Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

theretofore

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.51 in modern English

Syllables
thereto-fore
IPA
17
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Until that time.

Formal

adv

Before that.

Formal

Example Sentences

  • "Þæt wolde ðyncan wundorlic ælcum men þe on Englalande wæs, gif ænig man ær þam sæde þæt hit swa gewurþan sceolde, for ðam þe he wæs ær to þam swyðe up ahafen swylce he weolde þæs cynges ⁊ ealles Englalandes, ⁊ his sunan wæron eorlas, ⁊ þæs cynges dyrlingas, ⁊ his dohtor þæm cynge beweddod ⁊ beæwnod."

Etymology

From Middle English ther-to-fore, þeretofore, þer to-fore, þer toforn, þær toforen, from Old English þǣr tōforan, equivalent to there + tofore.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: ther-to-fore, þǣr tōforan

Usage

Phrases

1. Scottish2. from Middle English mid3. old dialectal form

Frequently Paired Words

— henceafter henceforth henceforward henceforwards hencefrom hereabout hereabouts

Questions

What does theretofore mean?
Until that time.
Where does theretofore come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce theretofore

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “theretofore”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “theretofore”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “theretofore” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.