thon
See also: Appendix:Variations of "thon"
English
Etymology 1
Proposed in 1858 by Charles Crozat Converse from that + one.[1]
Compare also dialectal English and Scots thon (“that; yon”, adjective; pronoun).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ðʌn/
- Rhymes: -ʌn
Pronoun
thon (third-person singular, gender-neutral, possessive thons, reflexive thonself)
- (nonstandard, rare, see usage notes) they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.
- 1889 November, C. Crozat Converse, “That Desired Impersonal Pronoun”, in The Writer, volume 3, number 2, Boston: William H. Hills, page 248:
- Every writer has "thons" verbal likes and dislikes, yet, for the sake of convenience, I trust that even "thon" who dislikes verbal innovations will give my little word a little trial and note for me the result.
- 1907 August, C. W. Larisunz, “Thε Sol:—Hwens?—Hwither?”, in Thε Jurnɑl ɵv ɷrthɵεpi & ɷrthɵgrɑfi, volume 24, number 8, page 153:
- 1985, William Knowlton Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction, 3rd edition, New York: Harper & Row, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC PE1429.Z5 1985, page 121:
- (nonstandard, rare, see usage notes) them (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns him and her.
- 2020, Charlie Kaufman, Antkind, →ISBN, page 102:
- I send my files to Dinsmore with a cutting note too subtle for thon to understand (thon is an imbecile, regardless of thon’s protected status).
Usage notes
A neologism when Charles Crozat Converse coined it in 1858, thon has seen limited use since then.
Synonyms
See also
- other attested gender-neutral pronouns
References
- Quidnunc, “Thon—That's the Forewho”, American Speech, Volume 48, Number 3/4 (Autumn–Winter 1973), pages 300-302
Further reading
Gender-specific and gender-neutral pronouns on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ðɒn/
- Rhymes: -ɒn
Adjective
thon (not comparable)
- Yon.
- 2010 December 17, Diana Gabaldon, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Anchor Canada, →ISBN:
- “Whatever are ye lookin' at, Neil?” his mother demanded, looking up from fastening her favorite garnet brooch. “That's the third time ye've had a peek out thon window.” “Not a thing, Mam,” he said, inhaling deeply. “Only taking pleasure in the day. Such beautiful weather, is it not?” Mrs. Forbes sniffed, but obligingly settled her spectacles on […]
- 2011 January 4, Allie Mackay, Must Love Kilts, Penguin, →ISBN:
- “But”—he spoke in a tone that made Magnus feel like a lad of twelve—“look in the shadows of thon window embrasure and tell me what you see.” Magnus bit back a curse and followed the older man's gaze. “I see Maili, the smithy's daughter.”
Anagrams
French
Etymology
From Latin thunnus, thynnus (itself from Ancient Greek θύννος (thúnnos)), possibly through the intermediate of Old Occitan ton.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “thon”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Middle French
Etymology
First attested 1393 as ton. Borrowed from Latin thunnus, thynnus, possibly via Old Occitan ton although the Middle French is attested earlier than the Old Occitan.[1]
Descendants
- French: ton
References
- Etymology and history of “thon”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Scots
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ðon], [ðɔn]
Vietnamese
Pronunciation
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [tʰɔn˧˧]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [tʰɔŋ˧˧]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [tʰɔŋ˧˧]
Related terms
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