the

UK: ðə | US: ðə

Definition

  1. def. art. 1. Used to specify a particular noun or noun phrase already known or contextually identifiable.

  2. def. art. 2. Used to indicate uniqueness or universality (e.g., "the sun").

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"The" traces back to Old English þē (masculine), þēo (feminine), and þæt (neuter), originating from Proto-Germanic þa-. It evolved as a demonstrative pronoun before solidifying as the definite article in Middle English. Its invariant modern form reflects grammatical simplification, retaining no gender or case distinctions.

Examples

  1. The cat sat on the mat.

  2. She is the best candidate for the job.

  3. The sun rises in the east.

  4. Pass me the salt, please.

  5. The more you practice, the better you become.