th-, th'
(ME. þ-), a clipped form of some unstressed monosyllables, esp. when the following word begins with a vowel or h.
1. = the.
Still dial. in Lancs., etc.: cf. t' 2. See also i'th'.
| 1154 O.E. Chron., Þe munekes..on cyricen byrieden þabbot hehlice. c 1200 Ormin 5937 Tatt himm ummbeshorenn wass Hiss shapp o þalde wise. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace 5734 Þapostles holy lyf. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 325 Þacces of anguych watz hid in my sawle. 1414–15 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) p. cxx, Sir Marmaduke Constable thelder, knight,..on thone partie, & Sir Robert Plompton..on thother partie. 1485 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 8 To be levied by thands of Thomas Combes. 1533 More Apol. 283 More old than thage of eyght hundred yere. 1623 Shaks.'s Lear iv. vi. 238 Least that th'infection..take..hold on thee. ― Temp. ii. i. 120 To th'shore. Ibid. 131 Which end o' th'beame should bow. 1883 Almondbury & Huddersfield Gloss. s.v. T, Th' man i'th' mooin. |
† 2. = thou. Obs.
| c 1315 Shoreham i. 94 Þorwe þat blod þi soule his [= is] bouȝt..And þorwe þat water i-wessche þart. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8015 Þer wot no man of wham þart come. c 1500 Debate Carp. Tools 6 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 79 Th' all neuer be thryfty man. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. Countrie Song 99, I rather would my sheepe Thad'st killed with a stroke. 1594 Greene & Lodge Looking Glasse (Hunter. Cl.) 25 Well sirrha well, thart as thart, and so ile take thee. |
† 3. = they. Obs.
| c 1540 in Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. (1631) 282 God grant hem euirlastyng lyff, To whom we hop thar gon. 1707 E. Ward Hud. Rediv. II. vii. 18 Th'ad put the holy Puppet on A Surplice. |