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I assume the word came from a meshing together of 'other' with its indefinite article'. When (and why) did English speakers begin to use this version, instead of 'an other'?
And why is it still separated from 'the'? Shouldn't there be a word like 'thother'?
Early 14th century. Thother is used in spoken English, but is spelled 'Thother and is only in conversational register, not formal writing.
