though
UK /ðəʊ/ · US /ðoʊ/ adverb, conjunction
Forms tho tho’ thogh thot thou
- adverb (conjunctive) Despite that; however. “I'm not paid to do all this paperwork for you. I will do it this once, though.”
- adverb (degree) Used to intensify statements or questions; indeed. “"Man, it's hot in here." — "Isn't it, though?"”
- conjunction Despite the fact that; although. “Though it is risky, it is worth taking the chance.”
- conjunction (archaic) If, that, even if. “We shall be not sorry though the man die tonight.”
Synonyms
all the same anyhow anyway even so in any case nevertheless nonetheless still yet although even though
Etymology
From Middle English though, thogh, from Old Norse *þóh (later þó). Superseded (in most dialects) Middle English thegh, from Old English þēah (“though, although, even if, that, however, nevertheless, yet, still; whether”). Both the Old Norse and Old English are from Proto-Germanic *þauh (“though”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, suffixed with Proto-Germanic *-hw < Proto-Indo-European *-kʷe (“and”).
Akin to Scots tho (“though”), Saterland Frisian dach (“though”), West Frisian dôch, dochs (“though”), Dutch doch (“though”), German doch (“though”), Danish dog (“though, however”), Swedish dock (“however, still”), Icelandic þó (“though”). More at that.
Webster’s 1913
- conjunction Granting, admitting, or supposing that; notwithstanding that; if. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Job xiii. 15.
- adverb However; nevertheless; notwithstanding; --used in familiar language, and in the middle or at the end of a sentence.
- adverb imp. & p. p. of Think.
Etymology [OE. thogh, þah, AS. edheáh, edhæh, edheh; akin to OS. thoh, OFries. thach, D. & G. doch but, yet, OHG. doh but, yet though, Icel. þo yet, nevertheless, Sw. dock, Dan. dog, Goth. þáuh, þáu, than, or, yet; of uncertain origin. *184.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “though”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details