I. ˈthis, thəs pronoun
( plural these ˈthēz)
Etymology: Middle English, pronoun & adjective, from Old English thes (masculine), this (neuter); 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
II. adjective
( plural these )
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : being the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned
this book is mine
early this 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 especially in narrative to give a sense of immediacy or vividness
then this guy runs in
had this urge to go shopping
2. : being the nearer at hand or more immediately under observation or discussion
this car or that one
III. ˈthis adverb
Date: 15th century
: to the degree or extent indicated by something in the immediate context or situation
didn't expect to wait this long