Though

adv. and conj. Forms: see below. [OE. had ðéah, þéah, þéh, corresp. to Goth. þauh (= þau ‘in that case’ + h = L. -que ‘also’), OFris. thâch (Saterl. dach); OS. thôh (MDu., Du., LG. doch), OHG. doh (shortened fr. dôh), ON. þó (contr. fr. *þauh), MSw., MDa. þo, tho. Of the numerous ME. forms, those in α and β were developments of OE. þéah, þǽh, þáh, with various treatment of the diphthong, and early shortening of the vowel in unstressed position (cf. Ormin’s þĕhh, Lamb. Hom. þăch), with subseq. stress-lengthening, as þeih, they, and þauch, thau, thaw. The γ forms were from Norse, representing an ON. *þóh (intermediate to þauh and þó), shortened in Ormin to þăhh, with subseq. stress-lengthening to þōuȝ, though, thō. The Norse form gradually gained over the native α and β forms, which disappeared from literature before 1500. The δ forms show the same development of f from ȝ, gh (χ^w), as in laugh, cough, tough; thof was occasional in literature as late as 1750, and is still prevalent in many varieties from Yorksh. and Lancash. to Hampsh. and Devon: see see Wright Eng. Dial. Gram.]

  A.  Illustration of Forms.

  α.  1 þéah, ðǽh, 1–3 þéh, ðæch, þæh, 2–3 þech, (þehȝ), (Orm.) þēhh, þeih, 3–4 þeigh, 3–5 þei, þey, 4 þeiȝh, 4–5 þeyȝ, þeyh, þeiȝ, thegh, thei, 5 þeiȝt, theigh(e, they (the). Also 3 þaih, þaiȝ, þayh, þayȝ, þay, 4 þai.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xix. § 1. Hu neara þære eorðan stede is, þeah heo us rum þince.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xiv. 29. ʓif vel ðæh alle ʓeondspyrand see … ah … næfre ic. Ibid., John iv. 2. Ðæch se hælend ne fuluuade.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 37. Þeah [see B. I]. Ibid., 55. Þeh he ʓeornlice ʓehyre þa word.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 77. He [Christ] nis nawiht alle monne lauerd, þech alle men bon on his onwald.

c. 1200.  Vices & Virt., 9. Þeih me niede me to ðan aðe, me ne net me noht te forsweriȝen, ac soð te seggen of ðan ðe ic am bicleped.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 83. Þeh [see B. II. 4]. Ibid., 159. Al þat man doð … þehȝ hie ben don ec for godes luue.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 395. Þatt teȝȝ … sinndenn þohh swa þehh i þohht.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13002. He þus sæide, soð þæh [c. 1275 þoh] hit nære. Ibid., 22736. Wunder þæh [c. 1275 þeh] hit þunche.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 260/148. Þei he fader and moder a-slouȝ.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 689. As þeiȝh he gyled were.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 213. Þeyȝ þou nygh all fallynge be.

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 69. Þeiȝ his felawes fayle good.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. iii. (Tollem. MS.). Þey [L. quamvis] þe soule be onid to a body.

c. 1400.  Brut, 49. As þeiȝt Vortiger hade nouȝt wiste þerof.

1400.  in Roy. & Hist. Lett. Hen. IV. (Rolls), 38. Thegh John Welle hath doon as thu aboven has certefied.

c. 1425.  Seven Sag. (P.), 1741. He loved hit wel, the hit were bad.

a. 1450.  Le Morte Arth., 1985. What wondyr theighe hys herte were wo.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, lv. 298. As they Alle they in the world hadde ben there.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2513. Þaih he bere ræd gold.

c. 1250.  Hymn Virgin, 62, in Trin. Coll. Hom., 257. Betere ne miȝte he þaiȝ he wolde.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3284. Þei [v.r. þay] ȝo were wif.

  β.  1–3 þah (3 tah), 2 þach, þaȝh, 3–4 þaȝ, 5 þagh, thaȝ, thaghe, thaȝhe; 2–5 þau, 3 þaue, 3–4 þauh (tauh), 4–5 þauȝ, þaw, 5 þawe, thau.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xviii. 4. Ðah god ne ondredo ic ne monno sceomiʓo.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 15. Þaȝh [see B. II. 2]. Ibid., 147. Þach his likame swiche pine ne þole.

c. 1205.  Lay., 244. Þa com his lifes ende, lað þah him were.

