THIS

I. pronoun (plural these) Etymology: Middle English, pronoun & adjective, from Old English thes (masculine), ~ (neuter); akin to Old High German dese ~, Old English thæt that Date: before 12th century 1. a. the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned , what is stated in the following phrase, clause, or discourse , ~ time or place , 2. the one nearer or more immediately under observation or discussion , the one more recently referred to, II. adjective (plural these) Date: before 12th century 1. being the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned , constituting the immediately following part of the present discourse, constituting the immediate past or future , being one not previously mentioned, being the nearer at hand or more immediately under observation or discussion , III. adverb Date: 15th century to the degree or extent indicated by something in the immediate context or situation