I. (|)i]t, _ə], usu ]d.+V pronoun
Etymology: Middle English it, hit, from Old English hit — more at he
1.
a. : that one — used as neuter pronoun of the third person singular that is the subject or direct object or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition and usually used in reference to (1) a lifeless thing
took a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old
saw the corpse and walked over to it
it is now no more — E.H.Collis
or (2) a plant
there is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming
or (3) an insect
felt a fly land on her neck and squirmed as it crawled down
or an animal whose sex is unknown or disregarded
saw the horse break away and watched it gallop into the canyon
or (4) an infant or child whose sex is unknown or disregarded
if a child were severely beaten every time it sneezed — Bertrand Russell
heard the baby crying and brought it some milk
or (5) a group or classification of individuals or things
the football team is in top form and it is sure of victory
buy a bag of apricots … plums and grapes for fifteen cents, wash … and eat it on our way — Claudia Cassidy
or (6) an abstract noun
beauty is everywhere and it is a source of joy
or (7) a word viewed as a word
machine is a common word and it can be applied to a variety of things
or (8) a phrase or clause
“Go ahead,” she said, but he didn't hear it
— sometimes used pleonastically together with a noun as subject of a verb especially in ballad poetry
our love it was stronger by far — E.A.Poe
and in substandard speech
the horse it ran away
— often used with a present participle like the adjective its with a gerund in a way that makes distinction between the two constructions impossible except by arbitrary analysis
wet it before applying to the seal, to prevent it sticking — H.S.Kingsford
there was a doubt about it being available — Valentine Heywood
— see its ; compare he , she , they
b.
(1) : that male or female one whose identity is unknown or uncertain — used especially in indirect or direct questions in reference to one that is usually not directly indicated (as by pointing) or otherwise clearly specified (as by a qualifying clause or phrase)
don't know who it is
the knocking at the door continued and she finally said “who is it ?”
someone appeared dimly in the fog and it spoke like my brother
(2) : that male or female one whose identity is known — sometimes used in the speech of children or usually disparagingly in the speech of others as a subject or object in reference to any person
just look at my daddy and the big car it has
what a little haughty prude it is — W.M.Thackeray
just listen to it talk
c. : you — used in speaking to or as if to a baby
did it hurt its little knees and chin
— compare he 4
d. : itself — used as indirect or direct object of a verb or as object of a preposition
the plane plunged to earth carrying all its occupants with it
2.
a. — used as an expletive subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a simple condition or an action without direct or implied reference to an agent in statements or questions about (1) the weather
it is raining
it is getting cold
is it a pretty day — Agnes S. Turnbull
or (2) the time
it is eleven o'clock
it is late
or divisions or points of time (as seasons, holidays, generalized parts of day or night)
it 's only a few months until spring — C.W.Morton
it will soon be Christmas
it is getting on toward evening
it will dawn early tomorrow
or (3) physical or mental conditions
it hurts when I look at a bright light
it makes him sad if he thinks about her too much
or (4) an extent of distance or space
it is five miles to the next town
b. — used as an expletive subject in other statements or questions having an undefined subject
if it hadn't been for you, I don't know what I would have done
they have what it takes
3.
a.
(1) — used as an anticipatory subject of a verb whose logical subject is another word or a phrase or a clause
it is me
it is he who is responsible
it is the mayor they like
it is well you found out in time
it is necessary to repeat the whole thing
it is said the danger is great
it is a wonderful vacation spot, that town
it happened that they were away
— often used as subject of a periphrasis to shift emphasis from a logical subject to some other part of a statement
it was in this city that the treaty was signed
(2) — used as an anticipatory object of a verb whose logical object is another word or a phrase or a clause
I take it that there was some kind of rift — Hamilton Basso
he made it clear, that answer of his
found it necessary to continue
made it evident that we needed help
b. now chiefly dialect — used with the verb be where there is now used
are so proud, so censorious, that it is no living with them — Paul Bayne
it was an English lady bright, and she would marry a Scottish knight — Sir Walter Scott
it ' s nobody here but me
c. — used with many transitive verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning and an almost entirely expletive or reinforcing function
really living it up
decided to rough it on his vacation
or with many intransitive verbs as an apparent direct object with the same function
footed it back to camp
the satellites were free to go it alone — Newsweek
or with some words used as nonce verbs as an apparent direct object with the same function
decided that we would … hotel it — J.K.Jerome
a man who likes to chef it now and then — Gerald Movius
4.
a.
