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Dictionary / thought

thought

/θɔt/ (General-American)/θɑt/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)[θɒ(ː)t] (General-American, Inland-Northern-American)
  • noun
  • from Old English

A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

▶ Play the mastery game

1 All current definitions

Every sense of “thought” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. countableA representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

    The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

  2. uncountableThe operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.

    Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.

  3. countableA way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).

    Traditional eastern thought differs markedly from that of the west.

  4. dialectaluncountableAnxiety, distress.
  5. uncountableThe careful consideration of multiple factors; deliberation.

    After much thought, I have decided to stay.

  6. countableuncountableA very small amount, distance, etc.; a whit or jot.

    'Bide the night at Heriotside,' says he. 'It's a thought out of your way, but it's a comfortable bit.'1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (4)
  1. nounthe content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about — also: idea
  2. nounthe process of using your mind to consider something carefully — also: thinking, thought process, cerebration, intellection, mentation
  3. nounthe organized beliefs of a period or group or individual
  4. nouna personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty — also: opinion, sentiment, persuasion, view
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)thought
  2. Middle Englishthought
  3. Old Englishþōht
  4. Proto-West Germanic*þą̄ht
  5. Proto-Germanic*þanhtaz
  6. Proto-Indo-European*teng- “to think”

From Middle English thought, ithoȝt, from Old English þōht, ġeþōht, from Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz, *gaþanhtą (“thought”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think”). Cognate with Scots thocht (“thought”), Saterland Frisian Toacht (“thought”), West Frisian dacht (“attention, regard, thought”), Dutch gedachte (“thought”), German Andacht (“reverence, devotion, prayer”), Icelandic þóttur (“thought”). Related to thank, think.

Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “thought”

aforethoughtafterthoughtbethoughtcounterthoughtforethoughthindthoughtmerrythoughtmetathoughtmidthoughtmisthoughtmood-thoughtMTEnetherthoughtnonthoughtoverthoughtpassthoughtthought-bearingthoughtcastthoughtcastingthought-controlledthoughtcrimethoughtedthought-formthoughtformthoughtfulthought-leaderthoughtlessthoughtletthoughtlikethoughtographthoughtographerthoughtographythought-outthoughtproofthought-provokingthoughtscapethoughtseedthoughtsickthoughtsomethoughtway

Phrases & compounds

chain of thoughtcollect one's thoughtsfood for thoughtfreedom of thoughtfree thoughtgather one's thoughtsgive thoughthabit of thoughthave another thought cominghold that thoughtintrusive thoughtit's the thought that countsline of thoughtlost in thoughtmode of thoughtnether thoughton second thoughton second thoughtspark that thoughtpenny for your thoughts
Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “thought” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “thought” came from before it was English.

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English þōht
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European *teng- “to think”
Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“to think”
Proto-Indo-European *teng- — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

thought imp. & p. p.

  1. imp. & p. p. of Think.

thought n. [OE. , , AS. , ge, fr. to think; akin to D. gedachte thought, MHG. d, ged, Icel. , . See Think.]

  1. The act of thinking; the exercise of the mind in any of its higher forms; reflection; cogitation.
  2. Meditation; serious consideration.
  3. That which is thought; an idea; a mental conception, whether an opinion, judgment, fancy, purpose, or intention.
  4. Solicitude; anxious care; concern.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

I hate the thought of going back to work Monday morning.

nounMeaning: The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.

Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.

The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory.a. 1983, Paul Fix (attributed quote)

nounMeaning: A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).

Traditional eastern thought differs markedly from that of the west.

school of thought

nounMeaning: The careful consideration of multiple factors; deliberation.

After much thought, I have decided to stay.

nounMeaning: A very small amount, distance, etc.; a whit or jot.

'Bide the night at Heriotside,' says he. 'It's a thought out of your way, but it's a comfortable bit.'1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

nounMeaning: the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

the thought never entered my mind

nounMeaning: the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

she paused for thought

nounMeaning: the organized beliefs of a period or group or individual

19th century thought

Darwinian thought

nounMeaning: a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

what are your thoughts on Haiti?

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “thought” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

thought

/θɔt/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

thought

/θɔt/ · noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “thought” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.
2. (noun) The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.
3. (noun) A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).
4. (noun) Anxiety, distress.
5. (noun) The careful consideration of multiple factors; deliberation.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”

A. The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.
B. Anxiety, distress.
C. A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

Circle the meaning used.

“Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.”

A. The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.
B. A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.
C. Anxiety, distress.

Circle the meaning used.

“Traditional eastern thought differs markedly from that of the west.”

A. A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).
B. The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.
C. The careful consideration of multiple factors; deliberation.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “thought” come into English from?   A. Ancient Greek  B. Late Latin  C. Old English  D. Middle Dutch

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “thought” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *teng-. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “thought” to mean: A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.
Write a sentence using “thought” to mean: The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.
Write a sentence using “thought” to mean: A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — thought

Which meaning, sentence 1: C. A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

Which meaning, sentence 2: A. The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.

Which meaning, sentence 3: A. A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation, region or idea).

Origin: C. Old English (Old English þōht)

Journey: English thought ← Middle English thought ← Old English þōht ← Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht ← Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz ← Proto-Indo-European *teng-

Some derivatives: aforethought, afterthought, bethought, counterthought, forethought, hindthought, merrythought, metathought

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *teng- — “to think”

Etymology: From Middle English thought, ithoȝt, from Old English þōht, ġeþōht, from Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz, *gaþanhtą (“thought”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think”). Cognate with Scots thocht (“thought”), Saterland Frisian Toacht (“thought”), West Frisian dacht (“attention, regard, thought”), Dutch gedachte (“thought”), German Andacht (“reverence, devotion, prayer”), Icelandic þóttur (“thought”). Related to thank, think.

Sources: Wiktionary “thought” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thought#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/thought