-the

See also: Appendix:Variations of "the"

Irish

Suffix

-the

1. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (plural)
2. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (past participle)
3. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (genitive)

Middle English

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old English -þ, -þu (abstract nominal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-iþu, from Proto-Germanic *-iþō, from Proto-Indo-European *-iteh₂.

Alternative forms

• -ðe, -ðhe, -eth, -ethe, -ith, -ithe, -th, -þ, -þe, -yth
• -t, -te (following fricatives)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-θ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
• (following fricatives) IPA^(key): /-t(ə)/

Suffix

-the

1. (rarely productive) Forms abstract nouns denoting a state or attribute, usually from adjectives but occasionally from verbs; -th, -ness

Usage notes

• Final /ə/ is usually deleted when it precedes this suffix; this often results in shortening of any long vowel preceding the resultant consonant cluster.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -the (abstract nominal)

Descendants

• English: -th, -t
• Scots: -th, -t

References

• “-th(e, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old English -þa (ordinal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-dō, from Proto-Germanic *-dô.

Alternative forms

• -d, -de, -ðe, -eth, -eþe, -iþ, -th, -þe, -yth
• -t, -te (following fricatives)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-θ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
• (following fricatives) IPA^(key): /-t(ə)/
• (influenced by Old Norse) IPA^(key): /-d(ə)/

Suffix

-the

1. Forms ordinal numerals, except for first, seconde, thridde; -th.

Usage notes

• Final /ə/ is sometimes deleted when it precedes this suffix; this often results in shortening of any long vowel preceding the resultant consonant cluster.

Derived terms

Middle English terms suffixed with -the (ordinal)

Descendants

• English: -th
• Scots: -t