(1) : a matter discussed or considered or about to be discussed or considered
remembered she had told him about it
it being agreed then — Walter Goodman
(2) : a situation referred to either directly or by implication or about to be referred to either directly or by implication
thought it was splendid
doubted it would happen
it added up to a strangeness for which nothing in the previous frontier culture was a preparation — Bernard DeVoto
(3) : a statement or idea or similar object of attention referred to either directly or by implication or about to be referred to either directly or by implication
if you remember these points it will help you
b. : something read (as a passage in a book, words on a sign)
it tells in the book about the American Revolution
it says in the papers he expects to win the election
a mile back it said to take a right turn
or something looked at (as a traffic signal, a directional arrow)
come on, it says to go
5. : the general state of affairs or circumstances : general situation
it hasn't gone so well today
came to that remote place to fish, get away from it all — Robert Murphy
remember me, when it is well with you — Gen 40:14 (Revised Standard Version)
6.
a.
(1) : something that has been done
do it some more
or is being done
quit it
cut it out
or is to be done
go to it
he'll do it the right way
decided to make a long weekend of it — Rebecca West
(2) : some unpleasant or dreaded eventuality
in for it now
specifically : punishment or chastisement or retribution
going to catch it
put up with his sneers as long as possible and then let him have it
b.
(1) : all that one can desire or experience
claims he's had it and that life is now pretty much a bore
(2) : all that one can endure or suffer
had a terrible day and swore he's really had it
(3) : all that one is going to be allowed to have or do
he's had it — I'm not going to put up with that nonsense any longer
c. : all that is required : the total extent of something needed or wanted
when you've finished that job, that's it and you can go home
everyone passes by, shakes hands and that's it — D.E.Weinland
d. : an expenditure of effort in attempting to attain an objective : struggle , contest
stick to it and you'll win out
7. : a way out of a difficulty : answer to a problem : solution
I have it ! This is what we'll do
8.
a. : what is important or essential or tenaciously held to or sought after : what counts : what matters
haven't got a chance and you should realize it is all over now
specifically : life
had stopped breathing and I could see it was all over
b.
(1) : a crucial moment when much is at stake : a crisis on whose outcome much or everything depends
an offensive was about to be launched and headquarters felt that this was it
(2) : a point at which the end of life or the end of everything that matters is imminent
this is it . From now on no power on earth can save the doomed city — F.V.Drake
9.
a. : a quality or group of qualities requisite or desirable for or evidenced in a particular situation
the legislators had it on most of the other delegates in convention maneuvering — Bill Hatch
b. : something that is expected or desired : something suitable or satisfactory
that's it , you're doing fine
c.
(1) : something that perfectly or nearly perfectly meets the requirements of a situation : the very thing needed or required : just the thing wanted
here's a suggestion for a Christmas gift that is really it
(2) : something that is without equal : something peerless
stop acting as though you were it
she just seems to think she's it
(3) : something beyond which one cannot go : the ultimate : pinnacle , acme
when it comes to graciousness, she's really it
10. : sexual intercourse
if I wanted to let you touch me I would … can't you see I don't want it — Morley Callaghan
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English hit, from hit (pron.)
now chiefly dialect : its
III. ˈit, usu ˈid.+V\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: it (I)
1. : the player in a game who performs a key active or passive function (as trying to catch others in a game of tag or to answer questions in a guessing game) essential to the nature of the game
2. : physical allure especially when accompanied by personal magnetism and charm : sex appeal
IV. abbreviation
item