What is "that"

That \That\, pron., a., conj., & adv. [AS. [eth][ae]t, neuter nom. & acc. sing. of the article (originally a demonstrative pronoun). The nom. masc. s[=e], and the nom. fem. se['o] are from a different root. AS. [eth][ae]t is akin to D. dat, G. das, OHG. daz, Sw. & Dan. det, Icel. [thorn]at (masc. s[=a], fem. s[=o]), Goth. [thorn]ata (masc. sa, fem. s[=o]), Gr. ? (masc. ?, fem. ?), Skr. tat (for tad, masc. sas, fem. s[=a]); cf. L. istud that. [root]184. Cf. The, Their, They, Them, This, Than, Since.]

1. As a demonstrative pronoun (pl. Those), that usually points out, or refers to, a person or thing previously mentioned, or supposed to be understood. That, as a demonstrative, may precede the noun to which it refers; as, that which he has said is true; those in the basket are good apples.

   The early fame of Gratian was equal to that of the most celebrated princes.
   --Gibbon.

   Note: That may refer to an entire sentence or paragraph, and not merely to a word. It usually follows, but sometimes precedes, the sentence referred to.

   That be far from thee, to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked.
   --Gen. xviii. 25.

   And when Moses heard that, he was content.
   --Lev. x. 20.

   I will know your business, Harry, that I will.
   --Shak.

   Note: That is often used in opposition to this, or by way of distinction, and in such cases this, like the Latin hic and French ceci, generally refers to that which is nearer, and that, like Latin ille and French cela, to that which is more remote. When they refer to foreign words or phrases, this generally refers to the latter, and that to the former.

   Two principles in human nature reign; Self-love, to urge, and Reason, to restrain; Nor this a good, nor that a bad we call.
   --Pope.

   If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that.
   --James iv. 16.

2. As an adjective, that has the same demonstrative force as the pronoun, but is followed by a noun.

   It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
   --Matt. x. 15.

   The woman was made whole from that hour.
   --Matt. ix. 22.

   Note: That was formerly sometimes used with the force of the article the, especially in the phrases that one, that other, which were subsequently corrupted into th'tone, th'tother (now written t'other).

   Upon a day out riden knightes two . . . That one of them came home, that other not.
   --Chaucer.

3. As a relative pronoun, that is equivalent to who or which, serving to point out, and make definite, a person or thing spoken of, or alluded to, before, and may be either singular or plural.

   He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame.
   --Prov. ix. 7.

   A judgment that is equal and impartial must incline to the greater probabilities.
   --Bp. Wilkins.

   Note: If the relative clause simply conveys an additional idea, and is not properly explanatory or restrictive, who or which (rarely that) is employed; as, the king that (or who) rules well is generally popular; Victoria, who (not that) rules well, enjoys the confidence of her subjects. Ambiguity may in some cases be avoided in the use of that (which is restrictive) instead of who or which, likely to be understood in a co["o]rdinating sense.
   --Bain. [1913 Webster] That was formerly used for that which, as what is now; but such use is now archaic.

   We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.
   --John iii. 11.

   That I have done it is thyself to wite [blame].
   --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] That, as a relative pronoun, cannot be governed by a preposition preceding it, but may be governed by one at the end of the sentence which it commences.

   The ship that somebody was sailing in.
   --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] In Old English, that was often used with the demonstratives he, his, him, etc., and the two together had the force of a relative pronoun; thus, that he = who; that his = whose; that him = whom.

   I saw to-day a corpse yborn to church That now on Monday last I saw him wirche [work].
   --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Formerly, that was used, where we now commonly use which, as a relative pronoun with the demonstrative pronoun that as its antecedent.

   That that dieth, let it die; and that that is to cut off, let it be cut off.
   --Zech. xi. 9.

4. As a conjunction, that retains much of its force as a demonstrative pronoun. It is used, specifically:

   1. To introduce a clause employed as the object of the preceding verb, or as the subject or predicate nominative of a verb.

      She tells them 't is a causeless fantasy, And childish error, that they are afraid.
      --Shak.

      I have shewed before, that a mere possibility to the contrary, can by no means hinder a thing from being highly credible.
      --Bp. Wilkins.

   2. To introduce, a reason or cause; -- equivalent to for that, in that, for the reason that, because.

      He does hear me; And that he does, I weep.
      --Shak.

   3. To introduce a purpose; -- usually followed by may, or might, and frequently preceded by so, in order, to the end, etc.

      These things I say, that ye might be saved.
      --John v. 34.

      To the end that he may prolong his days.
      --Deut. xvii. 20.

   4. To introduce a consequence, result, or effect; -- usually preceded by so or such, sometimes by that.

      The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
      --Milton.

      He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled.
      --Tennyson.

   5. To introduce a clause denoting time; -- equivalent to in which time, at which time, when.

      So wept Duessa until eventide, That shining lamps in Jove's high course were lit.
      --Spenser.

      Is not this the day That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
      --Shak.

   6. In an elliptical sentence to introduce a dependent sentence expressing a wish, or a cause of surprise, indignation, or the like.

      Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that that this knight and I have seen!
      --Shak.

      O God, that right should thus overcome might!
      --Shak.

      Note: That was formerly added to other conjunctions or to adverbs to make them emphatic.

