from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Than \Than\ ([th][a^]n), conj. [OE. than, thon, then, thanne,
thonne, thenne, than, then, AS. [eth]anne, [eth]onne,
[eth]aenne; akin to D. dan, OHG. danne, G. dann then, denn
than, for, Goth. [thorn]an then, and to E. the, there, that.
See {That}, and cf. {Then}.]
A particle expressing comparison, used after certain
adjectives and adverbs which express comparison or diversity,
as more, better, other, otherwise, and the like. It is
usually followed by the object compared in the nominative
case. Sometimes, however, the object compared is placed in
the objective case, and than is then considered by some
grammarians as a preposition. Sometimes the object is
expressed in a sentence, usually introduced by that; as, I
would rather suffer than that you should want.
[1913 Webster]
Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. --Matt. xii.
42.
[1913 Webster]
Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
It's wiser being good than bad;
It's safer being meek than fierce;
It's fitter being sane than mad. --R. Browning.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
36 Moby Thesaurus words for "than":
alias, as compared with, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides,
by comparison with, compared with, contrarily, else, elsewise, ex,
except, except for, excepting, excluding, exclusive of,
in comparison with, in other respects, in other ways, leaving out,
let alone, omitting, or else, other than, otherwise, outside of,
over against, precluding, save, save and except, saving,
taken with, unless, without