tho meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

tho

article

UK /ðəʊ/ · US /ðoʊ/

Etymology From Middle English tho, tha, from Old English þā (“the, those”, plural), from Proto-West Germanic *þai, from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, *só (“that”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian do (“the”, plural). Doublet of they.

1

West Country, Obsolete The (plural form); those.

tho

pron

Etymology From Middle English tho, tha, from Old English þā (“the, those”, plural), from Proto-West Germanic *þai, from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, *só (“that”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian do (“the”, plural). Doublet of they.

1

Obsolete Those; they.

tho

adv

Etymology From Middle English tho, tha, from Old English þā (“then, when”), from Proto-Germanic *þa- (“that”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, *só (“that”). See also German da (“then, thereupon”).

1

Dialectal Then; thereupon.

1481, William Caxton, The History Reynard the Foxː Tho went I near and found Master Reynard, that had left that he first read and sang, and began to play his old play.
Tho to a hill his faynting flocke he ledde.1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Ianuarye. Ægloga Prima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC:

2 more examples

Tho, her avizing of the vertues rare / Which thereof spoken were, she gan againe / Her to bethink of that mote to her selfe pertaine.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
1642, Henry More, Song Soulː Tho I gan closely on his person look.

tho

conj

Etymology From Middle English tho, tha, from Old English þā (“then, when”), from Proto-Germanic *þa- (“that”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, *só (“that”). See also German da (“then, thereupon”).

1

Dialectal When.