Thing \Thing\ (th[i^]ng), n. [AS. [thorn]ing a thing, cause,
assembly, judicial assembly; akin to [thorn]ingan to
negotiate, [thorn]ingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a
thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding
a thing, formerly also, an assembly, court, Icel. [thorn]ing
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. [thorn]eihs 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.
God made . . . every thing that creepeth upon the
earth after his kind. --Gen. i. 25.
He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the
good things of Egypt. --Gen. xiv.
23.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. --Keats.
2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being;
any lifeless material.
Ye meads and groves, unconscious things! --Cowper.
3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed.
[And Jacob said] All these things are against me.
--Gen. xlii.
36.
Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by
what authority I do these things. --Matt. xxi.
24.
4. A portion or part; something.
Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom.
--Tillotson.
5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as
merely existing; -- often used in pity or contempt.
See, sons, what things you are! --Shak.
The poor thing sighed, and . . . turned from me.
--Addison.
I'll be this abject thing no more. --Granville.
I have a thing in prose. --Swift.
6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to
pack or store one's things. [Colloq.]
Note: Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural
or collective sense.
And them she gave her moebles and her thing.
--Chaucer.
Note: 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.
In the garden [he] walketh to and fro, And hath
his things [i. e., prayers, devotions] said full
courteously. --Chaucer.
Hearkening his minstrels their things play.
--Chaucer.
7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; --
distinguished from person.
8. [In this sense pronounced t[i^]ng.]
In Scandinavian
countries, a legislative or judicial assembly.
--Longfellow.
Things personal. (Law) Same as Personal property, under
Personal.
Things real. Same as Real property, under Real.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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