(used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as pointed out or present, mentioned before, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis): That is her mother. After that we saw each other.
2.
(used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., already mentioned, referring to the one more remote in place, time, or thought; opposed to this): This is my sister and that's my cousin.
3.
(used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., already mentioned, implying a contrast or contradistinction; opposed to this): This suit fits better than that.
4.
(used as the subject or object of a relative clause, esp. one defining or restricting the antecedent, sometimes replaceable by who, whom, or which): the horse that he bought.
5.
(used as the object of a preposition, with the preposition standing at the end of a relative clause): the farm that I spoke of.
6.
(used in various special or elliptical constructions): fool that he is.
–adjective
7.
(used to indicate a person, place, thing, or degree as indicated, mentioned before, present, or as well-known or characteristic): That woman is her mother. Those little mannerisms of hers make me sick.
8.
(used to indicate the more remote in time, place, or thought of two persons, things, etc., already mentioned; opposed to this): This room is his and that one is mine.
9.
(used to imply mere contradistinction; opposed to this): not this house, but that one.
–adverb
10.
(used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or extent) to the extent or degree indicated: that much; The fish was that big.
11.
to a great extent or degree; very: It's not that important.
12.
Dialect. (used to modify an adjective or another adverb) to such an extent: He was that weak he could hardly stand.
–conjunction
13.
(used to introduce a subordinate clause as the subject or object of the principal verb or as the necessary complement to a statement made, or a clause expressing cause or reason, purpose or aim, result or consequence, etc.): I'm sure that you'll like it. That he will come is certain. Hold it up so that everyone can see it.
14.
(used elliptically to introduce an exclamation expressing desire, a wish, surprise, indignation, or other strong feeling): Oh, that I had never been born!
—Idioms
15.
at that,
a.
in spite of something; nevertheless: Although perhaps too elaborate, it seemed like a good plan at that.
b.
in addition; besides: It was a long wait, and an exasperating one at that.
16.
that is, (by way of explanation, clarification, or an example); more accurately: I read the book, that is, I read most of it. Also, that is to say.
17.
that's that, Informal. there is no more to be said or done; that is finished: I'm not going, and that's that!
18.
that way, Informal. in love or very fond of (usually fol. by about or for): The star and the director are that way. I'm that way about coffee.
19.
with that, following that; thereupon: With that, he turned on his heel and fled.
Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE thæt (pronoun, adj., adv. and conj.), orig., neut. of se the; c. D dat, G das(s), ON that, Gk tó, Skt tad
Usage note: 4.When that introduces a relative clause, the clause is usually restrictive; that is, essential to the complete meaning of the sentence because it restricts or specifies the noun or pronoun it modifies. In the sentence The keys that I lost last month have been found, it is clear that keys referred to are a particular set. Without the that clause, the sentence The keys have been found would be vague and probably puzzling. That is used to refer to animate and inanimate nouns and thus can substitute in most uses for who(m) and which: Many of the workers that (or who) built the pyramids died while working. The negotiator made an offer that (or which) was very attractive to the union. Experienced writers choose among these forms not only on the basis of grammar and the kind of noun referred to but also on the basis of sound of the sentence and their own personal preference. The relative pronoun that is sometimes omitted. Its omission as a subject is usually considered nonstandard, but the construction is heard occasionally even from educated speakers: A fellow (that) lives near here takes people rafting. Most often it is as an object that the relative pronoun is omitted. The omission almost always occurs when the dependent clause begins with a personal pronoun or a proper name: The mechanic (that) we take our car to is very competent. The films (that) Chaplin made have become classics. The omission of the relative pronoun as in the two preceding examples is standard in all varieties of speech and writing. 13.The conjunction that, which introduces a noun clause, is, like the relative pronoun that, sometimes omitted, often after verbs of thinking, saying, believing, etc.: She said (that) they would come in separate cars. He dismissed the idea (that) he was being followed. As with the omission of the relative pronoun, the omission of the conjunction almost always occurs when the dependent clause begins with a personal pronoun or with a proper name. This omission of the conjunction that occurs most frequently in informal speech and writing, but it is a stylistic option often chosen in more formal speech and writing.
Used to refer to the one designated, implied, mentioned, or understood: What kind of soup is that?
Used to refer to the one, thing, or type specified as follows: The relics found were those of an earlier time.
Used to refer to the event, action, or time just mentioned: After that, he became a recluse.
In, on, by, or with which: each summer that the concerts are performed.
According to what; insofar as: He never knew her, that I know of.
Used to indicate the farther or less immediate one: That is for sale; this is not.
