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. [ 1913 Webster ] He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt. Gen. xiv. 23. [ 1913 Webster ] A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material. [ 1913 Webster ] Ye meads and groves, unconscious things! Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed. [ 1913 Webster ] [ And Jacob said ] All these things are against me. Gen. xlii. 36. [ 1913 Webster ] Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. Matt. xxi. 24. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A portion or part; something. [ 1913 Webster ] Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; -- often used in pity or contempt. [ 1913 Webster ] See, sons, what things you are! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] The poor thing sighed, and . . . turned from me. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ] I'll be this abject thing no more. Granville. [ 1913 Webster ] I have a thing in prose. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to pack or store one's things. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense. [ 1913 Webster ] And them she gave her moebles and her thing. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] In the garden [ he ] walketh to and fro,
And hath his things [ i. e., prayers, devotions ] said full courteously. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Hearkening his minstrels their things play. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; -- distinguished from person. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. def>In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]
Things personal. (Law) Same as Personal property, under Personal. --
Things real. Same as Real property, under Real. [ 1913 Webster ]
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