thou
UK: ðaʊ | US: ðaʊ
pron. archaic or dialectal form of "you" (singular)
v. archaic verb form used with "thou" (e.g., "thou art" = "you are")
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"Thou" originates from Old English þū, a singular second-person pronoun inherited from Proto-Germanic þū. It was once the standard informal singular "you," contrasting with the plural/formal "ye." Over time, "you" replaced "thou" in most English dialects due to shifting social norms favoring politeness (avoiding perceived rudeness in direct address). The word survives in religious contexts (e.g., Biblical "Thou shalt not") and some regional dialects (e.g., Yorkshire, Scotland).
"Thou art more lovely than a summer's day." (Shakespearean usage)
"Wherefore dost thou weep?" (Early Modern English)
In some dialects, elders still say, "Thou knows better than that."
Quakers historically used "thou" to emphasize equality.
The phrase "holier-than-thou" mocks hypocritical piety.