than
than
Definition
than (t̸han)
conjunction
- 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]
- expressing exception, following an adjective or adverb none other than Sam
- when: used esp. following an inverted construction introduced by scarcely, hardly, barely, etc. scarcely had I seen her than she spoke to me
- indicating difference or distinction, as:: this mainly informal use of than with different and differently is objected to by some
- introducing an adverbial clause Paris was different than I'd thought it would be
- linking nouns or pronouns her story is different than his
Etymology: ME than, thene, thonne < OE thenne, thanne, thonne, orig., then: for IE base see that
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
Browse dictionary entries near than
- Thames
- thalluses
- thallus
- thallous
- thallophytic
- thallophyte
- thalloid
- thallium
- thallic
- thalli
- thanage
- thanat-
- thanato-
- thanatologist
- thanatology
- thanatophobia
- thanatopsis
- Thanatos
- thane
- thank