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 4. Freo wummon ich am ant tah godes þeowe.

a. 1240.  Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 203. [He] beieð adun toward þe his … heaued, ase þauh [v.r. Ibid., 189 þah] he seide [etc.].

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1274. Þah he habbe neole.

c. 1320.  Þauȝ [see B. I].

1340.  Þaȝ [see B. II. 3].

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 132. No dedly sunne to do dyȝe þauȝ þou scholdest.

c. 1430.  Sir Amadace, xxviii. Quat wundur were hit, thaȝhe him were wo?

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 15. Thaȝ Kayme his borne broder were cursid.

a. 1450.  Myrc, Par. Pr., 9. And thaghe þe chylde bote half be bore.

  γ.  3 (Orm.) þohh (tohh), 3–4 þoh (þoch, 3 ðhoȝ), 4 þoȝ, þhoh, þho, þouh, þouȝh, þouhȝ, þowh, þowgh, 4–5 þowȝ, þouȝ, -e, þou, þogh, þow (dow), þo, 4–6 thow, 5 þowe, thoȝe, thouȝ, thowh, thowgh, thou, Sc. thouch, 5–6 thoughe, 5–7 thogh, 6 Sc. thoch, 5– though; 5–9 tho, 6– tho’, (7 thô).

c. 1200.  Ormin, Ded. 155. Þohh þatt teȝȝ all forrwerrpenn itt. Ibid., Introd. 23. & itt wass þohh full mikell rihht.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2345. He seide, soþ þoh [c. 1205 þeih] hit neare. Ibid., 4264. Þoh [c. 1205 ȝef] he hadde man islaȝe.

13[?].  Cursor M., 21818 (Edin.). Þat tu fande þoȝ [Cott. þof, Gött. þou] I walde it noȝte. Ibid., 24590. Þho þu wald þai birid þi barn. Ibid., 73 (Gött.). Þou i sumtime be untrewe. Ibid., 4763 (Fairf.). Þo þai had siluer and golde rede. Ibid., 10941 (Gött.). And dow þai þar-fore murnand were.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VI. 40. And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hem, late mercy be taxoure.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 328. Þouȝ men ben nevere so opynly cursid.

c. 1425.  Seven Sag. (P.), 576. Hit his no wondir tho me be wo.

c. 1425.  trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. App. 519 (MS. β). Thouȝ that tale teller were as huge as a geaunt.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. ix. 195. Ȝhe, thou tho gouernauncis … be weel ynouȝ.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 81. Thouch thai be feble of corps.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes Aymon, xxii. 481. Thoughe he dothe wronge to leve me here.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, 124. Thow a Sarsens hed ye bere.

a. 1540.  Barnes, Wks. (1573), 281/1. Though all the worlde say naye.

a. 1550.  Christis Kirke Gr., xvi. Thoch he wes wight, he wes nocht wyss.

1615.  Hieron, Wks., I. 628. Thogh He do not alwaies shew it.

1643.  Denham, Cooper’s H., Poems (1703), 12. Tho deep, yet clear, tho gentle, yet not dull.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. 149. Tho the impatience of abstaining be greater.

1741.  Tho’ [see B. I].

  δ.  4. þowf, 4–5 þof (of), þofe, thofe, thoffe, 5 (yof), þar, þuff, 5–6 thaff, 5–7 (dial. –9) thof, 8 dial. thoff.

13[?].  Cursor M., 698 (Cott.). Þowf he was euer wittur. Ibid., 19648. And þof a smitt moght he not se.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 7. ‘Thofe I ware,’ quod he. Ibid., 21. Thoffe I be a wrech and vnworthi.

c. 1440.  Þof, yof [see B. II. 1].

c. 1440.  Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. E.), 7 Þaf a M^l3 [= thousand] clerkus dyd noght ellus.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 64. Þuff all he lefte it.

c. 1450.  Thof [see B. II. 2].

14[?].  Kyng & Hermit, 158, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 19. Thaff thou were sych thre.

a. 1565.  J. Heywood, Dial. Wit & Folly (Percy Soc.), 8. As thowghff he knewe th’ end of thing at begynnyng.

