I. (th)əm, ˈthem, after p, b, v, f, also ə m pronoun
Date: bef 12th century
objective case of they
1. : they 1 — used as object of a verb or preposition
took them back
gave it to them
2. : those — used especially as antecedent to a relative pronoun
the best of them that speak this speech — Shakespeare
— used as the subject of a verb chiefly in nonstandard speech and for humorous effect
them is fighting words
II. ˈthem adjective
Date: 1594
nonstandard : those — used chiefly in nonstandard speech and for humorous effect