GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

  1.       
    
    Thing , n. [AS. þing a thing, cause, assembly, judicial assembly; akin to þingan to negotiate, þingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding a thing, formerly also, an assembly, court, Icel. þing a thing, assembly, court, Sw. & Dan. ting; perhaps originally used of the transaction of or before a popular assembly, or the time appointed for such an assembly; cf. G. dingen to bargain, hire, MHG. dingen to hold court, speak before a court, negotiate, Goth. þeihs time, perhaps akin to L. tempus time. Cf. Hustings, and Temporal of time.]
    1. Whatever exists, or is conceived to exist, as a separate entity, whether animate or inanimate; any separable or distinguishable object of thought.
      1913 Webster

      God made . . . every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind.
      Gen. i. 25.

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      He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt.
      Gen. xiv. 23.

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      A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
      Keats.

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    2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material.
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      Ye meads and groves, unconscious things!
      Cowper.

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    3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed.
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      [And Jacob said] All these things are against me.
      Gen. xlii. 36.

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      Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
      Matt. xxi. 24.

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    4. A portion or part; something.
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      Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom.
      Tillotson.

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    5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; -- often used in pity or contempt.
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      See, sons, what things you are!
      Shak.

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      The poor thing sighed, and . . . turned from me.
      Addison.

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      I'll be this abject thing no more.
      Granville.

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      I have a thing in prose.
      Swift.

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    6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to pack or store one's things. [Colloq.]
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      ☞ Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense.

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      And them she gave her moebles and her thing.
      Chaucer.

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      Thing was used in a very general sense in Old English, and is still heard colloquially where some more definite term would be used in careful composition.

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      In the garden [he] walketh to and fro,
      And hath his things [i. e., prayers, devotions] said full courteously.
      Chaucer.

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      Hearkening his minstrels their things play.
      Chaucer.

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    7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; -- distinguished from person.
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    8. In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly.
      Longfellow.

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      Things personal. (Law) Same as Personal property, under Personal. -- Things real. Same as Real property, under Real.

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  2.       
    
    { Thing, ‖Ting } , n. [Dan. thing, ting, Norw. ting, or Sw. ting.] In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly; -- used, esp. in composition, in titles of such bodies. See Legislature, Norway.
    Webster 1913 Suppl.

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