than

than
[[t]ðæn, ðɛn[/t]] unstressed [[t]ðən, ən[/t]]
conj.
1) fun (used after comparative adjectives and adverbs and certain other words, such as other, otherwise, else, etc., to introduce the second member of a comparison):
She's taller than I am[/ex]
2) fun (used after some adverbs and adjectives expressing choice or diversity, such as other, otherwise, else, anywhere, different, etc., to introduce an alternative or denote a difference in kind, place, style, identity, etc.):
I had no choice other than that[/ex]
3) fun when:
We barely arrived than it was time to leave[/ex]
4) use in relation to; by comparison with:
He is taller than his father[/ex]
•
Etymology: bef. 900; ME, OE than(ne) than, then, when, orig. var. of thonne then usage: Whether than is to be followed by the objective or subjective case of a pronoun is much discussed in usage guides. When, as a conjunction, than introduces a subordinate clause, the case of any pronouns following than is determined by their function in that clause: He is younger than I am. I like her better than I like him. When than is followed only by a pronoun or pronouns, with no verb expressed, the usual advice for determining the case is to form a clause mentally after than to see whether the pronoun would be a subject or an object. Thus, the sentences He was more upset than I and She gave him more sympathy than I are to be understood, respectively, as He was more upset than I was and She gave him more sympathy than I gave him. This method is generally employed in formal speech and writing. In informal speech and writing than is usu. treated like a preposition and followed by the objective case of the pronoun: He is younger than me. See also but, different, me.

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Than — is a grammatical particle serving as both conjunction and preposition in the English language. It introduces a comparison, and as such is associated with comparatives, and with words such as more, less, and fewer. Typically, it seeks to measure… …   Wikipedia

  • Than — ([th][a^]n), conj. [OE. than, thon, then, thanne, thonne, thenne, than, then, AS. [eth]anne, [eth]onne, [eth][ae]nne; akin to D. dan, OHG. danne, G. dann then, denn than, for, Goth. [thorn]an then, and to E. the, there, that. See {That}, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Than — ist der Familienname von: Abraham Than (* 1927), Altbischof von Kengtung Karl Than (1834–1908), ungarischer Chemiker Mór Than (1828–1899), ungarischer Maler Walter Than (* 1921), deutscher Tischtennisspieler Siehe auch Thane Tann Thanh Thann …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Than — Than, adv. Then. See {Then}. [Obs.] Gower. [1913 Webster] Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Than — (angelsächs. thegn, thên, althochd. degan, schott. than, thayne), ursprünglich der kriegerische Gefolgsmann des angelsächsischen Königs, seit dem 10. Jahrh. erblicher Großgrundbesitzer. Der T. entspricht in der Entwickelungsgeschichte des… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Than — Than,   englisch Thane [θeɪn, von altenglisch thegn »Degen«], im angelsächsischen England ursprünglich der Gefolgsmann; seit dem 9. Jahrhundert Angehöriger des Dienstadels, der mindestens fünf Hufen Land besitzen musste; bis zur normannischen… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Than [1] — Than (spr. dhänn), 1) (angels. Thegn), zur Zeit der angelsächsischen Herrschaft in England die das Gefolge eines Fürsten bildenden Vasallen, welchen später, nachdem die Fürsten die Vergebung der ehedem durch Volkswahl bestimmte Ertheilung der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Than [2] — Than (Mehrzahl Thanim), in der Bibel giftiges od. schädliches Thier, etwa Eidechse, Krokodil, Drache …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Than — Than, bei den Angelsachsen Titel der die Gefolgschaft eines Fürsten bildenden Dienstmannen; später, bes. in Schottland, ein höherer Adelstitel …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • than — /dhan, dhen/; unstressed /dheuhn, euhn/, conj. 1. (used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison): She s taller than I am. 2. (used after some adverbs and adjectives expressing choice… …   Universalium

  • than — I. conjunction Etymology: Middle English than, then then, than more at then Date: before 12th century 1. a. used as a function word to indicate the second member or the member taken as the point of departure in a comparison expressive of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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