GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 2 definitions
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Thine (thīn), pron. & a. [OE. thin, AS. ðīn, originally gen. of ðu, ðū, thou; akin to G. dein thine, Icel. þinn, possessive pron., þīn, gen. of þū thou, Goth. þeins, possessive pron., þeina, gen. of þu thou. See Thou, and cf. Thy.] A form of the possessive case of the pronoun thou, now superseded in common discourse by your, the possessive of you, but maintaining a place in solemn discourse, in poetry, and in the usual language of the Friends, or Quakers.
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☞ In the old style, thine was commonly shortened to thi (thy) when used attributively before words beginning with a consonant; now, thy is used also before vowels. Thine is often used absolutely, the thing possessed being understood.
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thou (thou), pron. [Sing.: nom. Thou; poss. Thy (thī) or Thine (thīn); obj. Thee (thē). Pl.: nom. You (yo͞o); poss. Your (yo͞or) or Yours (yo͞orz); obj. You.] [OE. thou, þu, AS. ðū, ðu; akin to OS. & OFries. thu, G., Dan. & Sw. du, Icel. þū, Goth. þu, Russ. tui, Ir. & Gael. tu, W. ti, L. tu, Gr. σύ, Dor. τύ, Skr. tvam. √185. Cf. Thee, Thine, Te Deum.] The second personal pronoun, in the singular number, denoting the person addressed; thyself; the pronoun which is used in addressing persons in the solemn or poetical style.
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Art thou he that should come? Matt. xi. 3.
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☞ “In Old English, generally, thou is the language of a lord to a servant, of an equal to an equal, and expresses also companionship, love, permission, defiance, scorn, threatening: whilst ye is the language of a servant to a lord, and of compliment, and further expresses honor, submission, or entreaty.” Skeat.
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☞ Thou is now sometimes used by the Friends, or Quakers, in familiar discourse, though most of them corruptly say thee instead of thou.
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