Definition of the word thou

The word "thou" is an archaic form of the second-person pronoun, used to address a singular person in Old and Middle English. It originated from the Anglo-Saxon word "ge" or "gy", which was pronounced as "þu" in Middle English. In Old English, "ge" was commonly used as a polite and formal way of addressing someone, including a deity. As English evolved throughout the Middle Ages, "thou" became the standard pronoun for addressing a single person, while "ye" (another archaic form of "you") was used to address a group or plural subject. The use of "thou" as a suffix in place names and personal names also has its origins in the Middle English period. The Old English word "hū", meaning "house," evolved into "hou," which later developed into the names of several places in England, such as London's "Holland House." Similarly, personal names such as "Thomas" (meaning "animal twin") are derived from Old English words that became contracted in Middle English. By the Early Modern English period, the use of "thou" began to fade. In the 18th century, the more modern form "you" (pronounced "yow") began to replace "thou" in conversational English. However, "thou" continues to be used in certain contexts, particularly in religious texts such as the King James Bible, and in poetic and literary works that aim to evoke archaic or traditional styles. Today, "thou" is considered a historically significant word that reflects the evolution of the English language over time.