hitherto
gb/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu/ us/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu/
C1
English
eddig, mindeddig, addig, mindaddig
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
hitherto + [clause] / hitherto + [adjective or past participle]
The drug has shown hitherto unseen side effects in larger trials.
A gyógyszer a nagyobb vizsgálatokban eddig nem látott mellékhatásokat mutatott.
Hitherto, we had assumed the records were complete.
Mindeddig azt feltételeztük, hogy a nyilvántartások teljesek.
The company is moving into markets that were hitherto inaccessible.
Learner examples
Hitherto, I have lived in London.
Eddig Londonban éltem.
This plant was hitherto unknown here.
Ez a növény itt mindeddig ismeretlen volt.
Common mistake:
Often confused with similar-looking words like "hereto"; "hitherto" relates to time (until now).
Meaning
up to now; until now
Collocations
hitherto unknown
|hitherto unpublished
|hitherto unreported
|hitherto unseen
|hitherto undiscovered
|hitherto unavailable
|hitherto neglected
|hitherto unexplored
|hitherto rare
|hitherto impossible
Synonyms
until now (More common and neutral.)
|
so far (More conversational; often used with the present perfect.)
|
up to now (Neutral alternative, common in speech and writing.)
Antonyms
henceforth (Refers to the future, from now on.)
|
from now on (Common neutral opposite in meaning.)
Themes
time
|writing
|news_media
Definition
until now; before this time
Up to the present time; until now.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
hitherto + [past-tense clause] / hitherto + [adjective or past participle]
Hitherto, the two countries had maintained friendly relations.
Addig a két ország baráti kapcsolatokat ápolt.
The documents revealed motives that had been hitherto unclear.
A dokumentumok olyan indítékokat tártak fel, amelyek addig nem voltak világosak.
She had hitherto avoided public speaking, but the new role required it.
Learner examples
Hitherto, he had never traveled abroad.
Addig még soha nem járt külföldön.
Common mistake:
Learners may use it in casual conversation; in modern English it is mainly formal and written.
Meaning
up to then; until that time
Collocations
hitherto avoided
|hitherto accepted
|hitherto considered
|hitherto believed
|hitherto unexplained
|hitherto overlooked
|hitherto ignored
|hitherto possible
|hitherto prevented
|hitherto stable
Synonyms
until then (Direct and more common, especially in speech.)
|
up to that point (Neutral, often used in narratives and explanations.)
Antonyms
thereafter (Means from that time on (after the point being discussed).)
Themes
time
|writing
|history
Definition
until that time in the past
Up to a particular time in the past; until then.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hitherto
IPA
GB/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu/
US/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu/
Syllables & stress
hitherto (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hitherto)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hitherto
- Plural: hithertos
Word family
Forms
hithertos
noun
Negative and opposite forms
henceforth
adverb C1
Advanced or less common
hither
adverb
heretofore
adverb C1
Expressions
hitherto undiscovered
1/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu ˌʌndɪskˈʌvɚd/
fixed phrase
formal
previously not discovered
not discovered before
Examples
- The team mapped a hitherto undiscovered cave system.
- Archaeologists unearthed a hitherto undiscovered settlement.
- The analysis found a hitherto undiscovered pattern in the data.
Learner examples
- They found a hitherto undiscovered place.
hitherto unknown
1/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu ʌnnˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
formal
previously not known
not known before
Examples
- Researchers discovered a hitherto unknown species of orchid.
- The files contained hitherto unknown details about the merger.
- A hitherto unknown painting by the artist appeared at auction.
Learner examples
- They found a hitherto unknown problem.
hitherto unpublished
1/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu ʌnpˈʌblɪʃt/
fixed phrase
formal
previously not published
not published before
Examples
- The biography includes hitherto unpublished letters.
- The archive released hitherto unpublished photographs from the expedition.
- She is editing a volume of hitherto unpublished poems.
Learner examples
- This book has hitherto unpublished stories.
hitherto unreported
1/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu ˌʌnɹipˈɔɹtɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
previously not reported
not reported before
Examples
- The study documents hitherto unreported complications.
- Journalists uncovered hitherto unreported ties between the groups.
- The survey revealed hitherto unreported cases of the illness.
Learner examples
- The report mentions hitherto unreported facts.
hitherto unseen
1/hˈɪðˌɚtˈu ʌnsˈin/
fixed phrase
formal
previously not seen
not seen before
Examples
- The telescope captured hitherto unseen images of the nebula.
- The renovation exposed hitherto unseen layers of paintwork.
- The film uses footage that was hitherto unseen by the public.
Learner examples
- We saw hitherto unseen photos.