Also 1 þæt, 2–3 þet, 2–6 þat. [Uses of THAT dem. or rel. pron. in which it becomes a mere relative or conjunctive particle: cf. THE particle. So in the other WGer. langs. Cf. Gr. ὅτι from neuter of rel. pron. ὅστις, L. quod from neuter of rel. qui, It. che, Sp., Pg., Fr. que.]
I. 1. Introducing a dependent substantive-clause, as subject, object, or other element of the principal clause, or as complement of a sb. or adj., or in apposition with a sb. therein.
The dependent clause as subject is most commonly placed after the verb and introduced by a preceding it, e.g., ‘it is certain that he was there’ = ‘that he was there, is certain’: see IT 4 b. As object, it usually follows, e.g., ‘I have heard that he was there.’ (For ellipsis of that, see 10.)
[This use of that is generally held to have arisen out of the dem. pron. pointing to the clause which it introduces. Cf. (1) He once lived here: we all know thát; (2) That (now this) we all know: he once lived here; (3) We all know that (or this): he once lived here; (4) We all know thăt he once lived here; (5) We all know he once lived here. In 1, 2, 3 that is a demonstrative pronoun in apposition to the statement ‘he once lived here’; in 4 it has sunk into a conjunctive particle, and (like the relative pronoun) has become stressless; in 5 it has disappeared, and ‘he once lived here’ appears as the direct object of ‘we know.’ After aware, certain, conscious, suspicious, assured, informed, persuaded, etc., of or some other prep. seems understood before that: ‘I am certain of that: he once lived here.’ But ‘I am certain that’ may have arisen as another way of saying ‘I know that’; and so of the other expressions.]
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 3. Ic wat þæt ælc wuht from Gode com.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 815. Nu ic wat þæt þu eart ʓecyðed and acenned allra cyninga þrym. Ibid., 1168. Þæt is ʓedafenlic, þæt þu dryhtnes word on hyʓe healde.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. i. 4. God ʓeseah þa, þæt hit god wæs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 111. Þe sixte unþeau is … þet he for modleste ne mei his monnan don stere.
c. 1205. Lay., 13. Hit com him on mode … þet he wolde of Engle Þa æðelæn tellen.
c. 1250. O. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 26. And herodes i-herde þet o king was i-bore.
a. 1300. K. Horn (Camb. MS.), 272. And þe sonde seide Þat sik lai þat maide.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 481. Þen hapnyt at þat tyme … Þat þe Erle of þe Leuenax was Amang þe hillis.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 362. We ben certein þat Crist may not axe oþir obedience.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 500. And this figure he added eek ther to, That if gold ruste, what shal Iren doo?
c. 1440. Generydes, 2902. What think ye best thanne … yt we shall doo?
1535. Coverdale, Exod. iii. 12. This shall be the token, yt I haue sent the.
1567. Painter, Pal. Pleas. (1813), II. 160. That I remaine in fielde it is to me greate fame.
1611. Bible, Prov. xix. 2. That the soule be without knowledge, it is not good.
1726. G. Roberts, Four Years’ Voy., 135. Their Opinion, that it was not real, but imaginary Land we had seen.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 156. We have borne The ruffling wind, scarce conscious that it blew.
1809. Coleridge, Lett. (1895), 555. The story is as certain as that Dr. Dodd was hung.
1873. Morley, Rousseau, I. vii. 284. Rousseau was persuaded that Madame d’Epinay was his betrayer.
† b. Introducing a clause in apposition to or exemplifying the statement in the principal clause: = in that, in the fact that. Obs. or arch. (now usually expressed by in with gerund).
This appears to be transitional between 1 and 2.
901–24. in Birch, Cart. Sax., II. 236. Helmstan ða undæde ʓedyde, ðæt he Æðeredes belt forstæl.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iv. 119. We have don evyll that we have not taken surete.
1526. Tindale, Phil. iv. 14. Ye have wele done, that ye bare parte with me in my tribulacion.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings viii. 18. Thou diddest well that it was in thine heart. Ibid., Acts x. 33. Thou hast well done, that thou art come [so Cranmer: Wycl. & Rhem. in coming: Tindale & Geneva, for to come].
