Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

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æ
þ

þanne

  • adverb
Dictionary links
Grammar
þanne, þænne, þonne; adv. conj.
Then, when. Generally if the subject follows the verb the word is to be rendered by then, if the subject precedes the verb, by when. [þanne and þá differ in force; the former is used where the time of an action is indefinite, and is found with the future, the indefinite present and the indefinite past; the latter is used where a definite action has taken place. Cf. Þonne faraþ hig on éce susle,
    Mt. Kmbl. 25, 46, with: Ðá
férde se ðe ða fíf pund underféng, 25, 16. Þonne ðú fæste, smyra ðín heáfod, 6, 17, with: Þá þá hé fæste feówertig daga, 4, 2. Symle ic gehýrde, þonne heofones gim west onhylde, Exon. Th. 174, 30; Gú. 1185, with: Þá hí ðis gehýrdon, hí fahnodon, Mk. Skt.14, 11.] A. — demonstrative, then.
of time,
then, at that time
Show examples

  • Fóron hié bí swá hwaþerre efes swá hit þonne

    (at the time of their going, whenever it was)

    fierdleás wæs,
      Chr. 894; Erl. 90, 13.

  • Ðæt geweorþeþ on dómes dæge ... Þonne forhtiaþ ealle gesceafta,

      Blickl. Homl. 11, 3: 95, 29: Exon. Th. 372, 21; Seel. 96.

  • Þonne hí clypiaþ tó mé, and ic hí ne gehýre,

      Homl. Th. ii. 378, 2.

  • Se deófol ðe beswác ðone þeóf nele náht on his ende geðafian, ðæt hé þonne gecyrre tó ðam Hǽlende,

      Homl. Skt. i. 19, 191.
marking order or sequence,
then, after that,
of time
Show examples

  • Swá hwylc swá morþorslege þafaþ, and hine man þonne fremmeþ

    quicunque ad homicidium consenserit, et id postea factum fuerit,

      L. Ecg. C. 22; Th. ii. 148, 14.

  • Gang ǽr and gesybsuma wið ðínne bróðer, and þonne cum ðú syððan and bring ðíne lác,

      Mt. Kmbl. 5, 24.

  • Búton hé gebinde ǽrest ðone strangan, and þonne hys hús bereáfige,

      12, 29.

  • Nú wé faraþ tó Gerusalem, and þonne beóþ gefylde ealle ða hálgan gewreotu,

      Blickl. Homl. 15, 8.

  • Se ðe gód onginneþ, and þonne áblinneþ,

      21, 34.

  • Ðam ðe for his synnum onsǽgd weorþeþ, and þonne á tó ealdre orleg dreógeþ,

      Exon. Th. 446, 28; Dóm. 29.

  • Ealle ða hwíle sceal beón gedrync, óð ðone dæg ðe hí hine forbærnaþ. Þonne ðý ylcan dæge ðe hí hine tó ðæm áde beran wyllaþ, þonne tódǽlaþ hí his feoh ... Ðonne sceolon beón gesamnode ... menn ... þonne ærnaþ hý ealle...; ðonne cymeþ ... se ðæt swiftoste hors hafaþ tó ðæm ǽrestan dǽle,

      Ors. 1, 1; Swt. 20, 25-36.

  • Álecgaþ hí ðone mǽstan dǽl, þonne óðerne, ðonne ðæne þriddan,

      Swt. 20, 31.

  • Gé cweðaþ: 'Drihten, átýn ús.' Þonne cwyð hé: 'Ne can ic eów.' Ðonne ongynne gé cweþan.... Þonne segþ hé...,

      Lk. Skt. 13, 25-27.

  • Gif gé þonne git (

    after that still

    ) nellaþ eów wendan tó mé,
      Homl. Skt. i. 13, 169: Lk. Skt. 14, 32.

