來自古英語 thanne,在此之後，然後，來自 Proto-Germanic*thana,那個，來自 PIE*to,指示代詞， 詞源同 this,that.其與拚寫變體形式 than 現已產生詞義和用法上的差別。
英文詞源
then
then: [OE] Then was formed from the ancient demonstrative base *ta-, which also underlies English that and there. Its West Germanic relatives include German dann and Dutch dan. It is ultimately the same word as than. => than, the, there
then (adv.)
adverb of time, Old English þanne, þænne, þonne, from Proto-Germanic *thana- (cognates: Old Frisian thenne, Old Saxon thanna, Dutch dan, Old High German danne, German dann), from PIE demonstrative pronoun root *to- (see the).
As a conjunction, "in that case, therefore," in Old English. As an adjective, "being at that time," from 1580s. As a noun from early 14c. For further sense development, see than. Similar evolutions in other Germanic languages; Dutch uses dan in both senses, but German has dann (adv.) "then," denn (conj.) "than." Now and then "at various times" is attested from 1550s; earlier then and then (c. 1200).
雙語例句
1. You have to do everything you can. You have to work your hardest. And if you do, if you stay positive, then you have a shot at a silver lining.
你必須全力以赴，最大限度地去努力。如果你這麽做，並且保持樂觀，你就會看見烏雲背後的幸福線。
來自電影《烏雲背後的幸福線》
2. It was just then that I chanced to look round.
就在那時，我恰好環顧了下四周。
來自柯林斯例句
3. He then held the man in an armlock until police arrived.
然後他反扭住那名男子的手臂讓他動彈不得，直到警察趕到。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn't endure any more.
這時候，我的心裏像有個東西突然繃斷了——我再也忍受不了啦。
來自柯林斯例句
5. "His memory must be completely back, then?" — "Just about."