that
/ðət/ conjunction, determiner, pronoun, adverb, noun
Forms those thats 'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.
- conjunction Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc. “He told me that the book is a good read.”
- conjunction As delayed subject. “It is almost certain that she will come.”
- conjunction (chiefly literary) As direct subject. “That she will come is almost certain.”
- conjunction Introducing the complement of a mandative verb. “I insist that you come.”
- conjunction Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle. “I'm sure that you are right.”
- conjunction Expressing a reason or cause: because, in that. “Be glad that you have enough to eat.”
- conjunction Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb. “Was John there? — Not that I saw.”
- conjunction Introducing a clause that describes the information content of a preceding reporting noun. “I heard a rumour that they got married.”
- determiner (demonstrative) The (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as “this”, or if expressing distinction. “That book is a good read. This one isn't.”
- pronoun (demonstrative) The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action, or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as “this”, or if expressing distinction. “That's my car over there.”
- pronoun Used to refer to a noun phrase or statement just made. “They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?”
- pronoun Used to emphatically affirm or deny a previous statement or question. “The water is so cold! — That it is.”
- pronoun (relative, plural that) In a relative clause, referring to a previously mentioned noun, as subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition; which, who. “I didn't see the car that hit me.”
- pronoun (relative, colloquial) Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted. “the place that [= where or to which] I went last year”
- adverb Denoting an equal degree. “Here's the measurement – the ribbon must be that long, no longer and no shorter.”
- adverb Denoting ‘as much’, ‘no less’. “She said we waited for three hours, but I'm sure it wasn't that long.”
- adverb (degree, often in negative constructions) To a great extent or degree; very, particularly. “I was seen quite quickly — I didn't have to wait that long.”
- adverb (informal, UK, Australia, in positive constructions) To such an extent; so. “Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.”
- noun (philosophy) Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English that, from Old English þæt (“the, that”, neuter definite article and relative pronoun), from Proto-West Germanic *þat, from Proto-Germanic *þat. Cognate to Scots that, Saterland Frisian dät, West Frisian dat, Dutch dat, Low German dat and datt, German dass and das, Danish det, Swedish det, Icelandic það, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰 (þata). Further from Proto-Indo-European *tód; compare Ancient Greek τό (tó), Sanskrit तद् (tád), Waigali ta, Lithuanian tai̇̃, Polish to.
Webster’s 1913
- pronoun As a demonstrative pronoun (pl. Those), that usually points out, or refers to, a person or thing previously mentioned, or supposed to be understood. That, as a demonstrative, may precede the noun to which it refers; as, that which he has said is true; those in the basket are good apples.
- pronoun As an adjective, that has the same demonstrative force as the pronoun, but is followed by a noun.
Etymology [AS. th\'91t, neuter nom. & acc. sing. of the article (originally a demonstrative pronoun). The nom. masc. se, and the nom. fem. seó are from a different root. AS. th\'91t is akin to D. dat, G. das, OHG. daz, Sw. & Dan. det, Icel. Þat (masc. sa, fem. so), Goth. Þata (masc. sa, fem. so), Gr. tat (for tad, masc. sas, fem. sa); cf. L. istud that. *184. Cf. The, Their, They, Them, This, Than, Since.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “that”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details