† c. Introducing a sb.-clause as obj. of a preceding preposition: = the fact that. Obs. and rare, exc. after certain prepositions with which that forms conjunctional phrases (after that, before that, by that, etc.), sometimes with special meanings, and chiefly obs. or arch.: see AFTER C. 1 b, BEFORE C. 1 a, BY prep. 21 c, FOR THAT 1, IN prep. 39, UNTO, WITH, WITHOUT. Obs.
c. 1175—[see AFTER C. 1 b].
c. 1200—[see BEFORE C. 1 a].
a. 1300—[see BY prep. 21 c].
c. 1440—[see IN prep. 39].
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 121/1. To stonde and abyde for terme of her lyves, with that they dwell continuelli within the seid Toun or Fraunchise.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce, ix. I shalle not leue the goo, withoute that thow hold to me that [etc.].
1485. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 325/2. Contynued their possessions in the same; unto that Humfrey Stafford … entred into the said mannors.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. 554. The bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryver were joyouse of that the herytaunce shulde abyde with the Vycount. Ibid. (c. 1530), Arth. Lyt. Brit., 493. I am angry wyth nothynge but with that Florence shold thus escape us.
1557. North, Gueuara’s Diall Pr., xx. 36. This shalbe sene by that they succour the poore.
d. In periphrastic construction, following a clause of the form it is (was, etc.) + an adv. or advb. phr., to which emphasis is given by the periphrasis: see IT 4 d. (The sense may be less emphatically expressed by omitting it is (was, etc.) and that, e.g. [It was] here [that] he fell.) Cf. Onions, Advanced Eng. Syntax, § 15 a, 6.
Beowulf, 1362. Nis þæt feor heonen mil-ʓe-mearces þæt se mere stanðeð.
a. 1250, etc. [see IT 4 d].
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VI. viii. 194. Thou arte … lyke on knyȝt that I hate,… so be hit that thou be not he I wyl lyghtly accorde with the.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 219. Therefore it is that they are agrieved.
1736. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem., II. 116. It is not always that we ought to judge by Appearances.
1780. Mirror, No. 77, ¶ 6. It is owing to this circumstance, that a general lover seldom forms an attachment to any particular object.
1814. Wordsw., Yarrow Visited, 25. Where was it that the famous Flower Of Yarrow Vale lay bleeding?
1875. Croll, Climate & T., 467. It is seldom that the geologist has an opportunity of seeing a complete section.
1877. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xv. 140. It was for his own supremacy that he fought.
1890. Sir C. S. C. Bowen, in Law Times Rep., LXIII. 735/1. It was because he failed to prove this that his case broke down.
e. Introducing an exclamatory clause (with or without a preceding interjection or interj. phr.) expressing some emotion, usually (now always) sorrow, indignation, or the like. (Now usually with should.)
Some of those with interj. or interj. phr. may be regarded as belonging to 2: cf. ‘I am sorry that…,’ also quot. 1535 in 2.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., ix. Eala þæt nanwuht nis fæste stondendes weorces.
c. 1315. Shoreham, V. 223. O þat hy were blyþe, þo hye here seȝen So glorious alyue.
a. 1350. in Hampole’s Wks. (1895), I. 345. Whan Adam sauȝ hym comen, lord, þat he was glade! Ibid., II. 360. Lord, þat þe was wo bigon in þat ilke tyde!
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 125. Allas, þat euer gadryd I monye on hepe, to trustyn þere-vpon.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. iv. 195. A, Lord, that I shuld abide this day!
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XIII. viii. 623. Allas sayd she that euer I sawe you.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 291. Oh, that men should put an Enemie in their mouthes, to steale away their Braines? Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 67. That a brother should Be so perfidious.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, I. ii. 54. Great God! that such a father should be mine!
Mod. That it should ever come to this! That he should turn against us, after all his professions of friendship!
II. 2. Introducing a clause expressing the cause, ground, or reason of what is stated in the principal clause. (See also I b, e.)
In OE. often þǽs (þe), gen. of þæt. For ellipsis of that, see 10.
c. 1205. Lay., 9375. He wes glæd Þat his ifon weoren dæd.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 4059. Beues was glad, þat he was come.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1477. Þat þou art as thou art, god þanke and herie.
1445. in Anglia, XXVIII. 273. Men … Merveileth þat thou so lowly art.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. xi. (S.T.S.), I. 169. For þe commoun pepill reiosit þat þe wolchis war cummyn.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxix. [cxx.] 5. Wo is me, yt my banishment endureth so longe.
