The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
This \This\ ([th][i^]s), pron. & a.; pl. These ([th][=e]z).
[OE. this, thes, AS. [eth][=e]s, masc., [eth]e['o]s, fem.,
[eth]is, neut.; akin to OS. these, D. deze, G. dieser, OHG.
diser, deser, Icel. [thorn]essi; originally from the definite
article + a particle -se, -si; cf. Goth. sai behold. See
The, That, and cf. These, Those.]
1. As a demonstrative pronoun, this denotes something that is
present or near in place or time, or something just
mentioned, or that is just about to be mentioned.
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When they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart. --Acts ii. 37.
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But know this, that if the good man of the house had
known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched. --Matt. xxiv.
43.
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2. As an adjective, this has the same demonstrative force as
the pronoun, but is followed by a noun; as, this book;
this way to town.
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Note: This may be used as opposed or correlative to that, and
sometimes as opposed to other or to a second this. See
the Note under That, 1.
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This way and that wavering sails they bend.
--Pope.
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A body of this or that denomination is produced.
--Boyle.
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Their judgment in this we may not, and in that we
need not, follow. --Hooker.
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Consider the arguments which the author had to
write this, or to design the other, before you
arraign him. --Dryden.
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Thy crimes . . . soon by this or this will end.
--Addison.
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Note: This, like a, every, that, etc., may refer to a number,
as of years, persons, etc., taken collectively or as a
whole.
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This twenty years have I been with thee.. --Gen.
xxxi. 38.
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I have not wept this years; but now
My mother comes afresh into my eyes. --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
These \These\ ([th][=e]z), pron. [OE. [thorn]es, [thorn]aes, a
variant of [thorn]as, pl. of [thorn]es, thes, this. See
This, and cf. Those.]
The plural of this. See This.
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