† for-ˈthon, conj. Obs.
Also 1 forþám, -þan, 2–4 forthan, 7 forthen.
[In OE. two words: for prep. + þon instr., þám dat., of the. The dat. and instr. forms coalesced in ME.]
1. For this reason, therefore. In ME. sometimes repeated, forþon..forþon ‘for this reason..that’.
| c 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. iii. xiii. [xv.] (1890) 198 He forðon eallum ᵹe þisse worulde aldormonnum wæs leof. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. vi. 25 Forþam [c 1160 Hatton Forþan] ic secᵹe eow þæt [etc.]. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 95 Forðon wes þe halia gast on culfren onlicnesse bufan criste, forðon he wes [etc.]. c 1205 Lay. 989 For þon [c 1275 for þan] ȝif hit eow bi-loueð..fare we from þisse londe. c 1320 Cast. Love 1072 He scholde neuer die for þon. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 27 By a fraynyng for-þan faileþ þer manye. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 43 Not forthan I wyl not blynne. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 19 Forthen and Forthy, therefore. |
2. For the reason that, because.
| Beowulf (Gr.) 150 Forþam wearð [sorᵹcearu] ylda bearnum undyrne cuð. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 17 Hit is riht þet me hem spille, forþan betere hit is [etc.]. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1996 Putifar..boȝte ioseph al forðan He wulde don is lechurhed wið ioseph. |
So for-thon the, later forthon that = 2.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. i. (1883) 24 For ðon þe sio sunne þær gæð near on sett þonne on oðrum lande, þær [etc.]. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xiv. 24 For-þam [c 1160 Hatton for-þan] þe hyt wæs strang wind. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 53 For þon þet he scolde swote smelle. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 107 Leomene fader we clepeð ure drihten for þan þe he sunne atend. c 1250 Owl & Night. 780 And for þan þat hit no wit not Ne mai his strenghe hit ischilde. 1340 Ayenb. 184 Vor þan þet roboam..uorlet þane red of þe yealden guode men..he uor-leas þet gratteste del of his kingdome. |