1695.  Congreve, Love for L., III. xv. A Sailor will be honest, thof mayhap he has never a Penny of Money in his Pocket.

1748.  Thof [see B. II. 1].

1803.  Mary Charlton, Wife & Mistress, II. 149. I never mintioned it before, thof I knowed it all along!

  ε.  (Chiefly Sc.) 4–5 þocht, (4 poght, thowcht), 4–6 thoucht, 4–7 thocht, 5–7 thoght, 6 thought, thouȝght, tho^t.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 969. Y wlde nat leue for here to werche Þoght men rong noun at þe cherche.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Prol. 166. Thowcht god chesit Androw firste To be ane apostill.

1375.  (MS. 1489) Barbour, Bruce, I. 264. Ȝe may weile se, thoucht nane ȝow tell.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 24. Thocht Inglismen was grewyt at his repayr, Ȝeit [etc.].

1530.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 78. I wolde it had ben uppon the constabyll, thouȝght it had ben worse.

1535.  Thocht [see B. II. 1].

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), ii. 147. Tho^t I had rycht no^t bot a rok.

1567.  Ps. li., in Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 122. Thocht [v.r. thoght] thow … be Jugeit thus Full fals and wrangouslie.

  B.  Signification.

  An adversative particle expressing that relation of two opposed facts or circumstances (actual or hypothetical) in which the one is inadequate to prevent the other, and therefore both concur, contrary to what might be expected.

  I.  adv. For all that; in spite of that; nevertheless, howbeit, however, yet. Now colloq.; usually enclitic, as ‘he did though.’

971.  Blickl. Hom., 37. Ne maʓon þis þeah ealle men don.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 119. Monie þewas beoð … þe monnen þuncheð rihte, ac hi þah ledað to deðe on ende.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 10. Ich am blac & tauh hwit, heo seið. Ibid., 422. Ancre ne schal nout … turnen hire ancre hus to childrene scole. Hire meiden mei, þauh, techen sum lutel meiden.

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 1296. Persones þreo in þrillihod, And o God þauȝ in on-hod.

13[?].  Cursor M., 5750 (Gött.). Þe tre … semid to brine, And þou [Fairf. ȝet] þar was na fir widin.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 343. Your hands then mine, are quicker for a fray, My legs are longer though to runne away.

1672.  Dryden, Assignation, Prol. 3. Prologues like bells to Churches toll you in With chiming verse,… With this sad difference though, of pit and pew, You damn the poet, but the priest damns you.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, I. xxv. 30. Is there no Constable nor Headborough, tho’, to take me out of his House?

1872.  Browning, Fifine at the Fair, lxvii. 13. It did its duty, though.

1885.  Anstey, Tinted Venus, vii. 81. It was in a note, but I’ve lost it. She told me what was inside though.

  II.  conj. (or conjunctive adv.).

  1.  Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a fact: Notwithstanding that; in spite of the fact that, although. (Formerly with verb in subjunctive, where the indicative is now used.)

c. 888.  [see A. α].

971.  Blickl. Hom., 21. [He] bið þonne undeaþlic, þeah he ær deaþlic wære.

c. 1175.  [see A. α].

12[?].  Moral Ode, 356. Ne mai non vuel … beon inne godes riche ðeh þer beð wunienges fele.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 233. For-þy þaȝ þe rape were rank, þe rawþe watz lyttel.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 69. Ladies laȝed ful loude, þoȝ þay lost haden.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 10. Ich was a-ferd of hire face þauh heo feir weore [B. þeiȝ she faire were].

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxx. 45. My-selffe yof I saye itt. Ibid., xlviii. 344. Helpe ne holde, Hadde I none of you, þof I quaked.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 590. The duke … Treitit him weill thocht he was far fra hame.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 135. Though thou canst swim like a Ducke, thou art made like a Goose.

1701.  De Foe, True-born Eng., II. 314. They are no kings, though they possess the crown.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Art Poet., 414. The hone Gives edge to razors, though itself has none.

1748.  Smollett, Rod. Rand., vi. The French … are very civil, thof I don’t understand their lingo.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xv. A gentle hand … rough-grained and hard though it was.

