-the

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Irish

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Suffix

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-the

  1. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (plural)
  2. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (past participle)
  3. slender form of -tha: alternative form of -ta (genitive)

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Inherited from Old English , -þu (abstract nominal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-iþu, from Proto-Germanic *-iþō, from Proto-Indo-European *-iteh₂.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /-θ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
  • (following fricatives) IPA(key): /-t(ə)/

Suffix

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-the

  1. (rarely productive) Forms abstract nouns denoting a state or attribute, usually from adjectives but occasionally from verbs; -th, -ness
Usage notes
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  • Final /ə/ is usually deleted when it precedes this suffix; this often results in shortening of any long vowel preceding the resultant consonant cluster.
Derived terms
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Descendants
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  • English: -th, -t
  • Scots: -th, -t
References
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Etymology 2

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Inherited from Old English -þa (ordinal suffix), from Proto-West Germanic *-dō, from Proto-Germanic *-dô.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /-θ(ə)/, /-ð(ə)/
  • (following fricatives) IPA(key): /-t(ə)/
  • (influenced by Old Norse) IPA(key): /-d(ə)/

Suffix

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-the

  1. Forms ordinal numerals, except for first, seconde, thridde; -th.
Usage notes
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  • Final /ə/ is sometimes deleted when it precedes this suffix; this often results in shortening of any long vowel preceding the resultant consonant cluster.
Derived terms
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Descendants
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