thereby
/ðɛɹˈbaɪ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.03 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "I enrolled in Old English classes and thereby learned much about Germanic languages."
- "Thirdly, Whereas the Maintenance of an hundred thouſand Children, from two Years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at leſs than Ten Shillings a piece per Annum, the Nation's ſtock will be thereby encreaſed fifty thouſand pounds per Annum, beſides the profit of a new Diſh, introduced to the Tables of all Gentlemen of Fortune in the Kingdom, who have any refinement in Taſte, and the Money will circulate among our ſelves, the Goods being entirely of our own Growth and Manufacture."
- "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."
- "Smoking is a form of self-inflicted injury and is thereby prohibited by Jewish law."
- "For it would surely improve the domestic standing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an unbudgeable hawk, and thereby indefinitely delay peace on that Middle Eastern front."
Etymology
From Middle English therby, from Old English ðǣrbig, equivalent to there + by. Compare the parallel formation of German dabei.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: therby, ðǣrbig
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ðɛɹˈbaɪ/
- British English: /ðɛəˈbaɪ/
Usage
Phrases
thereby hangs a tale
1. Scottish2. from Middle English mid3. old dialectal form