1
: a free retainer of an Anglo-Saxon lord
especially
: one resembling a feudal baron by holding lands of and performing military service for the king
2
: a Scottish feudal lord
Examples of thane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than wait to share the witches’ paltering pronouncements with Lady M (Indira Varma) in person, the thane of Glamis chooses to send word to his wife in advance of his return from battle.
—
Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Sam Gold, the director of a revival of Macbeth, performed the role of a Scottish thane on Thursday after the actor who played that role tested positive for Covid, the New York Times reported.
—Lisa Kim, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022
Speculation has centered on Ross, Lennox (another thane) and even Macbeth himself in disguise.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Denzel Washington plays the murderous thane, while Frances McDormand portrays his bloodthirsty, sleepwalking wife, hellbent on Macbeth becoming King of Scotland.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2022
Fahey's swaggering thane falls apart easily once unmoored from his previous stance as a noble defender of Jack Hickey's Duncan.
—Kerry Reid, chicagotribune.com, 26 June 2017
It was settled 1,000 years ago, give or take, when the king gave land to one of his thanes, Earl Aelfheah.
—Jennifer Moses, New York Times, 7 July 2016
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Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Sam Gold, the director of a revival of Macbeth, performed the role of a Scottish thane on Thursday after the actor who played that role tested positive for Covid, the New York Times reported.
—Lisa Kim, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022
Speculation has centered on Ross, Lennox (another thane) and even Macbeth himself in disguise.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Denzel Washington plays the murderous thane, while Frances McDormand portrays his bloodthirsty, sleepwalking wife, hellbent on Macbeth becoming King of Scotland.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2022
Fahey's swaggering thane falls apart easily once unmoored from his previous stance as a noble defender of Jack Hickey's Duncan.
—Kerry Reid, chicagotribune.com, 26 June 2017
It was settled 1,000 years ago, give or take, when the king gave land to one of his thanes, Earl Aelfheah.
—Jennifer Moses, New York Times, 7 July 2016
Dictionary Entries Near thane
Cite this Entry
“Thane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thane. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thane
noun1
: a man in England during the Middle Ages who received lands from the king in return for military service
2
: a lord in Scotland during the Middle Ages
Geographical Definition
Thane
geographical name
Tha·ne
ˈtä-nə 
town in the state of Maharashtra, western India, north-northeast of Mumbai population 1,841,500
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