  • Monige men syndon ðe cweþaþ ðæt hié on God gelýfon, and þonne hweþere (

    and yet after saying so

    ) nellaþ áblinnan from heora unrihtum gestreónum,
      Blickl. Homl. 25, 5: 55, 21.
of place or position
Show examples

  • Æt ðám feówer tóðum fyrestum ... se tóð se þanne bí standeþ ... se ðe þonne bí ðam standeþ ... and þonne siþþan gehwilc,

      L. Ethb. 51; Th. i. 16, 3-4.

  • Is se ðridda Martinianus, þonne se feórða Dionisius ... þonne ðæs sixtan Seraphun nama is, Homl. Skt. i. 23, 5-6. II a. marking addition, yet, besides :-- Hwæt máre dést ðú? Gewyslíce þænne máre ic dó

    certe adhuc plus facio,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 19, 35.
marking the succession of subjects treated of in narrative,
then, again
Show examples

  • Næs ðæt þonne mǽtost mægenfultuma, ðæt him láh þyle Hróðgáres

    and then (the helmet and byrnie having been already spoken of) that was not meanest of aids that Hunferth lent him,

      Beo. Th. 2914; B. 1455.

  • Ðænne (cf. And,

      21; Men. 11; 38; Men. 19), Menol. Fox 46; Men. 23.
in a clause that is a qualification or contrast to a preceding clause,
then, yet, but
Show examples

  • Feówertig daga, gif hit hysecild wǽre; gif hit þonne mǽdencild wǽre,... hundeahtatig daga,

      Homl. Th. i. 134, 18.

  • Ða ðe mihton ðurhteón sceoldon bringan lamb and culfran. Gif þonne hwylc wíf tó ðam unspédig wǽre, ðæt heó ðás ðing begytan ne mihte...,

      140, 2; 13: Homl. Skt. i. 13, 163.
  • Lífes ic ðé geann, gif ðú gelýfst ... Gif ðú þonne elles dést, ðú scealt deáþe sweltan, ii. 27, 73.

  • Syndon ealle hǽþene godu hildedeóful; heofenas þænne (

    autem

    ) worhte
      Drihten, Ps. Th. 95, 5.

  • Ðæt hálige gewrit ðæt cýþeþ ... Ðonne is ðeáw ðæs apostolícan setles

    sacra scriptura testatur ... Mos autem sedis apostolicae est,

      Bd. 1, 27; S. 489, 5.

  • Eác is swíðe micel þearf ðæt gé cýðon hú ungefóhlícu scyld ðæt (

    perjury

    ) is ... Þonne habbaþ wé geáhsod ðæt hit sume men dóþ tó lytelre scylde; þonne nis hit ná swá, ac is án ðæra mǽstena scylda,
      L. E. I. 26; Th. ii. 422, 19-24: Blickl. Homl. 175, 34.

  • Twégen beámas stódon ... óðer wæs swá wynlíc ... Þonne wæs se óðer sweart,

      Cod. Th. 30, 34; Gen. 477.

  • Þeáh wé þillíco wíto witan, þonne hwæðere ne sceolon wé nǽfre geortrýwan be Godes mildheortnesse,

      L. E. I. proem,; Th. ii. 398, 42.

  • Wé leorniaþ ðæt seó tíd sié dégol ... wé witon þonne hweþre ðæt hit nis nó feor tó ðon,

      Blickl. Homl. 117, 29.
  • IV a. in an interrogative clause :---
marking a conclusion, inference or result based on a previous statement,
then, therefore, consequently
Show examples

  • Ðæt ðonne (

    from the statements already made

    ) biþ ðæs recceres ryht, ðæt hé ðurh ða stemne his láriówdómes ætiéwe ðæt wuldor ðæs uplícan éðles,
      Past. 21; Swt. 159, 22: Blickl. Homl. 39, 23.

  • Drihten cwæþ: 'Bringaþ gé eówerne teóðan sceat.' ... Þonne sægþ on ðissum bócum, ðæt Drihten sylf cwǽde, ðæt ðis mennissce cyn ne sceolde ágímeleásian, ðæt hié sealdon heora wæstma fruman for Gode,

      41, 3.

