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Origin and history of than

than(conj.)

Old English þan, conjunctive particle used after a comparative adjective or adverb, from þanne, þænne, þonne "then" (see then).

It developed from the adverb then and was not distinguished from it by spelling until c. 1700. There are similar evolutions in some of the Germanic languages; Dutch uses dan in both senses, but German has dann (adv.) "then," denn (conj.) "than."

The earliest use is in West Germanic comparative forms introducing the second member, i.e. bigger than (compare Dutch dan, German denn), which suggests a semantic development from the demonstrative sense of then: A is bigger than B, evolving from A is bigger, then ("after that") B. Or the word may trace to Old English þonne "when, when as," such as: "When as" B is big, A is more (so).

Entries linking to than

then(adv.)

adverb of time, "at that (specified past or future) time," Old English þanne, þænne, þonne, "in that case, under those circumstances," from Proto-Germanic *thana- (source also of Old Frisian thenne, Old Saxon thanna, Dutch dan, Old High German danne, German dann), from PIE demonstrative pronoun root *to- (see the).

Compare than, which originally was the same word. 

From late 13c. as "afterward, next in order." Also in Old English as a conjunction, "in that case, therefore." 

As an adjective, "being or existing as at that time" (then-husband) from 1580s, often then- and perhaps elliptical for then being. As a noun from early 14c., "that time" (as in by then).

Now and then "at various times" is attested from 1550s; earlier then and then (c. 1200). Then and there "at that time and place" is from mid-15c.

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    Trends of than

    adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

    More to explore

    plurality
    late 14c., pluralite, "state of being more than one; a number greater than one," from Old French pluralite (14c.), from Late...Latin pluralitatem (nominative pluralitas) "the plural number," from Latin pluralis "of or belonging to more than one" (...Meaning "greater number, more than half" is from 1570s but is etymologically improper, perhaps modeled on majority....
    village
    late 14c., "inhabited place larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town," from Old French vilage "houses and other buildings...in a group" (usually smaller than a town), from Latin villaticum "farmstead" (with outbuildings), noun use of neuter singular...
    specially
    As "more than others, above and beyond," mid-14c. A doublet of especially....Special is more common than especial, which has the same meaning; but especially is for rhythmical reasons (because...particle occurs, and where, therefore, a word with an accent on the first syllable is instinctively avoided) much more common than...
    above
    adv., prep.), earlier onbufan "above, in or to a higher place, on the upper side; directly over, in or to a higher place than...From c. 1200 as "of higher rank or position, superior in authority or power; of higher rank than, superior to."..."in a place of greater honor than, taking precedence over" (mid-14c.)...From late 14c. as "more" (in number, linear measurement, weight, value); "older; better than, more desirable than, superior...
    pebble
    Historically there is no precise definition based on size other than that it is smaller than a cobble. Related: Pebbly....
    electricity
    application to some purposes is still unsettled, but experiment has already proved that it will propel a street car better than...a gas jet and give more light than a horse....
    fifty
    "1 more than forty-nine, twice twenty-five; the number which is one more than forty-nine; a symbol representing this number...
    more
    Old English mara "greater, relatively greater, more, stronger, mightier," used as a comparative of micel "great" (see mickle), from Proto-Germanic *maiz (source also of Old Saxon mera, Old Norse meiri, Old Frisian mara, Middle Dutch mere, Old High German meriro, German mehr, Goth
    gallery
    mid-15c., "covered walk or passageway, narrow and partly open passageway along a wall," from Old French galerie "a long portico" (14c.), from Medieval Latin galeria, of unknown origin. Perhaps an alteration of galilea "church porch," which is probably from Latin Galilaea "Galilee
    harbinger
    late 15c., herbengar "one sent ahead to arrange lodgings" (for a monarch, an army, etc.), alteration of Middle English herberger "provider of shelter, innkeeper" (late 12c.), from Old French herbergeor "one who offers lodging, innkeeper," agent noun from herbergier "provide lodgi

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