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]