  • On ðone dæg hé sende ðone Hálgan Gást. Þonne forþon (

    it may be inferred that on that account

    ) is hit swýðe micel cyn, ðæt gehwylc cristen man ðone dæg weorðige,
      L. E. I. 24; Th. ii. 420, 30: Blickl. Homl. 63, 7.

  • Hé má cégde ... ðæt is þonne (

    we may infer

    ) ðæt wé sceolan beón gelǽrede mid ðysse bysene...,
      19, 13: 23, 9.

  • Gifeón wé þonne (

    for reasons contained in the preceding statement

    ) on þone gemánan Godes and manna,
      11, 4: 13, 24.

  • Hæbbe ic geáhsod, ðæt hé wǽpna ne recceþ; ic ðæt þonne (

    consequently

    ) forhicge, ðæt ic sweord bere tó gúþe,
      Beo. Th. 874; B. 435: 3346; B. 1671.

  • Ðú ús wel dohtest. Gif ic þonne mæg ðínre módlufan máran tilian, ic beó gearo sóna,

      3648; B. 1822.

  • Hwylc beren mǽnde hé þonne elles búton heofona ríce

    what other barn can it be inferred that he meant, but heaven?

      Blickl. Homl. 39, 27, 29.
marking a consequence dependent upon a hypothesis,
then, in that case,
where the hypothesis is expressed in a clause introduced by
gif
Show examples

  • Gif man frigne man gefó, þanne wealde se cyning...,

      L. Wih. 26; Th. i. 42, 15.

  • Gif wé willaþ on Drihten gelýfan, þonne beó wé sittende be ðæm wege,

      Blickl. Homl. 23, 8: 13, 10: Mt. Kmbl. 24, 50: Coll. Monast. Th. 29, 25.

  • Gif wé deóplícor ymbe ðis sprecaþ, þonne wéne wé ðæt hit wile ðincan ðám ungelǽredum tó menigfeald,

      Homl. Th. ii. 582, 24.

  • Gif hwá cwyð ðæt hé lufige God, and his beboda ne hylt, hé biþ leás ðonne,

      314, 31.

  • Gif ðú wilt ðæt ðis feoh becume tó ðínre sáwle ðearfe, tódǽl hit ðonne ðearfum,

      484, 32.

  • Gyf þonne Frysna hwylc ðæs morþorhetes myndgiend wǽre, þonne hit sweordes ecg sweðrian scolde,

      Beo. Th. 2216; B. 1106.

  • Ðonne wéne ic tó ðé wyrsan geþingea, gif ðú Grendles dearst bídan,

      1054; B. 525.
wherethe hypothesis is otherwise expressed
Show examples

  • Se ðe wille anwald ágon ( =

    if any one desires to have power

    ), þonne sceal hé ǽrest tilian ðæt hé his selfes áge anwald,
      Met. 16, 1.

  • Se ðe feohtan ne dear mid Godes gewǽpnunge ongeán ðone feónd, hé biþ þonne mid ðám deófellícum bendum gewyld,

      Homl. Th. ii. 402, 18.
where the hypothesis is implied
Show examples

  • Wé sceolon ðone geleáfan mid gódum dǽdum gefyllan, þonne (

    if we do so, then

    ) beó wé úrum Hǽlende fylgende,
      Blickl. Homl. 23, 10.

  • Ic ðé lǽre, ðæt ðú hospcwide ne fremme; ðonne ðú geearnast ðæt ðé biþ éce líf seald,

      Elen. Kmbl. 1049; El. 526.

  • Weorþiaþ gé eówerne God...; þonne gefylleþ Drihten eówer beren,

      Blickl. Homl. 41, 10.

  • Lufian wé hine...; þonne ne lǽteþ he ús nó costian,

      13, 8, 26.

  • Hwæt mǽnde hé elles, búton ðæt wé gefyllon ðæs þearfan wambe? Þonne (

    if we do fill, etc., then )

    ne hingreþ ús nǽfre,
      39, 30. '
    Hwæt déstú gif ic tó mergen middeges gebíde?' Hé cwæð: 'Sylf ic swelte þonne,' Homl. Skt. i. 3, 591.