1611. Bible, Isa. lxiii. 5. I wondered that there was none to vphold.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xviii. 208. Men … bless their God that time has fenced their heart.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., I. 697. His sincerity in this was the less suspected, that his wife … was entirely presbyterian.
1842. Macaulay, in Life & Lett. (1876), II. 114. I should be very sorry that it were known.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xxxv. Mrs. Poyser was quite agreeably surprised that Hetty wished to go and see Dinah.
1866. Reade, G. Gaunt (ed. 2), II. 14. She … thought of them all the more that she was discouraged from enlarging on them.
(b) Also in constructions now obs. or arch.
a. 1000. Andreas, 276 (Gr.). Bið þe meorð wið god, þæt þu us on lade liðe weorðe.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xvi. 3. Hwæt þence ʓe betwux eow … þæt [Ruskw. forþon þæt] ʓe hlafas nabbað?
13[?]. Coer de L., 831. Sche … Wrong her handes that sche was born.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 270. Then is there a quarrel picked against the Popes that they made such restraints.
1567. Allen, Def. Priesthood, 352. And S. Augustin excommunicated County Bonifacius that he tooke from the Churche an offender.
a. 1657. R. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 83. Honest J. is ready to beat his wife that she forces his promise to so slothful a performance.
1790. Cowper, Lett., 27 Feb. I am crazed that I cannot ask you all together.
1829. Carlyle, in For. Rev. & Cont. Misc., IV. 109. Neither should we censure Novalis that be dries his tears.
b. Not that … (ellipt.): = ‘I do not say this because …’; or ‘It is not the fact that …,’ One must not suppose that …’ (sense 1): see NOT adv. 6 a.
1601. [see NOT adv. 6 a].
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 381. Such virtue’s only given to guide a throne. Not that your father’s mildness I contemn.
1878. T. Hardy, Ret. Native, I. ix. Where is she staying now? Not that I care.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 185. Not that a particle of this substance is annihilated.
3. Introducing a clause expressing purpose, end, aim, or desire: with simple subjunctive (arch.), or with may (pa. t. might), should, rarely shall.
Formerly also preceded by as (AS B. 21 b). See also MAY v.1 B. 8 a. The meaning is now more fully expressed by in order that: see ORDER sb. 29. After will, wish, pray, beseech, and the like, the function of that seems to combine senses 1 and 3.
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. xi. [xiv.] § 1. Þær se biscop oft … wæs, þæt he fulwade þæt folc in Swalwan streame.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark xiv. 38. ʓebiddað þæt ʓe on costnunge ne gan.
a. 1018. O. E. Chron., an. 1009. We ʓyt næfdon þa ʓeselða … þæt seo scipfyrd nytt wære ðisum earde.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 313. Ac drihte crist he ȝiue us strencþe, stonde þat we mote.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 3742. Ȝyf þou ȝaue euer cunsel or rede For yre, þat a man were dede.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 106. Besy that al thing were wele and couenably done.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 121. Turne þi face fro no pore man, þat god turne noȝt his face fro þe.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, x. ¶ 8. This cutting down … is made … that the Cramp-Irons … joggle not on either side of the Ribs.
1683. Trial Ld. Russell, in Lady R.’s Lett. (1807), p. xlvi. We pray for the King that the challenge may be over-ruled.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4454/3. This is to Advertise all Persons, that they do not lend her any Mony.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776), I. 75. The bones of animals … calcined in such a manner as that all their oil should be exhausted.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. ii. 67. Give me one look, That I may see his face so beautiful.
1874. A. J. Christie, in Ess. Rel. & Lit., Ser. III. 50. Christ … had prayed that Peter’s faith should not fail.
† b. Introducing a parenthetic clause of purpose. Obs. (Now expressed by the inf., e.g., ‘that we speak of no more’ = to speak of no more.)
13[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 221. Hit beoþ þreo tymes on þo day, Þat soþe to witen me mai.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 1. Synods & Church-maintenance (that we speake of no more things of this kinde) should be as safe as a Sanctuary.
c. In exclamations of desire or longing: with verb in subjunctive.
