What did thou mean in old English?

thou is used in the second person singular and plural. It is the contraction of the Anglo-Saxon preposition (prefix) thē and the pronoun you. The word thou is used as a form of direct address to a single person, while you is used to refer to more than one person or things in general.

What does thou mean in old English?

thou is an old English interjection and exclamation showing an expression of surprise or astonishment. It was once used in all situations, such as greetings, to show respect. However, it is now considered rude. It was also used to request or inform someone to do something, for example, Tell thou to the fire! or Tell thou to the horses!

What did thou mean in old English poetry?

Just as with narrative prose, poets used thou to indicate the person speaking. Depending on the context and the writer’s style, it may also have been used to question, make an assertion or express deep feeling. In poetry, the use of thou also reinforced its intimate meaning: rather than using the formal you (singular), poets could use thou when addressing a loved one.

What do thou mean in old English?

When you say the phrase “What do thou mean?” in modern English, you’re asking someone to explain something—or, in this case, to explain what you’re asking about. In the Middle Ages, however, the phrase “What do thou mean?” had an entirely different meaning. The word “thee” (pronounced like the “th” in thin) was a form of address used for a person you knew

What thou mean in old English?

“Thou” was a contraction of the old English word “the” and the pronoun “thou” (pronounced “thee”), which was used by speakers of Old English. As this was a contraction, it was often shortened to just “th” — and thus, “thou” in modern English.