  • Ðes man is sóþfæst, ac þonne hwæþere git sindon bigswicon this man is true, but yet (if that be so) then ye are deceivers, Blickl. Homl. 187, 30. VI a. in questions, and referring to a condition contained in another sentence,

    then, in that case

    :-- Wilt ðú syllan þingc ðín hér ealswá ðú hí gebohtest þǽr? Ic nelle. Hwæt þænne mé fremode gedeorf mín?
      Coll. Monast. Th. 27, 17.
  • Hig beóþ tódǽlede. Hú mæg þonne hys ríce standan? Mt. Kmbl. 12, 26: Salm. Kmbl. 715; Sal. 357. B. — relative, when.
of time.
of the time of a single action in the future
Show examples

  • Hwylc tácen biþ, þænne ealle ðás ðing onginnaþ beón geendud,

      Mk. Skt. 13, 4.
  • Ðænne mannes sunu cymþ, gemét hé geleáfan? Lk. Skt. 18, 8: 13, 28.

  • Ðonne ic cume tó ðé tǽc mé

    quando veniam ad te, doce me,

      Ælfc. Gr. 38; Zup. 224, 7.

  • Ðonne se hírédes ealdor ingǽð, gé standaþ þǽr úte,

      Lk. Skt. 13, 25.

  • Ðonne ðú for unc ondwyrdan scealt,

      Exon. Th. 372, 5; Seel. 88.

  • Hwænne wylle gé singan ǽfen oþþe nihtsangc? Þonne hyt tíma byþ,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 34, 5.

  • Geþence mé, þonne ðé ðín wíse lície,

      Gen. 40, 14.

  • Ic náme þænne ic cóme

    veniens ego recepissem,

      Mt. Kmbl. 25, 27.
referring to the times of an action which may occur an indefinite number of times,
when, at such times as
Show examples

  • Þænne se yrþlingc unscenþ ða oxan, ic lǽde hig tó lǽse,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 20, 25.

  • Bútan ðænne bises geboden weorþe,

      Menol. Fox 64; Men. 32.

  • Eádige synt gé, þonne hí wyriaþ eów,

      Mt. Kmbl. 5, 11.

  • Þonne ðú ðíne ælmessan sylle, ne bláwe man býman beforan ðé,

      6, 2, 3, 5, 6.

  • Symle hé sceal singan, ðonne hé his sweord geteó,

      Salm. Kmbl. 334; Sal. 166: Beo. Th. 46; B. 23: Andr. Kmbl. 503; An. 252: Exon. Th. 42, 18; Cri. 674.

  • Saga ðú ðæt ðú sié sweostor mín, þonne ðé leódweras fricgen (

    whenever you are asked

    ),
      Cd. Th. 110, 5; Gen. 1833.

  • Ðæt wǽron men fyrdhwate, þonne rond and hand helm ealgodon,

      Andr. Kmbl. 18; An. 9.

  • Symle ic gehýrde, þonne heofones gim west onhylde,

      Exon. Th. 174, 30; Gú. 1185: 122, 11; Gú. 304: Cd. Th. 33, 21; Gen. 523.

  • Ic ðonne (

    dum

    ) mé hefie wérun, ic gegerede mec mid héran,
      Ps. Surt. 34, 13.
where the order in time of two circumstances is to be marked,
when, after
Show examples

  • Eallum geleáffullum mannum englas þegniaþ, þonne hí habbaþ deófol oferswíþed,

      Blickl. Homl. 35, 3.

  • Ðín ágen bearn frætwa healdeþ, þonne ðín flǽsc ligeþ,

      Cd. Th. 132, 5; Gen. 2188.

  • Hwæt dó wé, þonne hé unc hafaþ geedbyrded óþre síþe,

      Exon. Th. 372, 29; Seel. l00.
denoting a cause,
when, since, seeing that
Show examples

  • Sindon monige tó ðreágenne, ðonne hié selfe nellaþ ongietan hiera scylda,

      Past. 21; Swt. 159, 17.