Now always with vb. in past subj. (indicating improbability of fulfilment), usually with preceding interj. (see also O int. 2), also (arch.) with would or would God (sense 1: see would s.v. WILL v.). Formerly also with vb. in pres. subj. (indicating possibility of fulfilment), where that is now omitted. In quot. 13[?] expressing a command (that he war = let him be).
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6189. A duc þer was … Þat was traytour … þat god ȝiue him ssame.
13[?]. Seuyn Sag., 651. Goth, he seigh, to the prisone, And fechcheth forht mine sone, And quik that he war an-honge.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2795. God mowe we þonk, & oure worþi werwolf þat wel him by-tyde.
1535. [see O int. 2].
1618. Corbet, Poems (1807), 99. O that I ere might have the hap To get the bird which in the map Is called the Indian Ruck!
1790. Cowper, Rec. Mother’s Picture, 1. Oh that those lips had language!
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xli. Deep folly! yet that this could be—That I could wing my will with might [etc.]. Ibid. (1855), Maud, II. IV. i. O that ’twere possible … To find the arms of my true love Round me once again!
d. Introducing a clause expressing a hypothetical desired result: with verb in subjunctive or its equivalent.
[1601: see 10.]
1610. Shaks., Temp., V. i. 150. Oh heauens, that they were liuing both in Naples The King and Queene there, that they were, I wish My selfe were mudded in that oozie bed.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 114. I would give a thousand pounds that he may prove the man.
1821. Byron, Wks. (1835), V. 216. I would gladly have given a much greater sum … that he had never been hurt.
1861. Dasent, Burnt Njal, II. 118. I would give all my goods that it had never happened.
4. Introducing a clause expressing the result or consequence of what is stated in the principal clause: with verb usually in indicative.
a. With antecedent so or such, either in the principal clause, or immediately before that in the dependent clause (see SO, SUCH).
Also (arch.) preceded by as: see AS B. 19 c. For ellipsis of that, see 10.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 54. He lærde hiʓ … swa þæt hiʓ wundredon.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9730. Sa wel i am ya luued wit þe Þat þi wisdom man clepes me.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 419. Men lyueþ so longe in þat hurste, Þat þe eldest deiȝeþ furst.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iv. 119. So longe they rode … that they came there as they were borne.
1564. P. Martyr, Comm. Judges, 272. To aske, not in deede so apertely that his voice should be hearde.
1667. Milton, P. L., To Rdr. This neglect … of Rime so little is to be taken for a defect,… that it rather is to be esteem’d an example.
1705. Farquhar, Twin-Rivals, I. ii. The poor Creature is so big with her Misfortunes, that they are not to be born.
1731. Gentl. Mag., I. 391/1. This put Bluster into such a Passion, that he quitted the Surgery in a pet.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 85. He was a man of morals so bad that his own relations shrank from him.
b. Simply, without antecedent: = so that. arch.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 27. Þe deofel … rixat in-nan him þet he nulle nefre forleten his sunne.
c. 1205. Lay., 1867. Forð com Corineus … þat alle hit bi-heolden.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2690. Þun king hii bounde uaste ynou þat reulich he gan crie.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 64. Heuene was yclosed, Þat no reyne ne rone.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVI. xvii. 687. Thenne were they sore affrayed that they felle bothe to the erthe.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 136 b. Suche as bee naught I byte, that thei smart again.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. i. 65. Then I’ld shrieke, that euen your eares Should rift to heare me.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), I. v. 96. The fear … made me that I never slept.
1858. G. Macdonald, Phantastes, xix. I struck one more sturdy blow … that the forest rang.
1868. Tennyson, Lucretius, 66. A fire … scorch’d me that I woke.
c. Introducing a clause expressing a fact (with vb. in indic.), or a supposition (with vb. in subj.), as a consequence attributed to the cause indicated by the principal clause (which is most commonly interrogative): sometimes nearly = in consequence of which; or (with indic.) since, seeing that.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. v. 2. Hwæt ys se drihten, þæt ic hym hiran scile and Israela folc forlætan?
c. 1205. Lay., 30280. Whæt is þe … þat þu swa wepest to-dæi?
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 2769. What deseysse is come þe to Þat þou art now so sorwefulle?
1535. Coverdale, Ps. viii. 4. Oh what is man, yt thou art so myndfull of him? Ibid., cxiii. [cxiv.] 5. What ayled the (o thou see) that thou fleddest?