Used to emphasize the idea of a previously expressed word or phrase: He was fed up, and that to a great degree.
The one, kind, or thing; something: She followed the calling of that which she loved.
those Used to indicate an unspecified number of people: those who refused to join.
Used as a relative pronoun to introduce a clause, especially a restrictive clause: the car that has the flat tire.
In, on, by, or with which: each summer that the concerts are performed.
According to what; insofar as: He never knew her, that I know of.
adj.
pl.those
Being the one singled out, implied, or understood: that place; those mountains.
Being the one further removed or less obvious: That route is shorter than this one.
adv.
To such an extent or degree: Is your problem that complicated?
To a high degree; very: didn't take what he said that seriously.
conj.
Used to introduce a noun clause that is usually the subject or object of a verb or a predicate nominative: "That contemporary American English is exuberantly vigorous is undeniable"(William Arrowsmith).
Used to introduce a subordinate clause stating a result, wish, purpose, reason, or cause: She hoped that he would arrive on time. He was saddened that she felt so little for him.
Used to introduce an anticipated subordinate clause following the expletive it occurring as subject of the verb: It is true that dental work is expensive.
Used to introduce a subordinate clause modifying an adverb or adverbial expression: will go anywhere that they are welcome.
Used to introduce a subordinate clause that is joined to an adjective or noun as a complement: was sure that she was right; the belief that rates will rise soon.
Used to introduce an elliptical exclamation of desire: Oh, that I were rich!
[Middle English, from Old English thæt; see to- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: The standard rule requires that that should be used only to introduce a restrictive (or defining) relative clause, which identifies the entity being talked about; in this use it should never be preceded by a comma. Thus, in the sentence The house that Jack built has been torn down, the clause that Jack built is a restrictive clause identifying the specific house that was torn down. Similarly, in I am looking for a book that is easy to read, the restrictive clause that is easy to read tells what kind of book is desired. A related rule stipulates that which should be used with nonrestrictive (or nondefining) clauses, which give additional information about an entity that has already been identified in the context; in this use, which is always preceded by a comma. Thus, we say The students in Chemistry 101 have been complaining about the textbook, which (not that) is hard to follow. The clause which is hard to follow is nonrestrictive in that it does not indicate which text is being complained about; even if the clause were omitted, we would know that the phrase the textbook refers to the text in Chemistry 101. · Some grammarians extend the rule and insist that, just as that should be used only in restrictive clauses, which should be used only in nonrestrictive clauses. Thus, they suggest that we should avoid sentences such as I need a book which will tell me all about city gardening, where the restrictive clause which will tell me all about city gardening indicates which sort of book is needed. But this extension of the rule is far from universally accepted, and the use of which with restrictive clauses is common. Furthermore, since that cannot be used with clauses introduced by a preposition (whether or not restrictive), which is used with both clauses when such a clause is joined by and or or to another that does not begin with a preposition, as in It is a philosophy in which the common man may find solace and which many have found reason to praise. Such constructions are often considered cumbersome, however, and it may be best to recast the sentence completely to avoid the problem. · That is often omitted in a relative clause when the subject of the clause is different from the word that the clause refers to. Thus, we may say either the book that I was reading or the book I was reading. In addition, that is commonly omitted before other kinds of subordinate clauses, as in I think we should try again where that would precede we. These constructions omitting that are entirely idiomatic, even in more formal contexts. See Usage Notes at doubt, this, whatever, which, who.
mod. a stylistic replacement for the. (Especially in citizens band radio jargon and much daily colloquial speech. It is the pervasive overuse of this form that makes it notable as colloquial.) : Can you tell me where that next rest stop is?
mod. a stylistic modifier of personal and place names and some other nouns that do not normally take modifiers. (Citizens band radio.) : How do I get to that Kansas City?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
that
O.E. þæt, neuter sing. of the demonstrative pronoun and adj. (corresponding to masc. se, fem. seo), from P.Gmc. *that, from PIE *tod-, extended form of demonstrative pronomial base *to- (cf. Skt. ta-, Lith., O.C.S. to, Gk. to "the," L. talis "such"). Cf. the. Emerged c.1200 as a demonstrative adj. with the breakdown of the O.E. grammatical gender system, perhaps by infl. of Fr. and L., which had demonstrative adjectives (O.E. did not). Slang that way "in love" first recorded 1929. That-a-way is recorded from 1839. "Take that," said while delivering a blow, is recorded from c.1425.
those
Midlands and southern variant of O.E. þas, nominative and accusative plural of þes, þeos "this" (see this).
[th
at; unstressed th
pronoun and adjective, plural those; adverb; conjunction