I. ˈit, ət pronoun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hit — more at he
Date: before 12th century
1. : that one — used as subject or direct object or indirect object of a verb or object of a preposition usually in reference to a lifeless thing
took a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old
a plant
there is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming
a person or animal whose sex is unknown or disregarded
don't know who it is
a group of individuals or things, or an abstract entity
beauty is everywhere and it is a source of joy
— compare he , its , she , they
2. — used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent
it is raining
3.
a. — used as anticipatory subject or object of a verb
it is necessary to repeat the whole thing
— often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subject
it was in this city that the treaty was signed
b. — used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning
footed it back to camp
4. — used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstances
how is it going
5. : a crucial or climactic point
this is it
II. ˈit noun
Date: 1842
: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)