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 40. Who is Silvia? what is she? That all our Swaines commend her? Ibid. (1598), Merry W., I. iv. 43. I doubt he be not well, that hee comes not home.
1611. Bible, Isa. liii. 2. There is no beautie that we should desire him.
1787. Cowper, Stanzas Bill Mortality, 8. Did famine or did plague prevail, That so much death appears?
1842. Tennyson, Lady Clare, vi. Are ye out of your mind … that ye speak so wild?
1885. Sat. Rev., 21 Feb., 242/2. We are not pigeons that we should eat dry peas.
5. With a negative in the dependent clause (the principal clause having also a negative expressed or implied): = But that, but (= L. quin): see BUT conj. 12. (Now expressed by without with gerund: e.g., in quot. 1809, ‘without her hearing.’)
Quots. c. 1320, 1375 may belong to THAT rel. pron. 8.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives (1885), I. 378. Man ʓecwæman ne mæʓ twam hlafordum æt-somne þæt he ne forseo þone oðerne.
c. 1290. Beket, 2128, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 167. For ȝwane men peyntiez an halewe, ȝe ne seoth it nouȝt bi-leued Þat þere nis depeint a Roundel al-a-boute þe heued.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 6. Ne neuer was wrouȝt non vuel þing Þat vuel þouȝt nas þe biginnyng.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 280. Thar is no man That he ne will rew vp-on voman.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 293. A long tyme sho mot nowder luke on þe crucifyx nor speke … of þe Passion … þatte nevur sho fell in swone as sho had bene dead.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., V. I never attempted to be impudent yet, that I was not taken down.
1809. Southey, Lett. to Lieut. Southey, 19 Sept. He never turned in his bed during that whole time that she did not hear.
1837. S. R. Maitland, Six Lett., etc., 69. I have hardly ever … turned it over for five minutes, that some gross error has not presented itself.
6. Added to relatives or dependent interrogatives (who, which, what, when, where, how, why, etc.). † Also after the demonstrative advbs. then, there, etc., when used as relatives. Obs. or arch.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xvi. § 2. ʓif ʓe nu ʓesawan hwelce mus þæt wære hlaford ofer oðre mys.
13[?]. Cursor M., 1247 (Cott.). Yai, sir, wist i wyderward [v.r. queþirward] þat [v.r. þere] tat vncuth contre were.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. Prol. 36. Euery wyght wheche þat to rome wente. Ibid. (c. 1386), Prol., 41. To telle yow … in what array that they were Inne. Ibid., Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 17. And in myn herte to wondren I bigan What þat he was.
14[?]. in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden), 112. Faste be-syde ther that the batelle was done.
1450. Rolls of Parlt., V. 202/1. In whos handes that ever they were founde.
c. 1465. Eng. Chron. (Camden), 98. A wommanne the whiche that knewe hym.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. xxii. 723. Wotest thou wherfor that he hath sente me?
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 96. When that the poore haue cry’de, Cæsar hath wept. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. ii. 32. Wherein was read How that the Cardinall did intreat his Holinesse [etc.].
a. 1814. Spaniards, IV. i., in New Brit. Theatre, III. 234. When that the crown … shall bind the brows Of my unnatural brother.
† b. That alone had formerly the force of ‘when that,’ ‘when,’ after hardly, scarcely, or some equivalent. So † just that (quot. 1648) = just when, just as. Now that: see NOW 12 b.
13[?]. Cursor M., 8160. Vnnethes had he moned his mode, Þat [v.r. quen] a lem fra þe wandes stode.
a. 1380[?]. St. Ambrosius, 488, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 16/1. Vnneþe Ambrose and his meyne, Weoren passed out from þat citee Þat sodeynliche opened þe eorþe.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccvii. 189. The kyng had not yet fullych eten that ther come in to the halle another messagyer.
1530–. [see NOW 12 b].
1648. Cromwell, in Carlyle, Lett. & Sp. (1871), II. 56. Until just that we came.
1780. Mirror, No. 95, ¶ 1. We spent our time as happily as possible, till about half a year ago, that my ill stars directed me to [etc.].
7. Formerly added with a conjunctive force to various words that are now commonly used conjunctionally without it; e.g., because, if, lest, only, the adv., though, till, while (see these words). arch. or Obs.
