that

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

Adverb

  1. To a given extent or degree.
    • Here's the measurement – the ribbon must be that long, no longer and no shorter.

    1. Denoting an equal degree.

    2. Denoting 'as much', 'no less'.

      • She said we waited for three hours, but I'm sure it wasn't that long.
      • It didn't seem like ten miles, but actually it was that far.
  2. To a great extent or degree; very, particularly.
    • I was seen quite quickly — I didn't have to wait that long.
    • I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult.
    • How was the play? ~ Not all that good.

    Synonyms: so

  3. To such an extent; so.
    • Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.
    • This was carried with that little noise that for a good space the vigilant Bishop was not awak'd with it. - 1693, John Hacket, “Scrinia reserata: a Memorial offered to the great Deservings of John Williams”, in...

Origin

Etymology tree Old English þæt Middle English that English that 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.

Forms

'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.

Conjunction

  1. Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.
    • He told me that the book is a good read.
    • I believe that it is true.
    • I can see that the ladder won't reach.
  2. Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the 'be' verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc.
    • It is almost certain that she will come.
    • It amazes me that people still believe this nonsense.
    • The boss ordered that the worker enter the room.

    1. As delayed subject.

    2. (chiefly literary) As direct subject.

      • That she will come is almost certain.
      • That people still believe this nonsense amazes me.
  3. Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
    • I'm sure that you are right.
    • She is convinced that he is British.

    1. Expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.

      • Be glad that you have enough to eat.
  4. Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
    • Was John there? — Not that I saw.
    • How often did she visit him? — Twice that I saw.
    • "[… - c. 1867, Anthony Trollope, The Claverings:
  5. Introducing a clause that describes the information content of a preceding reporting noun.
    • I heard a rumour that they got married.
    • Reports that he left the country are circulating.
  6. Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence, or effect.
    • The noise was so loud that she woke up.
    • The problem was sufficiently important that it had to be addressed.
    • My dad apparently always said that no child of his would ever be harassed for its poor eating habits, and then I arrived, and I was so disgusting that he revised his opinion. - 2008 May 23, Zoe Williams, “I swore I...
  7. Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose, or goal ("final"), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might, or should: so, so that, in order that.
    • He fought that others might have peace.
    • Baſſ[anio]. Be aſſured you may. / Shy[lock]. I will be aſſured I may: and that I may be aſſured, I will bethinke me, may I ſpeake with Anthonio? - c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent...
    • When hungry Judges ſoon the Sentence ſign, / And Wretches hang that Jury-men may Dine; […] - 1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […],...
  8. Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
    • What are you mad, that you doe reaſon ſo? - c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
    • [I]n short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. - 1859, Charles...
    • “She must be wonderfully fascinating,” said Mrs Morel, with scathing satire. “She must be very wonderful, that you should trail eight miles, backward and forward, after eight o’clock at night.” - c. 1911, D.H. Lawrence,...
  9. Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
    • Oh that spring would come!
    • O that they were wiſe, and vnderſtoode, […] - 1609, The Holie Bible, […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Doway: Laurence Kellam, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomie 32:29, page 463:
    • 'Would that my rage and wrath would somehow stir me, / Here as I am, to cut off thy raw flesh / And eat it, […] - 1864, T. S. Norgate's translation of the Iliad, book 10, page 613
  10. Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.
    • That men should behave in such a way!
    • Oh that I'd never set eyes on him!
    • That you could think such a thing!

Forms

'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.

Derived

that clause that'd

Determiner

  1. 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.
    • That book is a good read. This one isn't.
    • That battle was in 1450.
    • That cat of yours is evil.

Forms

those 'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.

Derived

but that liddat thataway that guy that'n thatness that's Thatter that way that way inclined that will do thaz this, that, and the other you can't say fairer than that

Noun

  1. Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
    • As such, they do not have the ontological weight of "Being" and "Not-being," but serve simply as an explanatory vocabulary necessary to describe our world of thises and thats. - 1998, David L. Hall, Roger T. Ames,...

Forms

thats 'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.

Related

which

Pronoun

  1. 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.
    • That's my car over there.
    • He went home, and after that I never saw him again.
    • ‘Who's that?’ ‘It’s me.’.

    1. Used to refer to a noun phrase or statement just made.

      • They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?
      • They gave me the book about whales. That I've not yet read.
      • She asked me to lend him my tools. That I couldn't do.

    2. Used to emphatically affirm or deny a previous statement or question.

      • The water is so cold! — That it is.
      • Would you like another piece of cake? — That I would!
      • We think that you stole the tarts. — That I did not!
  2. In a relative clause, referring to a previously mentioned noun, as subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition; which, who.
    • I didn't see the car that hit me.
    • The CPR course that she took really came in handy.
    • The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated.
  3. Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.
    • the place that [= where or to which] I went last year
    • the last time that [= when] I went to Europe

Forms

those 'at 't dat thet yt yᵗ yͭ yt.

Antonyms

here there this yon yonder

Derived

ain't that the truth all's fish that comes to the net all that and that and that's final and that's flat at that being that be that as it may come to that copy that don't be that guy don't cut yourself on that edge don't give me that don't that beat all do someone like that failing that fancy that follow that for that that time on funny that having said that how about that