though, adv. and conj.
(ðəʊ)
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 þŏhh, 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 (x), 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 Wright Eng. Dial. Gram. In Scotl. and north of Engl. though is pronounced (θɔː); the Hampsh. and WSom. thof also is (θɔf), not (ðɔf).]
A. Illustration of Forms.
(α) 1 þéah, ðǽh, 1–3 þéh, ðæch, þæh, 2–3 þech, (þehȝ), (Orm.) þĕhh, 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 ᵹif vel ðæh alle ᵹeondspyrand 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 ᵹeornlice ᵹehyre 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 sceomiᵹo. 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 1420 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. 91 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).
The form tho has been used in the U.S. as a reformed spelling, and (like tho') is used informally as an abbreviation of the word.
| c 1200 Ormin Ded. 155 Þohh þatt teȝȝ all forrwerrpenn itt. Ibid. Introd. 23, & itt wass þohh full mikell rihht. c 1275 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 tr. 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 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) II. 149 Tho the impatience of abstaining be greater. 1741 Tho' [see B. I]. 1796 R. Barrie Let. 12 Oct. in N. Tolstoy Half-Mad Lord (1978) ii. 35 Tho: he sometimes might act imprudently his conduct never merited the ignominious punishment he receiv'd. 1818 M. Edgeworth Let. 8 Sept. (1971) 84 The library tho magnificent is a most comfortable..room. 1842 Tennyson Poems II. 91 Tho' much is taken, much abides. 1849 G. Gray Let. 22 June in M. Lutyens Ruskins & Grays (1972) xxiii. 217, I have now taken the opportunity..tho' without alluding to your Letter, of asking her how it was. 1879 Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 6 The committee now present the following words as the beginning of such [a] list [of reformed spellings], and recommend them for immediate use:..Tho. Thru. Wisht. 1906 Simplified Spelling Board Circular (U.S.) No. 2. 12 Tho... Thru. 1973 Black World June 66 Sister Habiba's party was still smokin. Tho all the good food and wine and reefer was gone now. 1982 N.Y. Times 22 Sept. c–2/3 Tho' the trip's less than a mile it's still a dreary, cheerless bore. |
(δ) 4 þowf, 4–5 þof (of), þofe, thofe, thoffe, 5 (yof), þaf, 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 Mle [= 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 M. Charlton Wife & Mistress II. 149, I never mintioned it before, thof I knowed it all along! |
(ε) (Chiefly Sc.) 4–5 þocht, (4 þoght, thowcht), 4–6 thoucht, 4–7 thocht, 5–7 thoght, 6 thought, thouȝght, tho{supt}.
| 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 Barbour Bruce (MS. 1489) 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{supt} I had rycht no{supt} 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. a. adv. For all that; in spite of that; nevertheless, howbeit, however, yet. Now colloq.; usually enclitic, as ‘he did though’ (hiː ˈdɪd ðəʊ).
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 37 Ne maᵹon 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 Shakes. 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 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. |
b. colloq. Used as an intensive after a question or emphatic statement: indeed, truly.
| 1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 102/1 ‘How it do rain!’ indicates a heavy shower; but, ‘How it do rain though!’ marks a much heavier. 1906 [see geewhillikins int.]. 1912 B. Harraden Out of Wreck I Rise viii. 153 ‘I didn't know that persons who wrote plays made thousands.’ ‘Don't they, though,’ Hailsham answered, laughing. 1929 E. M. Brent-Dyer Rivals of Chalet School vi. 83 ‘We've got more than an hour yet!’ ‘Have you, though?’ said Mrs Maynard's voice just behind her. ‘You've nothing of the kind.’ 1948 G. Vidal City & Pillar i. v. 147 ‘What a sad story!’ said Maria. ‘Isn't it, though?’ 1974 J. Aiken Midnight is Place iv. 128 ‘I get enough money..for Papa and me.’ ‘Did you though?’ said Lucas..with surprise. |
II. conj. (or conjunctive adv.).
1. a. 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.) Proverbial phr. though I say it that should not and varr.: see say v.1 B. 2 b.
| 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..Treittit him weill thocht he was far fra hame. 1610 Shakes. 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 tr. 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., n., 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 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 215 The base (though bitter) disposition of Beatrice. 1711 Shaftesbury 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. a. 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 Shakes. 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 Shakes. 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, shou'd protect him. 1792 C. 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 þer 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 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.). In quot. 1963, with verb in present indicative.
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 Shakes. 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 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) II. 239 This looks as though Magnus was more afraid of Harold than of Sweyn. a 1912 Mod. He shaded his eyes as though dazzled by the light. He raised his hand as though to take off his hat. 1963 D. Storey Radcliffe xxxvi. 367 It's the sense of imitation that's so forbidding... As though it's all a deception, and the only person it doesn't deceive is me. |
† 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 daᵹas ælce ᵹeare 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 Shakes. John iii. iii. 57 Though that my death were adiunct to my Act, By heauen I would doe it. 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 Mandeville (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. though-whether 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 Þatt teȝȝ..sinndenn þohh swa þehh i þohht. [See also 1104, 9713.] |
III. as n. 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. |