryhten wæs sprecende ðas word to Moyse.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vi. 32. Ealle þas þing þeoda seceað.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 11 (De Quadragesima). Þas daȝes beoð iset us to muchele helpe … al swa moyses … feste þes daȝes.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 185. Ðos feawe word … seide ure drihten.

c. 1205.  Lay., 672. Brutus hine bi-þohte … & þas [c. 1275 þeos] word seide.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 139 (Cott.). Þos [Jes. þeos] word aȝaf þe niȝtingale.

  2.  Plural of THAT B. II. 1.

  α.  13[?].  Cursor M., 2590 (Gött.). As it was hite [v.r. hight] bifor þas [C. þaa, F. þa] dais. Ibid., 4948 (Cott.). Þan spak ruben, þe eildest broiþer, Stilli menand til þas [F. þase] oþer. Ibid., 8187 (Cott.). He tok þaas [G. þa] wandes in his hand. Ibid., 19859. Quen petre þais [G., F. þa: Tr. þo] vnbestes sagh.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 82. With all þase candels he cursid þis fend & entirditid hym.

  β.  c. 1375.  Cursor M. (Fairf.), 7254. Bi a piler was he sette to glew þos [C. þaa] gomis at mete.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 112. Bifore þat tyme weren þos wordis spoken of Crist.

a. 1400.  Sir Perc., 229. Fyftene wynter and mare He duellede in those holtes hare.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, Pref. 3. Ony of thoos bookes. Ibid., 27. Whiche was a Cyte in thoos dayes.

1491.  in Lett. Rich. III. & Hen. VII. (Rolls), I. 99. Bring the said Sir Robert and thoes other oure rebelles and traitours.

1526.  Tindale, Luke i. 39. Mary arose in thoose [Coverd. & Gt. Bible those] dayes.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iv. 61. Binde vp those tresses.

1639.  Hamilton Papers (Camden), 90. So many men … with thoes I haue heir, as will make up that number.

1741–2.  Challoner, Mission. Priests (1803), II. 19. John Sugar was born at Womborn … of a noted family in those parts.

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 14. A living stirring picture of the Church and State of those days.

  b.  Indicating things or persons as known to be such as described: plural of THAT B. II. 1 b.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 140. Thy lips, those kissing cherries.

1678.  Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. ii. 61. As for those Romantick Monogrammous Gods of Epicurus.

1753.  Challoner, Cath. Chr. Instr., 178. Those two great Lights of the Church, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil.

1822.  Shelley, Question, 10. Daisies, those pearled Arcturi of the earth.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 494. Those worst enemies of the nation.

  c.  Used instead of that with a sing. noun of multitude (now only with collectives in pl. sense, as clergy, foot (foot-soldiers), horse, vermin); and esp. with kind, sort, followed by of with pl. sb. (see KIND sb. 14 b). Cf. THESE B. II. 1 d.

  Those kind (or sort) of men, is put for ‘men of that kind (or sort),’ L. cjus generis homines, and is grammatically anomalous: cf. THAKIN.

  1560.  Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 9 b. Behind the said teeth to place those number of men which first were taken out.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. ii. 10. You, and those poore number saued with you.

1692.  O. Walker, Grk. & Rom. Hist., 266. He … chased away those Vermin of Courtiers.

1875.  Gladstone, Glean., VI. 126. Some of those clergy who are called Broadchurchmen.

1565.  J. Sparke, in Hawkins, Voy., II. (Hakl. Soc.), 51. Those sorte of men are eaters of the flesh of men, as well as the Canibals.

1577.  Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 99. From whence those kinde of playes had their beginning.

1608.  Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. xi.–xii. 150. In those kind of trees, the root cannot defend the branches, nor bodie.

1761.  H. Walpole, Lett. to H. Zouch, 3 Jan. The little regard shown … to those sort of things.

1798.  Jane Austen, Lett. (1884), I. 187. Those kind of foolish and incomprehensible feelings.

1887.  Rider Haggard, Jess, 126. Those sort of reflections.

  3.  In opposition to these: plural of THAT B. II. 2; cf. I. 3 above. For quots. see THESE B. II. 2.

  4.  In concord with a noun which is the antecedent to a relative (expressed or omitted), or which is further defined by a participle: pl. of THAT B. II. 3.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 13. Þas .x. bebode þe godalmihti seolf idihte.

1526.  Tindale, Eph. v. 12. Those thynges which are done of them in secrete. Ibid., Jude 10. Those thinges which they knowe not. In tho thynges which they knowe naturally they corrupte them selves [so Coverd. & Gt. Bible].

1539.  Bible (Great), Rev. i. 3. And kepe those [Tindale & Coverd. thoo] thynges which are written therin.

1563.  Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., § 35, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 100. Gif ze be nocht admittit be thais Kirkis, quhome ze serue.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., IV. viii. 96. The Names of those their Nobles that lye dead.

1631.  Milton, Epitaph Marchioness Winchester, 43. Those Pearls of dew she wears.

1779.  Mirror, No. 30, ¶ 2. Those national boasts which are always allowable. Ibid. (1780), No. 70, ¶ 5. Those useful chronicles of facts, called newspapers.

1859.  Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xlix. Brethren and sisters … who have none of those comforts you have.

  5.  = Such: plural of THAT B. II. 4. Now rare.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, I. i. 99. I returne those duties backe as are right fit. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. v. 338. Those Arts they haue, as I Could put into them.

1632.  Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, III. i. Obnoxious to those foolish things As they can gibe at.

1689.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 567. The town … was reduced to those straights, that if not releived … it must have surrendred in two daies time.

1827.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. vi. He spoke of you in those terms that make me glad that I have met the son.