Thing

Thing (thĭng), 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.

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.]

☞ Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense.

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

☞ 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 tĭng.] 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.