1857.  Buckle, Civiliz., I. xi. 647. Though they rallied, the effort cost them dear.

  b.  With ellipsis in the subordinate clause: usually directly preceding an adj., pple., sb., or adj. phr. qualifying the subject of the main clause, or an adv. or adv. phr. qualifying the verb.

1592.  Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xlvi. (1602), 216. It was objected, though untruely, That they were ydle.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 215. The base (though bitter) disposition of Beatrice.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac., I. III. ii. (1737), II. 48. Favourable to a few, tho for slight causes.

1812.  Crabbe, Tales, xv. 268. For the zealous Youth Resolved, though timid, to profess the truth.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 256. One who, though a foreigner, has often been chosen their general.

1896.  N. & Q., 8th Ser. IX. 160/1. Though marred by eccentricities and extravagances of language, the play has genuine dramatic fibre.

  2.  Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a supposition or possibility: Even if; even supposing that; granting that. (With verb in subjunctive.)

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xiii. Hwæt hæfst þu … æt ðæm welan, þeah hy nu ece wæron?

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 15. Þaȝh we suneȝhie nu on þisse liue ne scal us na mon uuelien þer uore.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4296. Strengh o luue … nan mai stere, Þof his hert al stillen were.

a. 1450.  Myrc, Par. Pr., 358. For þaȝ a preste be but a fonne Aske hys teyþynge welle he conne.

c. 1450.  in Aungier, Hist. Syon Monast. (1840), 385. None shal enclyne to other, thof it be the abbes that passethe by them.

1539.  Bible (Great), Job xiii. 15. Though he slaye me, yet wyll I put my trust in hym.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. i. 62. Hee’l be hang’d yet, Though euery drop of water sweare against it.

1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 557, ¶ 2. He would not accept of one [witness], tho’ it were Cato himself.

1884.  Leisure Hour, Oct., 611. Though knots be tied in the sunshine … they’re meant to hold in a gale.

  b.  With ellipsis (as in 1 b).

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 102. Though nere so blacke, say they haue Angells faces.

1703.  Rowe, Fair Penit., II. ii. No Place, tho’ e’er so holy, should protect him.

1792.  Charlotte Smith, Desmond, III. 346. If she looks pale, though only from slight cold or … fatigue, I fancy her about to be ill.

1875.  J. P. Hopps, Princ. Relig., x. (1878), 32. Though punished by the rulers, [he] may be rewarded by the ruled.

  3.  Introducing an additional statement restricting or modifying the preceding: And yet, but yet, but still, nevertheless, however. Sometimes preceding the main statement. (Coinciding in sense with I, but differing in construction, being conjunctive.)

a. 1240.  Ureisun, 105, in Cott. Hom., 197. Ful wel þu me iseie þauh þu stille were.

1340.  Ayenb., 9. Þet is on of þe zeuen dyadliches zennes, þaȝ her by zome bronches þet ne byeþ naȝt dyadlich zenne.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1312. Tho þat left were on lyue þogh þai lite were.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. Though it be necessary to all maner of religyous persones, yet moost expedient it is to prelates.

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgr., 178. Glad shall I be, if I meet with no more such brunts, though I fear we are not got beyond all danger.

1774.  Mitford, Ess. Harmony Lang., 16. Tho what has been printed on both sides is little red.

1810.  Crabbe, Borough, vii. 48. To show the world what long experience gains, Requires not courage, though it calls for pains.

1894.  Solicitors’ Jrnl., XXXIX. 2/2. The … report … must state that fraud has been committed, though the guilty person need not be specified.

  4.  In more or less weakened or modified sense, often nearly coinciding with if, but usually retaining some notion of opposition. † a. After negative or interrogative phrases with wonder, marvel, be sorry, care, etc., where if or that is now substituted.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 117. He forbed his apostles, þat hie neren noht sorie, þeh he hem forlete lichamliche.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 9585. I rek noght, þogh þe ryme be rude.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4122 (Gött.). Na wonder þan þow [Fairf. if] him was wa.

14[?].  Beryn, 953. No mervell þouȝe his herte wer in grete mournyng.

1557.  North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 295. I do not mervel though they are ful of dyseases when they are old.

1637.  Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., Ep. A ij b. He cares not though the Church sinke.

  b.  In phr. as though: as if; as would or might be the case if; so as to suggest the supposition that. (With verb in past subjunctive (also with ellipsis), or with inf. of purpose: cf. as if s.v. IF 8 c.) In quot. 1297, with ellipsis of as (obs.).

