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Word Study
the
CIDE DICTIONARY
the, v. i.
See Thee. Chaucer. Milton. [1913 Webster]
the, definite article. [AS. , a later form for earlier nom. sing. masc. s, formed under the influence of the oblique cases. See That, pron.].
A word placed before nouns to limit or individualize their meaning. [1913 Webster]
" The was originally a demonstrative pronoun, being a weakened form of that . When placed before adjectives and participles, it converts them into abstract nouns; as, the sublime and the beautiful. Burke. The is used regularly before many proper names, as of rivers, oceans, ships, etc.; as, the Nile, the Atlantic, the Great Eastern, the West Indies, The Hague. The with an epithet or ordinal number often follows a proper name; as, Alexander the Great; Napoleon the Third. The may be employed to individualize a particular kind or species; as, the grasshopper shall be a burden. Eccl. xii. 5. " [1913 Webster]
the, adv. [AS. , , instrumental case of sē, seó, , the definite article. See 2d The.].
By that; by how much; by so much; on that account; -- used before comparatives; as, the longer we continue in sin, the more difficult it is to reform. Milton. [1913 Webster]
"So much the rather thou, Celestial Light,
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate." [1913 Webster]
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
the, before a vowel adj. & adv.
--adj. (called the definite article)
1 denoting one or more persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied, or familiar (gave the man a wave; shall let the matter drop; hurt myself in the arm; went to the theatre).
2 serving to describe as unique (the Queen; the Thames).
3 a (foll. by defining adj.) which is, who are, etc. (ignored the embarrassed Mr Smith; Edward the Seventh). b (foll. by adj. used absol.) denoting a class described (from the sublime to the ridiculous).
4 best known or best entitled to the name (with the stressed: no relation to the Kipling; this is the book on this subject).
5 used to indicate a following defining clause or phrase (the book that you borrowed; the best I can do for you; the bottom of a well).
6 a used to indicate that a singular noun represents a species, class, etc. (the cat loves comfort; has the novel a future?; plays the harp well). b used with a noun which figuratively represents an occupation, pursuit, etc. (went on the stage; too fond of the bottle). c (foll. by the name of a unit) a, per (5p in the pound; {pound}5 the square metre; allow 8 minutes to the mile). d colloq. or archaic designating a disease, affliction, etc. (the measles; the toothache; the blues).
7 (foll. by a unit of time) the present, the current (man of the moment; questions of the day; book of the month).
8 Brit. colloq. my, our (the dog; the fridge).
9 used before the surname of the chief of a Scottish or Irish clan (the Macnab).
10 dial. (esp. in Wales) used with a noun characterizing the occupation of the person whose name precedes (Jones the Bread).
--adv. (preceding comparatives in expressions of proportional variation) in or by that (or such a) degree; on that account (the more the merrier; the more he gets the more he wants).
--adj. (called the definite article)
1 denoting one or more persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied, or familiar (gave the man a wave; shall let the matter drop; hurt myself in the arm; went to the theatre).
2 serving to describe as unique (the Queen; the Thames).
3 a (foll. by defining adj.) which is, who are, etc. (ignored the embarrassed Mr Smith; Edward the Seventh). b (foll. by adj. used absol.) denoting a class described (from the sublime to the ridiculous).
4 best known or best entitled to the name (with the stressed: no relation to the Kipling; this is the book on this subject).
5 used to indicate a following defining clause or phrase (the book that you borrowed; the best I can do for you; the bottom of a well).
6 a used to indicate that a singular noun represents a species, class, etc. (the cat loves comfort; has the novel a future?; plays the harp well). b used with a noun which figuratively represents an occupation, pursuit, etc. (went on the stage; too fond of the bottle). c (foll. by the name of a unit) a, per (5p in the pound; {pound}5 the square metre; allow 8 minutes to the mile). d colloq. or archaic designating a disease, affliction, etc. (the measles; the toothache; the blues).
7 (foll. by a unit of time) the present, the current (man of the moment; questions of the day; book of the month).
8 Brit. colloq. my, our (the dog; the fridge).
9 used before the surname of the chief of a Scottish or Irish clan (the Macnab).
10 dial. (esp. in Wales) used with a noun characterizing the occupation of the person whose name precedes (Jones the Bread).
--adv. (preceding comparatives in expressions of proportional variation) in or by that (or such a) degree; on that account (the more the merrier; the more he gets the more he wants).
Idiom
all the in the full degree to be expected (that makes it all the worse). so much the (tautologically) so much, in that degree (so much the worse for him).
Etymology
(adj.) OE, replacing se, seo, th{aelig}t (= THAT), f. Gmc: (adv.) f. OE thy, the, instrumental case
ROGET THESAURUS
the
Love
N love, fondness, liking, inclination, regard, dilection, admiration, fancy, affection, sympathy, fellow-feeling, tenderness, heart, brotherly love, benevolence, attachment, yearning, eros, tender passion, amour, gyneolatry, gallantry, passion, flame, devotion, fervor, enthusiasm, transport of love, rapture, enchantment, infatuation, adoration, idolatry, Cupid, Venus, myrtle, true lover's knot, love token, love suit, love affair, love tale, love story, the, old story, plighted love, courtship, amourette, free love, maternal love, storge, parental love, young love, puppy love, attractiveness, popularity, favorite, lover, suitor, follower, admirer, adorer, wooer, amoret, beau, sweetheart, inamorato, swain, young man, flame, love, truelove, leman, Lothario, gallant, paramour, amoroso, cavaliere servente, captive, cicisbeo, caro sposo, inamorata, ladylove, idol, darling, duck, Dulcinea, angel, goddess, cara sposa, betrothed, affianced, fiancee, flirt, coquette, amorette, pair of turtledoves, abode of love, agapemone, loving, fond of, taken with, struck with, smitten, bitten, attached to, wedded to, enamored, charmed, in love, love-sick, over head and ears in love, head over heels in love, affectionate, tender, sweet upon, sympathetic, loving, amorous, amatory, fond, erotic, uxorious, ardent, passionate, rapturous, devoted, motherly, loved, beloved well beloved, dearly beloved, dear, precious, darling, pet, little, favorite, popular, congenial, after one's mind, after one's taste, after one's fancy, after one's own heart, to one's mind, to one's taste, to one's fancy, to one's own heart, in one's good graces, dear as the apple of one's eye, nearest to one's heart, lovable, adorable, lovely, sweet, attractive, seductive, winning, charming, engaging, interesting, enchanting, captivating, fascinating, bewitching, amiable, like an angel, amantes amentes, credula res amor est, militat omnis amasius, love conquers all, omnia vincit amor, si vis amari ama, the sweetest joy, the wildest woe.Also see definition of "the" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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