hitherto
Meaning: Until now; up to this point in time. Used to describe something that was the case before a particular moment but may have changed.
Hitherto is a formal adverb most commonly found in academic, legal, and literary writing. It is often used to signal a change or new development: 'a hitherto unknown species' means one that had not been discovered until now. While it sounds archaic, it remains widely used in formal British English. Common collocations include 'hitherto unknown,' 'hitherto unexplored,' 'hitherto unseen,' and 'hitherto unpublished.'
Examples
- The excavation uncovered a hitherto unknown chamber beneath the ancient temple. 此次发掘发现了古代神殿下方一个迄今未知的密室。La excavación descubrió una cámara hasta entonces desconocida bajo el templo antiguo.その発掘により、古代神殿の下にこれまで知られていなかった部屋が発見されました。그 발굴을 통해 고대 신전 아래에 지금까지 알려지지 않았던 방이 발견되었습니다.
- The research opened up hitherto unexplored avenues of inquiry in the field of epigenetics. 该研究在表观遗传学领域开辟了迄今未被探索的研究方向。La investigación abrió vías hasta entonces inexploradas en el campo de la epigenética.その研究はエピジェネティクスの分野において、これまで未踏だった研究の道を切り開きました。그 연구는 후성유전학 분야에서 지금까지 탐구되지 않았던 새로운 연구 방향을 열었습니다.
- She had hitherto been reluctant to speak publicly about her experiences, but the campaign changed her mind. 她此前一直不愿公开谈论自己的经历,但这场运动改变了她的想法。Hasta entonces se había mostrado reacia a hablar públicamente sobre sus experiencias, pero la campaña le hizo cambiar de opinión.彼女はそれまで自身の経験について公に語ることに消極的でしたが、そのキャンペーンが考えを変えさせました。그녀는 그때까지 자신의 경험에 대해 공개적으로 말하기를 꺼려했지만, 그 캠페인이 마음을 바꾸게 했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old English hider (hither, to this place) and to (to, until). It has been used in English since the 13th century as a temporal adverb meaning 'up to this point.'
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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