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Which author wrote a famous quote beginning with the word though that helped inspire the phrase "a method to the madness"?

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though

American  

[thoh] / ðoʊ /

conjunction

1. (used in introducing a subordinate clause, which is often marked by ellipsis) notwithstanding that; in spite of the fact that; although.

   Though he tried very hard, he failed the course.

2. even if; granting that (often preceded byeven ).

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adverb

1. for all that; however.

idioms

1. as though, as if.

   It seems as though the place is deserted.

though British  

/ ðəʊ /

conjunction

1. (sometimes preceded by even) despite the fact that

   though he tries hard, he always fails

   poor though she is, her life is happy

2. as if

   he looked as though he'd seen a ghost

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adverb

1. nevertheless; however

   he can't dance: he sings well, though

though More Idioms  

1. see as if (though).

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Commonly Confused

Among some conservatives there is a traditional objection to the use of though in place of although as a conjunction. However, the latter (earlier all though ) was originally an emphatic form of the former, and there is nothing in contemporary English usage to justify such a distinction.

Etymology

Origin of though

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English thoh, from Old Norse thō; replacing Old English thēah; cognate with German doch, Gothic thauh

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Explanation

Though is fine conjunction. It's no "but" or "however", though it is a useful word, when you want let a reader know that two ideas are opposing one another. There are two basic kinds of the so-called coordinating conjunctions: those that connect similar thoughts — for example, "and" — and those that disconnect similar thoughts — for instance, "but" and "however." Though fits into the second category. For example "Though Prince is considered 'older' by rock-star standards, his concerts put those of most kids half his age to shame." The "though" in that sentence gets its power from the comma at the midpoint, because that's where the two opposing ideas meet. The word Though at the beginning tells us to look for that comma.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

though

An overlap between the two sets of protests may well have occurred, even though flamingo leaders have not publicly stated so and no representative of the student movement has come forward.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Police said John had once been a special needs student at the elementary school, though at the time of the shooting he was not enrolled in any school within the Bend district's system.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

He added, though, that rising rates could curb AI investment in other ways, such as by hurting consumers and generally slowing the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Fans chanted this month for the firing of football coach Lincoln Riley — after years of underachieving — though the Trojans have defeated Washington and Penn State after an Oregon loss.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The first time I came over to her house and saw how she treated the staff, though, I knew she was my kind of girl.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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Related Words

• although
• even if
• even though
• yet

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