Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

The \The\, adv. [AS. [eth][=e], [eth][=y], instrumental case of
   s[=e], se['o], [eth][ae]t, the definite article. See 2d
   {The}.]
   By that; by how much; by so much; on that account; -- used
   before comparatives; as, the longer we continue in sin, the
   more difficult it is to reform. ``Yet not the more cease I.''
   --Milton.

         So much the rather thou, Celestial Light, Shine inward,
         and the mind through all her powers Irradiate.
                                                  --Milton.

The \The\, v. i.
   See {Thee}. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Milton.

The \The\ ([th][=e], when emphatic or alone; [th][-e], obscure
   before a vowel; [th]e, obscure before a consonant; 37),
   definite article. [AS. [eth]e, a later form for earlier nom.
   sing. masc. s[=e], formed under the influence of the oblique
   cases. See {That}, pron.]
   A word placed before nouns to limit or individualize their
   meaning.

   Note: The was originally a demonstrative pronoun, being a
         weakened form of that. When placed before adjectives
         and participles, it converts them into abstract nouns;
         as, the sublime and the beautiful. --Burke. The is used
         regularly before many proper names, as of rivers,
         oceans, ships, etc.; as, the Nile, the Atlantic, the
         Great Eastern, the West Indies, The Hague. The with an
         epithet or ordinal number often follows a proper name;
         as, Alexander the Great; Napoleon the Third. The may be
         employed to individualize a particular kind or species;
         as, the grasshopper shall be a burden. --Eccl. xii. 5.

English \Eng"lish\, n.
   1. Collectively, the people of England; English people or
      persons.

   2. The language of England or of the English nation, and of
      their descendants in America, India, and other countries.

   Note: The English language has been variously divided into
         periods by different writers. In the division most
         commonly recognized, the first period dates from about
         450 to 1150. This is the period of full inflection, and
         is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers, Old
         English. The second period dates from about 1150 to
         1550 (or, if four periods be recognized, from about
         1150 to 1350), and is called Early English, Middle
         English, or more commonly (as in the usage of this
         book), Old English. During this period most of the
         inflections were dropped, and there was a great
         addition of French words to the language. The third
         period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is Middle
         English. During this period orthography became
         comparatively fixed. The last period, from about 1550,
         is called Modern English.

   3. A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great
      Primer. See {Type}.

   Note: The type called English.

   4. (Billiards) A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in
      striking it that influences the direction it will take
      after touching a cushion or another ball.

   {The} {King's, or Queen's}, {English}. See under {King}.

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

T.H.E
     
         The {operating system} in which
        {semaphores} were first used.
     
        [Details?]
     
        (1999-10-12)