this

From Middle English this, from Old English þis (neuter demonstrative), from North Sea Germanic base *þa- "that", from Proto-Germanic *þat, from Proto-Indo-European *tód, extended form of demonstrative base *to-; + North-West Germanic definitive suffix -s, from Proto-Indo-European *só (“this, that”).

Cognate with Scots this (“this”), Saterland Frisian dusse (“this”), West Frisian dizze (“this”), German dies, dieses (“this”), Old Gutnish þissi (“this”).

• enPR: thĭs, thəs, IPA^(key): /ðɪs/, /ðəs/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK male)

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• Rhymes: -ɪs

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. (informal) 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 time reference) Designates the current or next instance.

   Coordinate term: next

   It's cold this morning.

   I plan to go to London this Friday.

• thisness
• this, that, and the other

• that, these, those

this (not comparable)

1. To the degree or extent indicated.

   I need this much water.

   Do we need this many recommendations?

   We've already come this far, we can't turn back now.

this (plural these)

1. The thing, item, etc. being indicated.

   This isn't the item that I ordered.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene ii]:

     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 […]

• that, these, those

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.

this

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

   ― I wish trolls could be banned from the forum immediately, without any discussion.
   ― This!

• +1
• IAWTP
• QFT

• HITs, Hist, Tish, hist, hist-, hist., hits, iths, shit, sith, tish

this

1. Alternative spelling of þis (“this”)

this

1. Alternative spelling of þis (“this”)

this

1. Alternative spelling of þis (“this”)

this

1. Alternative spelling of þis (“these”)

this

1. Alternative spelling of þis (“these”)

Onomatopoeia.

• IPA^(key): /tʰis/

this

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

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

this (plural thir)

1. this
2. Doric form of thir (“these”)

   This plants is deid.

   These plants are dead.

this (plural thir)

1. this
2. Doric form of thir (“these”)

From Middle English this, from Old English þis.

this

1. this
   • 1867, “CASTEALE CUDDE'S LAMENTATION”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 4:

     Fan ich aam in this miseree.

     When I am in this misery.

• Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 104