  Here the opposition is not between the two suppositions actually denoted by the main and subordinate clauses, but between two facts, one expressed by the main clause, and the other implied; e.g., in quot. 1598, ‘I thank you as much as though I did’; = ‘I thank you as much as I would thank you if I did eat (though I do not).’

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 7. Sainte powel wrot þo a writ,… and dude him seluen mid hem þaron, alse þeih he sunful were.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 165. Vpe þe hul of þe pek þe wind þere iwis Vp of þe erþe ofte comþ of holes þei hit were.

13[?].  Cursor M., 19088 (Edin.). Qui wondir ȝie … Als þoȝ þis war don wiþ ur miȝt?

c. 1400.  Brut, 238. Buriede in þat sande, as þauȝ þai hade bene hondes.

1509–10.  Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 18 § 2. The Quene [shall] have like Habilitie … as though she had orygynally ben borne within this Realme.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 72. This is as though a man should despise meane fare, bicause he cannot come by better.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 291. I’faith, Ile eate nothing: I thanke you as much as though I did.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., VI. 298. The Camell … hath a most slow and lazy pace…, as though he were weighing his feete in a ballance.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, lii. I have reason to love him as though he was my own son.

1864.  Dasent, Jest & Earnest (1873), II. 239. This looks as though Magnus was more afraid of Harold than of Sweyn.

Mod.  He shaded his eyes as though dazzled by the light. He raised his hand as though to take off his hat.

  † c.  simply. If, supposing that. Obs. rare.

1526.  Tindale, Acts xxiii. 9. Though a sprete or an angell hath apered to hym, lett vs not stryue agaynst God.

  5.  With special constructions (in sense 1, 2, or 3). † a. Followed by that (in OE. þe): see THAT conj. 7, THE particle 2. Obs.

c. 1050.  Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia (1885), VIII. 302. Ðeah ðe ealle daʓas ælce ʓeare habbon heora concurrentes.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Ded. 155. Icc hafe hemm wrohht tiss boc To þeȝȝre sawle nede, Þohh þatt teȝȝ all forrwerrpenn itt.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1803. Bot þof þat noe was in quert, He was noght al at es in hert.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 729. I pray yow … That ye narette it nat my vileynye Thogh that I pleynly speke.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 166. Thocht that I simpill be, Do as I bid thee.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iii. 57. Though that my death were adiunct to my Act, By heauen I would doe it. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. vi. 219. Though that the Queen on special cause is here Her Army is mou’d on.

1711.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App., v. 160. It appears to be a mock-siege; tho’ that Ginckle gained the town in earnest.

  b.  Strengthened by all, following (see ALL C. 10 a) or preceding. Obs. (exc. in comb. ALTHOUGH). Also by even preceding: see EVEN adv. 9 c.

  Even though is not used by Shakespeare nor in Bible of 1611.

c. 1325.  Song Mercy, 168, in E. E. Poems (1862), 123. Al þauȝ i kouþe, yf þat i wolde.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16055. Þowh al he hadde Crysten feyþ, To þo Crysten he dide ouer leyþ.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4246 (Gött.). Al þou þair treuthes sundri ware.

a. 1400.  in Hampole’s Wks. (1896), I. 200. Þofe-all they know me noghte for þi sone.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 2. John Mawndevyle, Knyȝt, þof all I be vnworthy.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 107. Þof all’ he be with outen gylte.

1697, 1791.  [see EVEN adv. 9 c].

1856.  J. H. Newman, Serm. Var. Occas., i. (1881), 12. Nor, even though it be told to her, can she enter into it.

  † 6.  Ormin has the combination þohh swa þehh, lit. ‘though so though,’ ‘though so yet,’ in the sense ‘nevertheless,’ ‘notwithstanding.’ Cf. THOUGHWHETHER in same sense.

  This is the only use of the form þehh in Ormin.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 9717. & teȝȝre name þohh swa þehh Bitacneþþ rihhtwisnesse. Ibid., 395 [see A. α], 1104, 9713.

  III.  as sb. The word used as a name for itself, or an utterance of it. nonce-use. (Cf. IF B.)

1634.  Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 255. To answer his ifs & thoughs & whats particularly.