Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


This

This

(thĭs)
,
p
ron.
&
Adj.
;
pl.
These
(thēz)
.
[OE.
this
,
thes
, AS.
ðēs
, masc.,
ðeós
, fem.,
ðis
, neut.; akin to OS.
these
, D.
deze
, G.
dieser
, OHG.
diser
,
deser
, Icel.
þessi
; originally from the definite article + a particle
-se
,
-si
; cf. Goth.
sai
behold. See
The
,
That
, and cf.
These
,
Those
.]
1.
As a demonstrative pronoun, this denotes something that is present or near in place or time, or something just mentioned, or that is just about to be mentioned.
When they heard
this
, they were pricked in their heart.
Acts ii. 37.
But know
this
, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched.
Matt. xxiv. 43.
2.
As an adjective, this has the same demonstrative force as the pronoun, but is followed by a noun;
as,
this
book;
this
way to town
.
This may be used as opposed or correlative to that, and sometimes as opposed to other or to a second this. See the Note under
That
, 1.
This
way and
that
wavering sails they bend.
Pope.
A body of
this
or
that
denomination is produced.
Boyle.
Their judgment in
this
we may not, and in
that
we need not, follow.
Hooker.
Consider the arguments which the author had to write
this
, or to design the
other
, before you arraign him.
Dryden.
Thy crimes . . . soon by
this
or
this
will end.
Addison.
This, like a, every, that, etc., may refer to a number, as of years, persons, etc., taken collectively or as a whole.
This
twenty years have I been with thee..
Gen. xxxi. 38.
I have not wept
this
years; but now
My mother comes afresh into my eyes.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


This

THIS

, definitive adjective or substitute. plu. these.
1.
This is a definitive, or definitive adjective, denoting something that is present or near in place or time, or something just mentioned. Is this your younger brother? What trespass is this which ye have committed?
Who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? John 9.
When they heard this, they were pricked to the heart. Acts 2.
In the latter passage, this is a substitute for what had preceded, vix. the discourse of Peter just delivered. In like manner, this often represents a word, a sentence or clause, or a series of sentences of events.
In some cases, it refers to what is future, or to be immediately related.
But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Matt.24.
Here this refers to the whole subsequent member of the sentence.
2.
By this, is used elliptically for by this time; as, by this the mail has arrived.
3.
This is used with words denoting time past; as, I have taken no snuff for this month; and often with plural words. I have not wept this forty years.
In this case, this, in the singular, refers to the whole term of time, or period; this period of forty years.
4.
This is opposed to that.
This way and that the wav'ring sails they bend.
A body of this or that denomination is produced.
This and that, in this use, denote difference indefinitely.
5.
When this and that refer to different things before expressed, this refers to the thing last mentioned, and that to the thing first mentioned. [See These.]
Their judgment in this we may not, and in that we need not, follow.
6.
It is sometimes opposed to other.
Consider the arguments which the author had to write this, or to design the other, before you arraign him.

Definition 2024


this

this

See also: thîs and þis

English

Determiner

this (plural these)

  1. The (thing) here (used in indicating something or someone nearby).
    This classroom is where I learned to read and write.
  2. The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone just mentioned).
    They give the appearance of knowing what they're doing. It's this appearance that lets them get away with so much.
  3. The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone about to be mentioned).
    When asked what he wanted for his birthday, he gave this reply: “[…]”
  4. A known (thing) (used in first mentioning a person or thing that the speaker does not think is known to the audience). Compare with "a certain ...".
    I met this woman the other day who's allergic to wheat. I didn't even know that was possible!
    There's just this nervous mannerism that Bob has with his hands, and it drives me crazy.
  5. (Of a unit of time) which is current.
    It snowed this week.

Related terms

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

this (not comparable)

  1. To the degree or extent indicated.
    I need this much water.
    We've already come this far, we can't turn back now.

Pronoun

this (plural these)

  1. The thing, item, etc. being indicated.
    This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,—often the surfeit of our own behaviour,—we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars [] — Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 1. Scene 2.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

this (plural thises)

  1. (philosophy) Something being indicated that is here; one of these.
    • 2001, James G. Lennox, Aristotle's Philosophy of Biology (page 151)
      Terms like 'house', 'sphere', 'animal', and 'human' do not refer to other thises distinct from these ones here they refer to the sort of thing these ones here are.

Interjection

this

  1. (Internet slang) Indicates the speaker's strong approval or agreement with the previous material.
Synonyms

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: have · or · from · #28: this · but · all · him

Anagrams


Quechua

Etymology

onomatopoeia

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tʰis/

Interjection

this

  1. the sound a cat makes when preparing to attack something
  2. the sound of damp wood burning

References

  • “this” in Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua (2006) Diccionario quechua-español-quechua, 2nd edition, Cusco: Edmundo Pantigozo, page 207.

Scots

Determiner

this

  1. (Doric) these
    This plants is deid.

Pronoun

this

  1. (Doric) these