Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
*** than thou!
English answer:
(from/referring to) holier than thou
Added to glossary by
Rachel Fell
Sep 13, 2005 10:36
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
Sweden
Published literary/medical translator
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, Swedish to Italian
*** than thou!
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Philosophy essay
Hello everybody.
Was looking up the expression "CLEVERER THAN THOU", which of course I understand. The author writes about a sort of attitude which he calls "CLEVERER-THAT-THOUNESS". Have seen that "THAN THOU" is used very often with every sort of comparative
Why the ancient THOU instead of YOU? Does it refer to something I don't get? Just to make sure...
THANKS INDEED!
Giusi
Was looking up the expression "CLEVERER THAN THOU", which of course I understand. The author writes about a sort of attitude which he calls "CLEVERER-THAT-THOUNESS". Have seen that "THAN THOU" is used very often with every sort of comparative
Why the ancient THOU instead of YOU? Does it refer to something I don't get? Just to make sure...
THANKS INDEED!
Giusi
Responses
| 4 +23 | holier than thou |
Rachel Fell
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| 3 +2 | use of irony |
Anabel Martínez
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Responses
+23
3 mins
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
holier than thou
probably formed from the original expression "holier than thou"
meaning sanctimonious, patronising, a pious attitude
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Note added at 6 mins (2005-09-13 10:43:01 GMT)
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hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
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Note added at 8 mins (2005-09-13 10:44:32 GMT)
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hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2005-09-13 10:45:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
meaning sanctimonious, patronising, a pious attitude
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2005-09-13 10:43:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2005-09-13 10:44:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2005-09-13 10:45:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
hyphenated as an adjective: "a holier-than-thou attitude"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Aisha Maniar
: yes, probably refers to the original expression and "patronising" sums up the attitude well"!
2 mins
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Thanks, Aisha!
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| agree |
Nick Lingris
: Yes, the basis of the "than thou" expressions is "holier than thou" from Isaiah 65:5.
2 mins
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Thanks, Nick - didn't know that, will have a look!
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| agree |
Jeannie Graham
4 mins
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Thank you, kalimeh!
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| agree |
Mario Marcolin
5 mins
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Tack, Mario!
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| agree |
Valentin Alupoaie
9 mins
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Thanks, Valentin!
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| agree |
zaphod
: refers to the formal used among clergy and in the Bible
13 mins
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Thank you, zaphod!
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| agree |
Pnina
16 mins
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Thanks, Pnina!
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| agree |
Elizabeth Rudin
: "Cleverer-than-thou" would be an attitude of arrogant superiority.
17 mins
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Yes - thanks, Elizabeth!
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| agree |
Charlie Bavington
28 mins
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Thanks, Charlie!
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| agree |
tazdog (X)
51 mins
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Thank you, Cindy!
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| agree |
CateA (X)
: Agree with Elizabeth too.
1 hr
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Thanks, traceyp
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| agree |
Bianca Jacobsohn
1 hr
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Thanks, Bianca
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| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
2 hrs
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Thank you, Ian
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| agree |
Martin Perazzo
2 hrs
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Thanks, Martin
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| agree |
LJC (X)
2 hrs
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Thank you, Lesley
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| agree |
Richard Benham
2 hrs
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Thanks, Richard
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| agree |
silvia b (X)
2 hrs
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Thank you, Silvia
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| agree |
RHELLER
: yes, it is called condescension
3 hrs
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Thanks, Rita - yes, can be - or self-righteousness!
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| agree |
sporran
4 hrs
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Thanks, sporran
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| agree |
jennifer newsome (X)
4 hrs
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Thanks, Jennifer!
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
6 hrs
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Thank you, Marju!
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| agree |
humbird
: Agree. Also word "sanctimoniousness" comes to my mind.
9 hrs
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Yes - thanks humbird!
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| agree |
Aleron
11 hrs
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Thank you, Aleron!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
1 min
Anabel Martínez
Spain
Spain
Specializes in field
Spain
Localization and transcreation
Native in: Catalan (Variant: Central) 
, Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, English to Catalan, Catalan to Spanish, and 5 more.
use of irony
I would say that using "thou" gives more the impression of someone who knows everything and is so cultivated as to even know the Classics and talk in ancient English
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Arcoiris
3 mins
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thanks
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
: But not cultivated enough to know the difference between the nominative "thou" and the accusative "thee".
31 mins
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thanks, Jack
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| neutral |
Richard Benham
: @Jack Doughty: "Thou" is perfectly correct. "Than" is traditionally a conjunction, not a preposition. @Annabel M: You may have a point, but I think Rachel's answer is more pertinent.
2 hrs
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thanks, Richard. I make no mention of the righteousness of thee over thou, my point is only that the use of an ancient form seems to have an ironic purpose, that's all
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| neutral |
Refugio
: The use of 'thou' seems simply an extension of the language of the King James version of the Bible (used correctly, since it means 'holier than thou art holy') . No need to read irony into it, nor excessive erudition. The KJV is still in use.
1 day 6 hrs
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thanks, Ruth, I guess my background makes me see nuances where actually there is nothing but the facts.
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Discussion