then-president
Meaning
Used to describe someone who held the position of president at a specific time in the past, often to distinguish them from the current or a future president.
Structure
Usage
The policy was initiated by the then-president, who served from 2001 to 2009.
In her memoir, she recalls a meeting with the then-president of the company.
The then-president faced considerable opposition from within his own party.
Etymology
The compound "then-president" is a modern English formation that combines the temporal adverb "then" with the title "president" to create a specific attributive adjective. The word "then" originates from a common Germanic adverb indicating a point in time, while "president" has a more complex Latinate history, deriving from praesidere (to sit before, guard, preside). The logic of the compound is straightforwardly literal: it identifies the individual who was the president at that (specified) time. This construction is particularly useful in historical or journalistic contexts to provide temporal clarity and avoid ambiguity when referring to a former holder of the office.
Analysis
- then: From Old English þonne, þænne, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dan and German dann. Functions as an adverb/adjective meaning 'at that time'. - president: From Latin praesident- (sitting in front of, presiding), from praesidere (to preside). Functions as a noun meaning 'the head of a state or organization'.