      To try if that our own be ours or no.
      --Shak. [1913 Webster] That is sometimes used to connect a clause with a preceding conjunction on which it depends.

      When he had carried Rome and that we looked For no less spoil than glory.
      --Shak.

5. As adverb: To such a degree; so; as, he was that frightened he could say nothing. [Archaic or in illiteral use.]

   All that, everything of that kind; all that sort.

   With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that.
   --Pope.

   The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd [gold] for a'that.
   --Burns.

   For that. See under For, prep.

   In that. See under In, prep.

Old English þæt, "that, so that, after that," neuter singular demonstrative pronoun ("A Man's a Man for a' that"), relative pronoun ("O thou that hearest prayer"), and \ndemonstrative adjective ("Look at that caveman go!"), corresponding to masc. se, fem. seo. From Proto-Germanic *that, from PIE *tod-, extended form of demonstrative pronomial base *-to- (see -th (1)). With the breakdown of the grammatical gender system, it came to be used in Middle English and Modern English for all genders. Germanic cognates include Old Saxon that, Old Frisian thet, Middle Dutch, Dutch dat "that," German der, die, das "the."\n

\nGenerally more specific or emphatic than the, but in some cases they are interchangeable. From c.1200 opposed to this as indicating something farther off. In adverbial use ("I'm that old"), in reference to something implied or previously said, c.1200, an abbreviation of the notion of "to that extent," "to that degree." Slang that way "in love" first recorded 1929. That-a-way "in that direction" is recorded from 1839. "Take that!" said while delivering a blow, is recorded from early 15c.

adv. 1 (context degree English) To a given extent or degree. 2 (context degree English) To a great extent or degree; very, particularly (qualifier: in negative constructions). 3 (lb en obsolete outside dialects) To such an extent; so, such. (qualifier: in positive constructions). conj. 1 (non-gloss definition: Introducing a clause that is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or that is a complement to a previous statement.) 2 (non-gloss definition: Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a reason or cause:) because, in that. 3 (lb en now uncommon) {{non-gloss definition|Introducing a subordinate clause expressing an aim, purpose(,) or goal:}} so, so that. 4 {{non-gloss definition|Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like ''so'' or ''such'' — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence(,) or effect.}} 5 (context archaic or poetic English) (non-gloss definition: Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration:) seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that. 6 (non-gloss definition: Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.) 7 (non-gloss definition: Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.) 8 (non-gloss definition: Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.) det. The (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "(l en this)", or if expressing distinction. n. (context philosophy English) Something being indicated that is there; one of those. pron. 1 (lb en demonstrative) The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action(,) or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "(l en this)", or if expressing distinction. (from 9^thc.) 2 (lb en demonstrative) The aforementioned quality; (non-gloss definition: used together with a verb and pronoun to emphatically repeat a previous statement). 3 (lb en relative) which, who. (from 9^thc.)

A thāt (; ; ; ; also transliterated as thaat) is a mode in northern Indian or Hindustani music. Thāts always have seven different pitches (called swara) and are a basis for the organization and classification of ragas in North Indian classical music.

That is a function word used in the English language for several grammatical purposes.

These include:

• as a complementizer/ subordinating conjunction. ("He asked that she go.") ("That" is not used this way in American and Canadian English.)
• to introduce a restrictive relative clause ("The test that she took was hard.") In this role that may be analyzed either as a relative pronoun or as a conjunction as in the first case; see English relative clauses: That a relativizer instead of relative pronoun. (In American and Canadian English, "that" is only used in this way if the verb could affect the proceeding noun, i.e., one would say "The test she took was hard," but would still say "I hate that dogs are messy" to avoid being misheard as saying "I hate dogs.")
• as a demonstrative pronoun ("That was hard.") (plural: those)
• as a demonstrative adjective ("That test was hard.") (plural: those)
• as an adverb ("The test wasn't that bad.")

In the first two uses the word is usually pronounced weakly, as , whereas in the other uses it is pronounced .

In the Old English language that was spelled þæt. It was also abbreviated as a letter Thorn, þ, with the ascender crossed, ꝥ ( ). In Middle English the letter Ash, æ, was replaced with the letter a, so that that was spelled þat, or sometimes þet. The ascender of the þ was reduced (making it similar to the Old English letter Wynn, ƿ), which necessitated writing a small t above the letter to abbreviate the word that ( ). In later Middle English and Early Modern English the þ evolved into a y shape, so that the word was spelled yat (although the spelling with a th replacing the þ was starting to become more popular) and the abbreviation for that was a y with a small t above it ( ). This abbreviation can still be seen in reprints of the 1611 edition of the King James Version of the Bible in places such as 2 Corinthians 13:7.

That is often omitted when used to introduce a subordinate clause—"He told me that it is a good read." could just as easily be "He told me it is a good read." Historically, "that" usually followed a comma: "He told me, that it is a good read." Middle Modern English grammarian Joseph Robertson recommended in On Punctuation that a comma be used with a conjunction. However, if the subordinate, conjunctional ellipse, null complement, or syntactic pleonasm of "that" is punctuated with a comma, then, in the English grammar, stylistically speaking, it is a comma splice, especially in formal writing. Instead, a semicolon should be used to be grammatically correct: '' He told me; it is a good read''. In grammar, the usage of "that" constitutes a that-clause while its absence constitutes a bare clause.