hath
149
9.9
To have used in old literary English with he, she and it
- auxiliary
- /hæθ/
- Archaic
:
ha
- It hath been many years since they last met.
Examples
-
She hath spoken the truth, though none believed her.
-
He hath no fear of the unknown.
-
He hath spoken.
-
She hath no fear.
-
He hath no fear of the unknown.
-
She hath spoken the truth, though none believed her.
-
It hath been many years since they last met.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A regional way of saying have in speech
is an old literary third person singular form rather than a pronunciation variant
9.9
An old Scottish and older English word used to show a person owns something or had an experience
is an old literary third person singular form rather than a regional Scottish form
Surface Forms
hath third person singular
Etymology
Hath is an old English form of have, so it simply means what we now say has. Think of the added -th as an old verb ending, like in doth, which is why hath shows up in poems and the Bible and sounds formal or old today.