[this] pron, pl these [ME, pron. & adj., fr. OE thes (masc.), this (neut.); akin to OHG dese this, OE thaet that] (bef. 12c) 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 ~: it wasn't here yesterday" b: this time or place "expected to return before ~"
2. a: the one nearer or more immediately under observation or discussion "~ is iron and that is tin" b: the one more recently referred to
[2]this adj, pl these (bef. 12c) 1 a: being the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned "~ book is mine" "early ~ morning" b: constituting the immediately following part of the present discourse c: constituting the immediate past or future "friends all these years" d: being one not previously mentioned--used esp. in narrative to give a sense of immediacy or vividness "then ~ guy runs in"
2: being the nearer at hand or more immediately under observation or discussion "~ car or that one" [3]this adv (15c): to the degree or extent indicated by something in the immediate context or situation "didn't expect to wait ~ long"