(Cf. the OE. similar use of þe; also prec. sense.)
c. 1200. [see IF 5].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14458. Bot al þat he wit luue þam soght, Enentis þe Iuus al was for noght. Ibid., 22167. Þai sal be studiand in þair thoght, Queþer þat he be crist or nai.
1505. in Mem. Hen. VII. (Rolls), 267. The kynge … remembrithe that mater as efectually as that hit were his aune proper cause.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 30. The knight … Who faire him quited, as that courteous was.
1602. Dolman, La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1618), III. 736. The property thereof is to mount alwaies vpwards, vntill that it hath attained to the place destinated vnto it.
1656. A. Wright, Five Serm., 201. The reason is, cause that Ordinances are nothing without the Lord.
1800. Coleridge, Lett. (1895), 325. As to my schemes of residence, I am as unfixed as yourself, only that we are under the absolute necessity of fixing somewhere.
1805. trans. Lafontaine’s Hermann & Emilia, III. 97. Hermann likewise trembled, because that their early friendship was awakened in his breast.
8. Used (like Fr. que) as a substitute instead of repeating a previous conjunction, or conjunctive adverb or phrase. Now rare or arch.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 17. Þenne were þu wel his freond … Gif þu hine iseȝe þet he wulle asottie to þes deofles hond … þet þu hine lettest, and wiðstewest.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xix. 58. When they … had seen the manere & the rewle of their enemyes, and that all wyth leyser they had seen their puyssance. Ibid., 59. So began he to be … all annoyed of hym self by cause he was not armed tyl his plesure, and that he myght not yssue out.
c. 1520. Barclay, Sallust, 55. Whan he had assayed many wayes, and that nothing came to purpose.
1535. Coverdale, Esther, ii. 14. She must come vnto the kynge nomore, excepte it pleased the kynge, and that he caused her to be called by name.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 174 b. When sleepe falleth vpon men, & that they be in bed.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 9. Since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful meanes can carrie me Out of his enuies reach. [Also 27 other examples.]
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xiii. 2. If it seeme good vnto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let vs send abroad vnto our brethren. [Coverd. Yf … yf….] Ibid., Job xxxi. 38. If my land cry against me, or that the furrowes likewise thereof complaine. [Coverd. Yf case be that … or yt….]
1655. M. Casaubon, Enthus. (1656), 126. Because I desire not to be over-long, and that I would not glut the Reader.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 823. So soon as the Death of King John was … known, and that the Earls … could agree where to meet.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 330. When one of the parties to a treaty intrenches himself … in … ceremonies,… and that all the concessions are upon one side.
1829. Sir W. Napier, Penins. War, IX. iii. (Rtldg.), II. 16. Although the rear was attacked,… and that 50 men … were captured.
† 9. After a comparative: = THAN. (Cf. Fr. que.) Obs. rare. (See also THE part. 1 b.)
c. 1305. St. Kenelm, 108, in E. Eng. P. (1862), 50. For noman nemai þan oþer bet trecherie do Þat [Laud MS. þane] þulke þat is him next, & he trist mest to.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 10602 More worschip of hym [Arthur] spoke þer was Þat of any of þo þat spekes Gildas.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 175. He had Slayne by trayson two prynces bettyr that he was.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xlviii. 35. And but þe holyere man he be þat I konne wit, Elles schal there non Man here syt.
¶ 10. The conjunction that is very frequently omitted by ellipsis, esp. in sense 1.
(The omission prob. began with the rel. conj. þe, THE.)
a. 1250–1650. [see IT 4 b].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3665 (Cott.). I dred me sare, for benison He sal me giue his malison.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 263. Joab … slowh Abner, for drede he scholde be [etc.].
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ix. 137. Go grete hym well,… say hym I com.
1526. Tindale, Jas. ii. 14. Though a man saye he hath fayth.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. v. 37. Direct mine Armes, I may embrace his Neck. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., V. i. 54. Thou dost see I eate. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, II. iii. 66. I’de giue bay curtall, and his furniture My mouth no more were broken then these boyes.
1611. Bible, Luke xx. 13. It may bee they will reuerence him.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 3. I think I do.
1737. Pope, Hor. Ep., II. ii. 266. There are who have not—and thank heav’n there are.
1805. Scott, Last Minstr., VI. xxv. So bright, so red the glare, The castle seemed on flame.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VII. 281. I fear They will not.
Mod. We were sorry you couldn’t come.
