the

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it has already been mentioned, is to be completely specified in the same sentence, or very shortly thereafter.

I’m reading the book Mary reviewed. (Compare I’m reading a book Mary reviewed.)

You live on Main Street, don't you? You know, you should tell the mayor the street needs cleaning.

The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird.

the street that runs all the way through my hometown

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. Used before a noun designating something considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time.

No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe.

God save the Queen!

Let's go to the park!

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar.

No one in the whole country had seen it before.

I don't think I'll get to it until the morning.

Take me to the airport/station/hospital/office/park/match/meeting/et cetera.

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. Used before a body part, a family member, a pet (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun.

A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”)

(informal) How's the wife? (= "How is your wife?")

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. Precedes a familiar nickname or other term of address.

How's the Sal today?

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable... ...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge. Used in many idiomatic expressions and proverbs to refer to common objects, roles, or situations connected with something definite, in the manner of an analogy

square the circle; feel the pinch; beat around the bush; throw the baby out with the bathwater

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun When stressed, indicates that it describes something which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention.

That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery.

"Good Heavens, man! Why, he is the authority. If you want pure laboratory experiments those are the books."

“New Kid On The Block” doubles as a terrific showcase for the Sea Captain who, in the grand tradition of Simpsons supporting characters, quickly goes from being a stereotype to an archetype, from being a crusty sea-captain character to the crusty sea-captain character.

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun When stressed, used before the name of a famous person, to distinguish said person from a hypothetical lesser-known person with the same name.

"My name," he said, "is Hercule Poirot." "Not," the Commissary stammered, "not the Hercule Poirot?"

‘[…] he introduced us to Gwenog Jones.’ ‘Gwenog Jones?’ said Ron, his eyes widening under his own goggles. ‘The Gwenog Jones? Captain of the Holyhead Harpies?’

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun Used before a noun phrase beginning with superlative or comparative adjective or an ordinal number, indicating that the noun refers to a single item.

That was the juiciest apple pie ever.

May the better man win.

Starting today through September 30, guests can wow their taste buds with the "swiciest" sensation of the season, the Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza.

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class.

Stern and God-fearing, the Afrikaner takes his religion seriously.

The downy woodpecker can be found in the same environments as the hairy woodpecker.

Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun Used with the plural of a surname to indicate the entire family.

The Bushes have held political office for several decades and the Kennedys longer.

Used with an adjective Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive.

That apple pie was the best.

Used with an adjective Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective.

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.

One doesn't choose the color of one's chess pieces; the white are assigned to the player who moves first.

Used with an adjective Used before a demonym ending in -ish or -ese to refer to people of a given country collectively.

the Irish are...; the Chinese are...; the French are...

With a comparative or with more and a verb phrase, establishes a correlation with one or more other such comparatives.

The hotter(,) the better. (comma usually omitted in such very short expressions)

The more I think about it, the weaker it looks.

The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children.

It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it.

With a comparative, and often with for it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated with none.

It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it.

It was a difficult time, and I’m {none - not any} the wiser for it.

I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that.

Beyond all others.

We went the furthest under her leadership.

They trusted him the most.

For each; per.

valued at half a pound the bushel; paying seven dollars the year interest

Next morning I was up at an early hour, to see the market held near the water gate. The beef was excellent: but at the high prices of ten-pence and one shilling the pound; mutton at the same price; fowls a dollar the couple, and showing “more feathers than flesh.”

Variant of theeEarly Modern form of thee.

Feſtus ſayde with a lowde voyce: Paul / thou arte beſides thy ſilfe. Moche learnynge hath made the mad.