I. definite article see: that Date: before 12th century 1. a. — used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is definite or has been previously specified by context or by circumstance
b. — used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class c. — used as a function word before nouns that designate natural phenomena or points of ~ compass d. — used as a function word before a noun denoting time to indicate reference to what is present or immediate or is under consideration e. — used as a function word before names of some parts of ~ body or of ~ clothing as an equivalent of a possessive adjective f. — used as a function word before ~ name of a branch of human endeavor or proficiency g. — used as a function word in prepositional phrases to indicate that ~ noun in ~ phrase serves as a basis for computation h. — used as a function word before a proper name (as of a ship or a well-known building) i. — used as a function word before a proper name to indicate ~ distinctive characteristics of a person or thing j. — used as a function word before ~ plural form of a surname to indicate all ~ members of a family k. — used as a functon word before ~ plural form of a numeral that is a multiple of ten to denote a particular decade of a century or of a person's life
l. — used as a function word before ~ name of a commodity or any familiar appurtenance of daily life to indicate reference to ~ individual thing, part, or supply thought of as at hand m. — used as a function word to designate one of a class as ~ best, most typical, best known, or most worth singling out — sometimes used before a personal name to denote ~ most prominent bearer of that name 2. a. (1) — used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit ~ application of ~ modified noun to that specified by ~ adjective or by ~ attributive noun
(2) — used as a function word before an absolute adjective or an ordinal number b. (1) — used as a function word before a noun to limit its application to that specified by a succeeding element in ~ sentence (2) — used as a function word after a person's name to indicate a characteristic trait or notorious activity specified by ~ succeeding noun 3. a. — used as a function word before a singular noun to indicate that ~ noun is to be understood generically b. — used as a function word before a singular substantivized adjective to indicate an abstract idea 4. — used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole II. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English thȳ by that, instrumental of thæt that Date: before 12th century than before ; than o~rwise, 2. to what extent , to that extent , beyond all o~rs , III. preposition Etymology: 1~ Date: 15th century per 2