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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