adj.
Pronunciation: ' th is, th ə s
Function: pronoun
Inflected Form: plural these \ ' th ē z \
Etymology: Middle English, pronoun & adjective, from Old English thes (masc.), this (neut.); akin to Old High German dese this, Old English thæt that
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned < these are my hands> (2) : what is stated in the following phrase, clause, or discourse <I can only say this : it wasn't here yesterday> b : this time or place <expected to return before this >
2 a : the one nearer or more immediately under observation or discussion < this is iron and that is tin> b : the one more recently referred to