the

/ði/

#1 of the most-used English words

adverb

1. With a comparative or with more and a verb phrase, establishes a correlation with one or more other such comparatives.
   "It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it."
2. With a comparative, and often with for it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated with none. See none the.
   "I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that."

preposition

1. For each; per.
   "valued at half a pound the bushel; paying seven dollars the year interest"