Hypertext Webster Gateway: "the"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

The \The\, adv. [AS. [eth][=e], [eth][=y], instrumental case of
s[=e], se['o], [eth][ae]t, the definite article. See 2d
{The}.]
By that; by how much; by so much; on that account; -- used
before comparatives; as, the longer we continue in sin, the
more difficult it is to reform. ``Yet not the more cease I.''
--Milton.

So much the rather thou, Celestial Light, Shine inward,
and the mind through all her powers Irradiate.
--Milton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

The \The\, v. i.
See {Thee}. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Milton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

The \The\ ([th][=e], when emphatic or alone; [th][-e], obscure
before a vowel; [th]e, obscure before a consonant; 37),
definite article. [AS. [eth]e, a later form for earlier nom.
sing. masc. s[=e], formed under the influence of the oblique
cases. See {That}, pron.]
A word placed before nouns to limit or individualize their
meaning.

Note: The was originally a demonstrative pronoun, being a
weakened form of that. When placed before adjectives
and participles, it converts them into abstract nouns;
as, the sublime and the beautiful. --Burke. The is used
regularly before many proper names, as of rivers,
oceans, ships, etc.; as, the Nile, the Atlantic, the
Great Eastern, the West Indies, The Hague. The with an
epithet or ordinal number often follows a proper name;
as, Alexander the Great; Napoleon the Third. The may be
employed to individualize a particular kind or species;
as, the grasshopper shall be a burden. --Eccl. xii. 5.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

English \Eng"lish\, n.
1. Collectively, the people of England; English people or
persons.

2. The language of England or of the English nation, and of
their descendants in America, India, and other countries.

Note: The English language has been variously divided into
periods by different writers. In the division most
commonly recognized, the first period dates from about
450 to 1150. This is the period of full inflection, and
is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers, Old
English. The second period dates from about 1150 to
1550 (or, if four periods be recognized, from about
1150 to 1350), and is called Early English, Middle
English, or more commonly (as in the usage of this
book), Old English. During this period most of the
inflections were dropped, and there was a great
addition of French words to the language. The third
period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is Middle
English. During this period orthography became
comparatively fixed. The last period, from about 1550,
is called Modern English.

3. A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great
Primer. See {Type}.

Note: The type called English.

4. (Billiards) A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in
striking it that influences the direction it will take
after touching a cushion or another ball.

{The} {King's, or Queen's}, {English}. See under {King}.


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