Meaning & use
thane
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Meaning
nouncountable
In medieval Scotland or England, a nobleman who held land from the king in return for military service.
Grammar: A count noun; use 'a thane' for one, 'thanes' for several.
Patterns
- a thane of somewhere
- the thane of somewhere
Macbeth was the thane of Glamis before he became king.
The king rewarded his loyal thanes with grants of land.
In the play, a thane is a powerful lord who serves the king.
Word forms
| plural | thanes |
|---|
Common combinations
- thane of Cawdor
- The title 'Thane of Cawdor' is given to Macbeth in Shakespeare's play.
- thane of Glamis
- As thane of Glamis, he already held a large estate.
- a loyal thane
- The king could rely on his loyal thanes in times of war.
- a powerful thane
- A powerful thane might command hundreds of fighting men.
- the king and his thanes
- The king and his thanes gathered in the great hall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lord
- A general word for a noble or powerful man; 'thane' is more specific to medieval Scotland and England.
- baron
- A noble who held land from a king, especially in feudal Europe; 'thane' is used mainly in Scottish and English history.
- nobleman
- A broad term for a man of high social rank; 'thane' is a particular historical title.
Commonly confused: thane or than? thane or thane?
thane vs than
A conjunction or preposition used in comparisons (e.g., 'bigger than'). 'Thane' is a noun for a medieval nobleman.
thane vs thane
Sometimes confused with 'thegn', an Old English term for a similar class of nobleman; 'thane' is the Scottish and Shakespearean spelling.
Practice
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, what is Macbeth's title at the beginning of the play?
Choose one answer.
At the start, Macbeth is Thane of Glamis; he later becomes Thane of Cawdor. 'King of Scotland' is his later title, and 'Duke of York' is not in the play.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thane”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.