Thāt, pron. or conj.

(128), pron. or conj.;—pl. THOSE, when used as a pronoun. [A-S. the, se, m., theo, seo, f., thāt, n., Goth. sa, sō, thata; O. Sax. thāt, O. Fries. thet, dut, Icel. thāt, Sw. & Dan. det, O. H. Ger. das, thaz, N. H. Ger. das. Cf. THE.]

1Sense 1. A pronoun referring usually to something before mentioned or understood, or to something more remote, and used, (a.) As a demonstrative pronoun, pointing out a person or thing before mentioned, or supposed to be understood. “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matt. x. 15. Hence, it often designates a specific thing or person emphatically.

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

In these cases, that is an adjective. That is also used in opposition to this, or by way of distinction. “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that.” James iv. 15. When this and that refer to foregoing words, this, like the Latin hīc and French ceci, refers to the latter, and that to the former. The same is true of these and those.

Self-love and reason to one end aspire, Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire; But greedy that, its object would devour, This taste the honey, and not wound the flower. Pope.

(b.) As a relative pronoun, equivalent to who or which, serving to point out and make definite a person or thing spoken of or alluded to before. In such cases it is used both in the singular and plural. If the relative clause simply conveys an additional idea, and is not properly explanatory or restrictive, who or which (not that) is employed; as, the king that (or who) rules well; Victoria, who (not that) rules well.

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. Wilkins.

(c.) Referring 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—that I will. Shak.

2Sense 2. [A-S. thāt, O. H. Ger. das, thaz, for dasi, Goth. thatei, contracted from thata and ei, that.] A conjunction, having still much of the force of a demonstrative pronoun, and by some grammarians called the sentence-article. (a.) Introducing a clause, as the object of the preceding verb; as, I heard that the Greeks had defeated the Turks. Here that designates the part of the sentence which follows, as may be seen by inverting the order of the clauses. The Greeks had defeated the Turks; I heard that.

That was formerly used for that which, like what. “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.” John iii. 11. This use is no longer held legitimate.

(b.) Introducing a reason or purpose, and sometimes a result, and equivalent to to the end that, in order that, and the like.

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

In that, for the reason that; because;—a phrase denoting some particular attribute, cause, or reason.

Things are preached not in that they are taught, but in that they are published. Hooker.

—That far, so far; at or to so great a distance; as, the plain in question extended that far. [Colloq.]