hitherto

/'hiðə'tu:/

Thân thiện

The problem remained hitherto unsolved.

Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Up to this time, until now: Used to refer to a situation, state, or action that has existed or been true up to the present moment. It is often used in formal or written contexts.

Usage

• Hitherto is used to describe a situation that has been the case up until the time of speaking or writing. It often introduces a contrast with a new or changed situation.
• It is typically placed before the main verb or after an auxiliary verb (like "has" or "have") in perfect tenses.
• It is more formal than synonyms like "so far" or "until now."

Examples

• Adverb:
  • The hitherto undiscovered manuscript was found in the library archives. (The manuscript, which had not been discovered until that point, was found.)
  • He has hitherto refused to comment on the allegations. (Up to now, he has refused to comment.)
  • This technology represents a hitherto impossible achievement. (This achievement was impossible until this time.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hitherto unknown/unseen/unexplored": A common collocation used to emphasize that something was not known, seen, or explored before a specific point.
  • Scientists have discovered a hitherto unknown species of deep-sea fish.
• Used to mark a temporal boundary in historical or analytical writing.
  • Hitherto, the empire had been stable, but now rebellion simmered in the provinces.

Variants and Related Words

• Heretofore (adv.): A near-synonym meaning "before this time," equally formal and often used in legal contexts.
  • The parties agree to waive all claims heretofore made.

Synonyms

• Thus far: Up to this point.
• Until now: Up to the present time.
• Up to now: Until this moment.
• So far: Until this point; often used in both positive and negative statements.

Antonyms

• Henceforth: From this time forward.
• Hereafter: In the future; after this time.

Notes

• Hitherto is primarily used in formal writing, reports, historical texts, and legal documents. In everyday spoken English, "so far," "up to now," or "until now" are more common.
• It is frequently used with the present perfect or past perfect tenses to emphasize the duration of a state leading up to the present or a past reference point.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
   • So far he hasn't called
   • the sun isn't up yet

Từ đồng nghĩa

• so far
• thus far
• up to now
• heretofore
• as yet
• yet
• til now
• until now