Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Them

Them

(thĕm)
,
p
ron.
[AS.
ðǣm
, dat. pl. of the article, but influenced by the Scand. use of the corresponding form
þeim
as a personal pronoun. See
They
.]
The objective case of they. See
They
.
Go ye rather to
them
that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Matt. xxv. 9.
Then shall the King say unto
them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father.
Matt. xxv. 34.
Them is poetically used for themselves, as him for himself, etc.
Little stars may hide
them
when they list.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Them

THEM

, pron. the objective case of they, and of both genders. [In our mother tongue, them is an adjective, answering to the, in the dative and ablative cases of both numbers. The common people continue to use it in the plural number as an adjective, for they say, bring them horses, or them horses are to be led to water.]
Go ye to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Matt.25.
Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father-- Matt.25.

Definition 2024


them

them

See also: thêm

English

Alternative forms

Pronoun

them (personal pronoun, objective case)

  1. Objective case of they: third personal plural pronoun used after a preposition or as the object of a verb.
    Give it to them. (after preposition)
    She wrote them a letter. (indirect object)
    She treated them for a cold. (direct object)
  2. Objective case of they: third-person singular pronoun used after a preposition or as the object of a verb.
    If someone comes and asks for the ticket, just give it to them. (after preposition)
    If one of my patients calls, please bring them their dinner. (indirect object)
    If a student has an inappropriate question, whatever you do, do not berate them. (direct object)
    • 1611, King James Bible, Deuteronomy 17.2–5:
      If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, [] [t]hen shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
    • 2006, St. John Ambulance, First on the Scence: Student Reference Guide, ISBN 1-894070-56-9, Lesson 2, page 3:
      Place the casualty on their back with feet and legs raised—this is called the shock position. [emphasis in original] Once the casualty is positioned, cover them to preserve body heat, but do not overheat.
    • 2007, Rowling, J. K., Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, (quoted edition: London: Bloomsbury, 2008, ISBN 978 0 7475 9586 1, page 270):
      Someone in the crowd around the lifts called sycophantically, ‘Morning, Yaxley!’ Yaxley ignored them.

Usage notes

  • Regarding the use of singular them, see they.

Related terms

Translations

See also

Determiner

them

  1. (dialectal) those
    • 2005, Elmer Kelton, Sons of Texas, Tor/Forge (2005), page 111:
      " [] Them two wild horses ain't fit to ride, and I been wonderin' how I was goin' to get you out of this place before them Spanish maybe circle back and finish the job."
    • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:them.
    Them kids need to grow up.

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: been · will · no · #49: them · when · if · there

Anagrams


Albanian

Alternative forms

  • thom

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *ϑēm-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱeh₁(n)s- (to say, instruct, announce). Cognate with Sanskrit शास्ति (śā́sti, to instruct, advise, command).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [θɛm]

Verb

them (first-person singular past tense thashë, participle thënë)

  1. I say

Conjugation

Derived terms


Romani

Noun

them m (plural thema)

  1. country