Than Definition

thăn, thən

conjuntion

Introducing the second element in a comparison, following an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.

Webster's New World

Expressing exception, following an adjective or adverb.

None other than Sam.

Webster's New World

When: used esp. following an inverted construction introduced by scarcely, hardly, barely, etc.

Scarcely had I seen her than she spoke to me.

Webster's New World

Indicating difference or distinction.

Webster's New World

1668, William Lawson, A way to get wealth.

You shall also take the fine earth or mould which is found in the hollow of old Willow trees, rising from the root almost to the middle of the Tree, at least so far as the tree is hollow, for than this, there is no earth or mould finer or richer.

Wiktionary

preposition

Compared with.

A writer than whom there is none finer.

Webster's New World

In comparison or contrast with.

Could run faster than him; outclassed everyone other than her.

American Heritage

Introduces a comparison, and is associated with comparatives, and with words such as more, less, and fewer. Typically, it seeks to measure the force of an adjective or similar description between two predicates.

Patients diagnosed more recently are probably surviving an average of longer than two years.

Wiktionary

adverb

(now chiefly dialectal) At that time; then.

Wiktionary

Origin of Than

From Middle English than, thanne, from Old English þanne, a variant of þonne (“then, since, because"), from Proto-Germanic *þana (“at that, at that time, then"). Cognate with Dutch dan (“than"), German denn (“than"), German dann (“then"). More at then.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English thanne, than to- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition