though
English
Alternative forms
- tho, tho’, thô
- thogh (obsolete)
- thot (Scottish, obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English thaugh, thagh, from Old English þēah (“though, although, even if, that, however, nevertheless, yet, still; whether”), later superseded in many dialects by Middle English though, thogh, from Old Norse *þóh (later þó); both from Proto-Germanic *þauh (“though”), from Proto-Indo-European *to-, suffixed with Proto-Germanic *-hw < Proto-Indo-European *-kʷe (“and”).
Akin to Scots thoch (“though”), Saterland Frisian dach (“though”), West Frisian dôch, dochs (“though”), Dutch doch (“though”), German doch (“though”), Swedish dock (“however, still”), Icelandic þó (“though”). More at that.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: thō, IPA(key): /ðəʊ/
- (General American) enPR: thō, IPA(key): /ðoʊ/
Audio (GA) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊ
Adverb
though (not comparable)
- (conjunctive) Despite that; however.
- I'm not paid to do all this paperwork for you. I will do it this once, though.
- 2013 July 20, “Old soldiers?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
- Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. […] One thing that is true, though, is that murder rates have fallen over the centuries, as policing has spread and the routine carrying of weapons has diminished. Modern society may not have done anything about war. But peace is a lot more peaceful.
- (degree) Used to intensify statements or questions; indeed.
- "Man, it's hot in here." — "Isn't it, though?"
Synonyms
- (despite that): all the same, anyhow, anyway, even so, in any case, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, yet; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless
Translations
however
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Conjunction
though
- Despite the fact that; although.
- Though it is risky, it is worth taking the chance.
- 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175:
- Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.
- (archaic) If, that, even if.
- We shall be not sorry though the man die tonight.
- 1919, Rudyard Kipling, Tomlinson:
- "Though we called your friend from his bed this night, he could not speak for you, / "For the race is run by one and one and never by two and two."
- 1945, Oscar Hammerstein II, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (song), in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Carousel (musical)
- Walk on through the wind, / Walk on through the rain, / Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Usage notes
- (if): This sense is now archaic, except in the fixed expression as though meaning as if.
Synonyms
- (although): although, even though; see also Thesaurus:even though
Translations
although
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