  • Ealle clǽne þingc ic ete. Swíþe waxgeorn eart ðú, þonne (

    cum

    ) ðú ealle þingc etst,
      Coll. Monast. Th. 34, 31.

  • Hí beóþ slítende wulfas, þonne hié for feós lufan earmne fordémaþ búton scylde,

      Blickl. Homl. 63, 10: Homl. Th. ii. 226, 31.

  • Wén is ðæt hé wille bewitan his menn ge on lífe ge on deáðe, þonne se lytla fugel ne befylþ on grin bútan Godes willan, Homl. Skt. i. 17, 188, 197. II a. in questions denoting the cause or reason for that not being done about which the question asks :-- Hú lange wilt ðú bewépan Saules síð, þonne ic hine áwearp, ðæt hé leng ne ríxige

    how long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning?

    (A.
      V. 1 Sam. 16, 1) Homl. Th. ii. 64, 5.

  • Hwá sceal tó his ríce fón, þonne hé bróðer næfþ, ne hé bearn ne belǽfþ? 146, 19: i. 48,

      12, 25.
  • Hú mæg ic yrnan mid eów, þonne ic ne árás of ðysum bedde nú for nigon geárum? Homl. Skt. i. 21, 344.
  • Hwæt wille wé furðor secgan hú se cásere his fyrdinge geendode, þonne hé forférde on ende, ii. 28, 118.
although
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  • Ðú gelýfdest on mé, þonne ðú mé ne gesáwe

    credidisti in me, cum ipse me non uideris,

      Homl. Skt. ii. 24, 114.
denoting condition, case, when, the case in which Iactantia,
Show examples
  • ðæt is ýdel gylp; ðæt is ðonne se man biþ lofgeorn and mid lícetunge fǽrþ,
      Homl. Skt. i. 16, 302.

  • Óðer deófolgild is.... ðonne se man forsihþ his Scyppendes beboda,

      17, 50.

  • Míne eágan synt ealra gelícast þonne esne biþ þonnne his hláforde héreþ

    my eyes are most like the case of the servant obeying his lord,

      Ps. Th. 122, 2.

  • Ealle wé syndon ungelíce, þonne þe wé in heofonum hæfdon ǽrror wlite

    we are all unlike what we were when in heaven we formerly had beauty,

      Cd. Th. 274, 8; Sat. 151.

  • Ðonne se móna wexeþ (in its crescent condition), hé biþ gelíc ðæm gódum men, Blickl. Homl. 17, 22. C. correlative, þanne ... þanne

    then ... when, when ... then

    :-- Ðonne ðú ealle gedǽlde hæfst, þonne bist ðú ðé self wædla,
      Bt. 13; Fox 38, 34.

  • Ðonne eów mislíciaþ ða mettrumnessa ðe gé on óðrum monnum geseóþ, ðonne geðence gé hwæt gé sién,

      Past. 21; Swt. 159, 13-14, 19-21: Blickl. Homl. 17, 2-3.

  • Þonne se móna wanaþ, þonne tácnaþ hé úre deáþlícnesse,

      17, 24: 19, 14-15, 28-29.

  • Þonne Godes gecorenan becumaþ tó deáðe, ðonne gemétaþ hí yrfwyrdnysse,

      Homl. Th. ii. 526, 29-30: Exon. Th. 83, 7-10; Cri. 1352.

  • Ðætte ðonne, ðonne hié ða untruman lácnian willaþ, dætte hié ǽr gesceáwien,

      Past. 48; Swt. 370, 9.
  • D. after comparatives, than.
where the comparison is between different objects,
where the objects are expressed by single words or phrases
Show examples

  • Hé wæs ǽr þonne ic,

      Jn. Skt. 1, 15.

  • Gé synt sélran þonne manega spearuan,

      Mt. Kmbl. 10, 31.

