Questions tagged [thou-thee-thy]
"Thou/thee/thy" is an archaic English pronoun.
19
questions
15
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12answers
5k views
Does English use the word ‘thou’ in any situations nowadays? [closed]
Does English use the word thou in situations nowadays? For example, to humiliate an opponent by being overly familiar?
4
votes
1answer
90 views
What's the proper antique equivalent to “Don't you dare”? [closed]
What's the proper antique (using "thee") equivalent to "Don't you dare"? Dare thee not? Dare not thee? Something else?
0
votes
1answer
91 views
Verb contractions with thou
I know there are a lot of commonly accepted contractions (verb + not): aren't, haven't, isn't, don't, won't, shan't etc.
But do the contractions for art not, hast not, dost not, wilt not, shalt not ...
17
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2answers
4k views
Meaning of “thou thee”?
What is the meaning of "thou thee" from the quotation below from this post. (Attributed to the attorney-general at Sir Walter Raleigh’s trial.)
"All that he did was at thy instigation, thou viper; ...
1
vote
2answers
443 views
Are the pronouns “Thee” and “Thy” considered archaisms in 19th Century poetry? [closed]
Are the pronouns "Thee" and "Thy" considered archaisms in Romantic poetry? I have La Belle Dame sans Merci by Keats in mind.
4
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1answer
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“Obscene yourself” (literally) in Hemingway's “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
I am reading Hemingway's "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (an edition from 1960). Throughout the book, strong words and obscenities are replaced literally by the term "obscenity" or similar. For example (...
5
votes
2answers
216 views
Translating a text that requires 'T-V distinction'
I'm translating a historical fiction novel set in Medieval times. The formal and informal forms of treatment (T-V distinction) play an important role in the plot so I considered the best option was to ...
asked Dec 19 '16 at 18:14
SC for reinstatement of Monica
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-2
votes
1answer
384 views
What does the translator mean in English in this translation of a verse by the Urdu poet Ghalib? [closed]
Here is the translation of a verse by Ghalib [1797–1869], originally written1 in the Urdu language:
Neither Asad besought cruelty,
nor was thy tyranny fond of the insanity;
to whatever extent ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
If “thy” is an informal pronoun, then why does The Lord's Prayer use it to refer to God? [duplicate]
The commonly used version of this Christian prayer comes from the King James Bible
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come,...
6
votes
2answers
918 views
Connection between the thou/you thee/ye forms of you and the confusion between the thorn (þ) and the letter 'y'?
There's a lot of good information in the answer to an existing question about thou/you and thee/ye, and many are familiar with how shops with the affectation of "Ye Olde Shoppe" get that "Y" from a ...
5
votes
1answer
15k views
“Thou shalt not pass” and “You shall not pass” hybrid
Is it technically incorrect grammar to make a hybrid of the well known statements: "Thou shalt not pass" and "You shall not pass"––this hybrid being: "You shalt not pass"?
From what I understand from ...
0
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1answer
3k views
Thy used for My [closed]
Can I use the archaic English THY to interpret as MY or is this a major NO NO ?
Example: upon the reveal of thy heart (meaning my heart)
2
votes
1answer
591 views
Is it impolite to say “thou” instead of “you”?
Would native English speakers feel offended if I address them by "thou" instead of "you"?
3
votes
1answer
520 views
fare thee well - grammar
Why is this sentence using 'thee' (which is, afaik the oblique case) and not 'thou'?
The second person singular -in this case- should be the subject, i thought. The subject is the one doing the ...
0
votes
3answers
10k views
“Thou” or “You”? This is the problem!
In some eastern Indo-European languages like Persian specially in its northern accent Gilaki, the words "thou", "thee", "thy",... have a same meaning and pronunciation as English. But there is a ...
20
votes
3answers
32k views
When should I say “thee”?
If I want to be posh, old school, when I'm writing, and decide to use "thee" then what is the correct technical usage for it? Does it simply replace "the" ?
418
votes
6answers
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Did English ever have a formal version of “you”?
From the top of my head, Danish "De" (practically never used), German "Sie", Chinese "您", French "vous", Spanish "usted" are a formal way of addressing someone, especially if one isn't familiar with ...
40
votes
6answers
292k views
What is the difference between “thee” and “thou”?
What is the difference between thee and thou and how are they used?
27
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8answers
231k views
What does “thy” mean?
I read a sentence containing the word thy, but I cannot find the meaning of that word.
Is it older English, or is it still used in contemporary English today?
