English

that

/ðət/

Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.

Etymology graph

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Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Lineage

inheritedMiddle Englishthat
- inheritedOld Englishþæt
  - inheritedProto-West Germanic*þat
    - inheritedProto-Germanic*þat
      - inheritedProto-Indo-European*tód

Related: Scots that, Saterland Frisian dät, West Frisian dat, Dutch dat, Low German dat, German dass, Danish det, Swedish det, Icelandic það, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰, Ancient Greek τό, Sanskrit तद्, Waigali ta, Lithuanian taĩ, Polish to

Words built on it: so that, is all, that's, something like that

Meanings

conj

Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.
As delayed subject.
As direct subject.
Introducing the complement of a mandative verb.
Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
Expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.

det

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.

pron

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.
Used to refer to a noun phrase or statement just made.
Used to emphatically affirm or deny a previous statement or question.
In a relative clause, referring to a previously mentioned noun, as subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition; which, who.
Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.

adv

Denoting an equal degree.
Denoting ‘as much’, ‘no less’.
To a great extent or degree; very, particularly.
To such an extent; so.

Sources

Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary: that