  • Ðé wæs leófra his sibb and hyldo þonne ðín sylfes bearn,

      Cd. Th. 176, 34; Gen. 2921: Andr. Kmbl. 2856; An. 1430.

  • Leófre ys ús beón beswungen for láre þænne hit ne cunnan,

      Coll. Monast. Th. 18, 20: 24, 23. (1 a)
    ) Næfþ nán mann máran lufe þonne ðeós ys, Jn. Skt. 15, 13.
where one or each object is expressed by a clause
Show examples

  • Sélre biþ ǽghwæm, ðæt hé his freónd wrece, þonne hé fela murne,

      Beo. Th. 2775; B. 1385.

  • Ðé wǽre sélle, ðǽr ðú wurde fugel, þonne ðú ǽfre mon gewurde,

      Exon. Th. 372, 1; Seel. 85. (2 a)
    ) Nis nǽnig máre mægen, þonne hé ðone áwyrgdan gást oferswíþe, Blickl. Homl. 31, 31.

  • Nyston beteran rǽd þonne hié ða behlidenan him tó lífnere gefeormedon,

      Andr. Kmbl. 2179; An. 1091. (2 b) in questions :-- On
    hwam mæg se iunga rǽdran rǽd gemittan, þonne hé ðíne wísan word gehealde? Ps. Th. 118, 9.
  • Hwæs wǽre mé máre þearf, þonne ic mid cilde wǽre? Gen. 25, 22.
where the comparison is between the same object under different conditions
Show examples

  • Ácumendlícre byþ Sodoma lande on dómes dæg þonne þære ceastre,

      Mt. Knbl. 10, 15.

  • Ic wylle cýpan hér luflícor þonne ic gebicge ðǽr (

    the price is higher in one case than in the other

    ),
      Coll. Monast. Th. 27, 19.

  • Sceolan wé beón geornran ðæt wé Godes bebodu healdan, þonne wé úrne teónan gewrecan

    our zeal to keep God's commands must be greater than our zeal to avenge our wrong,

      Blickl. Homl. 33, 24.

  • Nǽfre hlísan áh Meotud þan máran, þonne hé wið monna bearn wyrcep weldǽdum

    the glory is never greater than when working benevolently,

      Exon. Th. 191, 11; Az. 86.

  • Hé biþ on ðæt wynstre weorud wyrs gesceáden, þonne hé on ða swíþran hond swícan móte,

      449, 24; Dóm. 76.
where the comparative with þanne may be rendered by the positive preceded by too and followed by
for with an infinitive or by an infinitive
Show examples

  • Seó is brádre þonne ǽnig man ofer seón mæge

    it is too broad for anybody to be able to see across,

      Ors. 1, 1; Swt. 19, 19.

  • Ðæt his mód wite, ðæt migtigra wíte wealdeþ, þonne hé him wið mæge (

    one too mighty for him to prevail against

    ),
      Cd. Th. 249, 1; Dan. 523.

  • Him wæs Godes egsa mára in gemyndum, þonne hé menniscum þrymme þegan wolde (

    too much fear of God for him to wish for human glory

    ),
      Exon. Th. 112, 6; Gú. 139.

  • Deóplícor mid ús ðú smeágst, þonne yld úre anfón mæge (

    too deeply for our age to be able to take it in

    ),
      Coll. Monast. 33, 11.

  • Se wæs mid his dǽdum snelra þonne hé mægenes hæfde

    he was too quick in his actions to have enough strength for them;

    celeritate magis quam virtute fretus,
      Ors. 2, 5; Swt. 78, 27.
where the adjective is in the positive, and the comparative required by
þanne must be inferred
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  • Gód ys on Dryhten tó þenceanne, þonne on mannan wese mód tó treówianne

    bonum est confidere in Domino, quam confidere in homine,

      Ps. Th. 117, 8, 9.
Etymology
[O. H. Ger. danne.]
Similar entries
v. þan; þá.
Linked entries
v.  þænne þonne.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “þanne.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014. https://bosworthtoller.com/31535.

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Word-wheel

  • þanne, adv.

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