Questions tagged [thou-thee-thy]
"Thou/thee/thy" is an archaic English pronoun.
21
questions
11
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can you correct this “old English” quote?
There’s an “influencer” that came across my page who posted a quote (attributed to themselves) and I know it’s wrong but I’m not informed enough to know how wrong it is. I’m not going to do anything ...
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
shalt: used with the pronoun thou or its relative equivalent
Shalt is used with the pronoun thou or its relative equivalent https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shalt
What does relative equivalent mean here?
16
votes
12
answers
6k
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
1
answer
435
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
2
answers
443
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, ...
20
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Meaning of "I thou thee"?
What is the meaning of "thou thee" from the quotation below referenced in this Quora answer? (Attributed to the attorney-general at Sir Walter Raleigh’s trial.)
All that he did was at thy ...
1
vote
2
answers
832
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.
5
votes
1
answer
11k
views
"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
2
answers
264
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 ...
-2
votes
1
answer
424
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 I ...
1
vote
2
answers
3k
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
2
answers
2k
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 ...
4
votes
1
answer
18k
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
votes
1
answer
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
1
answer
888
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
1
answer
740
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
3
answers
13k
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
3
answers
38k
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" ?
436
votes
6
answers
152k
views
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 ...
51
votes
6
answers
419k
views
What is the difference between "thee" and "thou"?
What is the difference between thee and thou and how are they used?
28
votes
8
answers
262k
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?