来自古英语 thanne,在此之后，然后，来自 Proto-Germanic*thana,那个，来自 PIE*to,指示代词， 词源同 this,that.其与拼写变体形式 than 现已产生词义和用法上的差别。
英文词源
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).
双语例句
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.
你必须全力以赴，最大限度地去努力。如果你这么做，并且保持乐观，你就会看见乌云背后的幸福线。
来自电影《乌云背后的幸福线》
2. It was just then that I chanced to look round.
就在那时，我恰好环顾了下四周。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He then held the man in an armlock until police arrived.
然后他反扭住那名男子的手臂让他动弹不得，直到警察赶到。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn't endure any more.
这时候，我的心里像有个东西突然绷断了——我再也忍受不了啦。
来自柯林斯例句
5. "His memory must be completely back, then?" — "Just about."