thon

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EtymologyEdit

Proposed in 1858 by Charles Crozat Converse from that + one.^[1]

PronounEdit

thon (third-person singular, gender-neutral, possessive thons, reflexive thonself)

1. (rare, see usage notes) they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.
   • 1889 November, C. Crozat Converse, “That Desired Impersonal Pronoun”, The Writer, volume 3, number 2, William H. Hills, page 248: 

     Every writer has "thons" verbal likes and dislikes, yet, for the sake of convenience, I trust that even "thon" who dislikes verbal innovations will give my little word a little trial and note for me the result.

   • 1895, Henry Graham Williams, Outlines of Psychology, edition 3rd, Syracuse: C. W. Bardee, LCC BF141.W12, OL 25083084M, page 5:

     Every student should acquaint thonself with some method by which thon can positively correlate the facts of thons knowledge.

   • 1907 August, C. W. Larisunz, “Thε Sol:—Hwens?—Hwither?”, Thε Jurnɑl ɵv ɷrthɵεpi & ɷrthɵgrɑfi, volume 24, number 8, page 153: 

     In everi individɥɑl then, ɑr thε elεments ɑut ɵv hwich everi sol haz pɑuer tu ɛlaborɞt ʊntu thonself hwɵtever cɵndishʊn thon dɛzɩrz — tu mɞc fɷr thonself heven ɷr hel, hwichever thon iz wiliŋ tu strɩv fɷr.

     In every individual then, are the elements out of which every soul has power to elaborate unto thonself whatever condition thon desires — to make for thonself heaven or hell, whichever thon is willing to strive for.

   • 1985, William Knowlton Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction^[1], edition 3rd, New York: Harper & Row, LCC PE1429.Z5 1985, ISBN 978-0060154097, LCCN 84048208, page 121:

     Maybe I don't speak for the average American, but I very much doubt that thon wants that word in thons language or that thon would use it thonself.

2. (rare, see usage notes) them (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns him and her.
   • 1884 July 23, C. C. Converse, “A New Pronoun”, The Critic and Good Literature, number 31, page 55: 

     If Mr. or Mrs. A. comes to the courthouse on Monday next I will be there to meet thon.

Usage notesEdit

A neologism when Charles Crozat Converse coined it in 1858, thon has seen limited use since then.

Derived termsEdit

• (neologism) thons
• (neologism) thonself

SynonymsEdit

• (as subject): (singular) they
• (as object): (singular) them
• (neologism) ey, e, sie, shi, ze, per, co

HyponymsEdit

• (as subject): he, she
• (as object): him, her

See alsoEdit

• other attested and proposed gender-neutral pronouns

ReferencesEdit

1. ^ Quidnunc, “Thon—That's the Forewho”, American Speech, Volume 48, Number 3/4 (Autumn–Winter 1973), pages 300-302

EtymologyEdit

From Latin thunnus, thynnus (itself from Ancient Greek θύννος (thunnos)), possibly through the intermediate of Occitan ton.

PronunciationEdit

• audio

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /tɔ̃/
• Homophones: ton, tond, tonds

NounEdit

thon m (plural thons)

1. tuna
2. (pejorative) an ugly woman

SynonymsEdit

• (ugly woman): morue, cageot

Derived termsEdit

• thonaire
• thonier

PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): [ðon], [ðɔn]

AdjectiveEdit

thon (not comparable)

1. Alternative form of yon.

PronounEdit

thon

1. Alternative form of yon.

AdverbEdit

thon (not comparable)

1. Alternative form of yon.

PronunciationEdit

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): /tʰɔn˧˧/
• (Huế) IPA^(key): /tʰɔŋ˧˧/
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): /tʰɔŋ˧˥/

AdjectiveEdit

thon

1. tapering, tapered
2. slender