hath

IPA/hæθ/
KK[hˈæθ]IPA/hæθ/

hath — verb

  • hathpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • haths3rd person singular
  • hathing-ing form
  • hathedpast simple

1. an old form of the verb 'have' used with the subjects 'he', 'she', or 'it' in th

1.verbtransitive
Definition

an old form of the verb 'have' used with the subjects 'he', 'she', or 'it' in the present tense, found mainly in historical literature, religious texts, and poetry from the Early Modern English period.

Example

The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away.

he/she/it + hath + past participle (present perfect sense)

The queen hath a gentle heart, though her words seem stern.

he/she/it + hath + noun phrase (possession)

Common collocations
  • hath + past participle
  • hath + noun phrase
  • hath no + noun
  • hath + adverb (hath ever, hath never)
  • hath + a/an + noun
Synonyms
  • has

    modern equivalent; use 'has' in all contemporary writing unless you need an archaic or biblical tone

Grammar Patterns

he/she/it + hath + noun phrase (possess)

he/she/it + hath + past participle (perfect tense)

Usage Note

Hath is the archaic third person singular present tense of 'have', corresponding to modern 'has'. It was standard in Early Modern English (roughly 1500–1700) and appears frequently in the King James Bible (1611), the works of Shakespeare, and other texts from that period. In modern English it is not used in ordinary speech or writing except for deliberate stylistic or historical effect. Do NOT use 'hath' with 'I', 'you', 'we', or 'they' — only with 'he', 'she', 'it', or singular nouns.

Common Mistakes

He hath went to the market.
He hath gone to the market.
In Early Modern English, 'hath' forms the present perfect with a past participle, just as modern 'has' does.
They hath arrived early.
They have arrived early.
'Hath' is ONLY used with singular third person subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun). For plural subjects, the archaic equivalent is 'have'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While all four forms belong to Early Modern English grammar, they serve different functions. 'Hath' is the third person singular present of 'have' (possession or auxiliary), equivalent to modern 'has'. 'Has' is its modern counterpart and should be used in all contemporary writing. 'Doth' is the archaic third person singular present of 'do' — e.g. 'the lady doth protest too much'. 'Art' is the archaic second person singular of 'be', used with 'thou' — e.g. 'thou art my friend'. Unlike 'hath', which pairs with 'he/she/it', 'art' pairs only with 'thou'. In modern usage, none of these forms appear in everyday speech; they survive only in quotations, historical fiction, and formal religious language. A learner encountering 'he hath a sword' should read it as 'he has a sword'; encountering 'thou art brave' as 'you are brave'.

hath ↗has ↗dothart ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • + past participle
  • + direct object

Adverbs

Phrases

  • he hath
  • she hath
  • it hath
  • hath no

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEarly Modern English

Hath comes from Old English hæfþ, the third person singular present indicative of habban ('to have'). It was the standard form throughout the Old and Middle English periods. By the 17th century, 'hath' began to compete with the northern-influenced 'has', which gradually replaced it in standard English. 'Hath' remained in literary and religious use long after it disappeared from everyday speech, largely due to the enduring influence of the King James Bible (1611) and Shakespeare's works.