than

than
than [than]
conj.
[ME than, thene, thonne < OE thenne, thanne, thonne, orig., then: for IE base see THAT]
1. introducing the second element in a comparison, following an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree: if the first element is a subject, object, predicate nominative, etc., the second element is construed in the same way: [ he is taller than I; she arrived earlier than the others; Mom liked you better than me ]: sometimes, informally, this use of than is construed as a preposition and the second element as its object [ he is taller than me ]
2. expressing exception, following an adjective or adverb [none other than Sam]
3. when: used esp. following an inverted construction introduced by scarcely, hardly, barely, etc. [scarcely had I seen her than she spoke to me]
4. indicating difference or distinction, as:
a) introducing an adverbial clause [Paris was different than I'd thought it would be]
b) linking nouns or pronouns [her story is different than his]: this mainly informal use of than with different and differently is objected to by some
prep.
compared with: chiefly in the phrase than whom (or which), compared or in comparison with whom (or which) [a writer than whom there is none finer]

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • 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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