▪ I. this, dem. pron. and a.
(ðɪs)
Pl. these, q.v.
[Orig. the sing. neuter, nom. and acc., now the sole singular form of the OE. demonstrative þes, þéos, þis, corresp. to OFris. *this, thius (thisse), thit, OS. *these, thius (thesu), thit, OHG. dese, -er (later diser, dirro), desiu (disiu), diz, ON. m. and f. þesse, þessi, neut. þetta; a Norse and WGer. formation, produced by adding se, si (prob. = Goth. sai ‘see, behold’) to the simple demonstrative represented by the and that, as shown by the early ON. Runic forms sá-si, s{uacu}-si, þat-si, acc. sing. þan-si, þá-si, þat-si, dat. þaim-si, pl. neuter þau-si. Later the compound was felt as a single word and inflected at the end, the initial þ being also extended to the m. and f. nom. sing., making *þá-si, *þ{uacu}-si, in ON. þesse, -i, in OE. þe-s, þ{iacu}o-s or þéo-s. Gothic expressed the sense differently, viz. by adding to the demonstrative sa, sô, þata, the strengthening particle -uh, making sah, sôh, þatuh, pl. m. þáih. The OE. nom. pl. was þás, less commonly þǽs, ME. þēs; the former now represented by those (which functions as pl. of that), the latter by these q.v. In OE. the word was thus inflected:
Sing.Masc.Fem.Neut.Plural
Nom.þesþéos, þ{iacu}osþisþás, þǽs
Acc.þisneþásþisþás, þǽs
Dat.þis(s)umþisseþisumþisum
Gen.þis(s)esþisseþis(s)esþissa
Instr.þ{yacu}s, þ{iacu}sþ{yacu}s, þis
In ME. these forms were gradually eliminated or reduced, until by 1200 in some dialects, and by 15th c. in all, þis alone remained in the sing.Forms and Inflexions. (For plural see these.)]
A. 1. sing. nom. α. masc. 1–4 þes, (1 þæs, þis), 2–3 (Orm.) þiss, -tiss, 3–5 þis, (3 þus, 4 þeos); 4– this. β. neut. 1–3 þis, (1 þæs), (Orm.) þiss, -tiss, 3–4 þes. γ. fem. 1 ðios, (ðius, ðyus), 1–4 þéos, 2 þies, þyos, 2–3 þas, 3–4 þis, 4 þues.
| α, β ? 670 Bewcastle Column in O.E. Texts 124 Þis siᵹbecn þun setton. a 800 Beowulf 1703 Þæt ðes eorl wære ᵹeboren betera. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John i. 30 Ðæs is of ðæm ic cuæð. Ibid. vi. 42 Ahne is ðis se hælend? c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 49 Þes put bitacneð deopnesse of sunne. Ibid. 81 Nu is þes prest uorþe. c 1205 Lay. 16937 Þa þus [c 1275 þes] dom wes isæid. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1902 Þoru þes signe. 1340 Ayenb. 41 Þes boȝ heþ manie tuygges. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 253 (MS. γ) Þeos Salon his lawes. |
| γ c 825 Vesp. Psalter cviii[i]. 27 Ðæt witen ðætte hond ðin ðeos is. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xii. 30 Ne fore mec stefn ðius [Rushw. ðios] cuom. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xx. 118 Þios eorðe. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John xii. 30 Þeos stefen. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. ibid., Þyos stefne. Ibid. vii. 36 Hwæt ys þies spræce þe he sprecð? c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 35 Nis þas weorld nawiht. Ibid. 103 Ðeos sunne fordeð eiðer ȝe saule ȝe lichoma. c 1205 Lay. 261 Þeos ȝunge wiman. Ibid. 2061 Þus is þas burh i-uaren. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5579 To wonye þer as in hor owe, & a þis alf [MS. α (c 1350) a þeos half] noȝt. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 13 (MS. γ) Þeos queene. Ibid. VI. 421 In preysinge of þis [γ þues] Elfleda. |
2. acc. α. masc. 1–4 þisne, (1 þysne, þeosne), 2–3 þesne, 3 þusne, 4 þerne. β. neut. as nom.; (also 3 þæs). γ. fem. 1–3 þás, 3 þes, (Orm.) þiss.
| α, β c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xliv. 324 ᵹehieren men ðisne cwide. 971 Blickl. Hom. 11 He ᵹelfylde þysne middanᵹeard. Ibid. 15 Eal þæt folc þe þis wundor ᵹeseah. c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives (1890) II. 38 Oþ þeosne andweardan dæᵹ. c 1122 O.E. Chron. an. 1012, Þet hi woldon þisne eard healdan. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 5 Al þe hebreisce folc..sungun þisne lofsong. Ibid. 27 Þesne mon ic habbe itaken. c 1205 Lay. 216 Asscanius heold þis drih[t]liche lond. Ibid. 827 Iche wlle þesne king læden mid me seolfan. Ibid. 4081 Þis wes þe feiruste mon þe æuere æhte ær þusne kinedom. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5104 Þis auisyon þat þe aungel him sede. c 1315 Shoreham vii. 716 For þou areredst þerne storm. 1340 Ayenb. 94 Þerne gardyn zette þe greate gardyner þet is god þe uader. 13.. R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) App. H. 145 Þe king..þisne heiȝe man igrop. |
| γ c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. 2 (heading) Hu S. Gregorius ðas boc ᵹedihte þe man Pastoralem nemmað. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xv. 15 Arecce us ᵹelicnisse þas. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 235 Þer efter arerde god þas laȝe. c 1205 Lay. 2044 Þas [c 1275 þes] burh he luuede swiðe. |
3. dat. α, β. masc. and neut. 1 þisum, þysum, ðissum, 2 þisen, ðise, þis, 2–3 þissen, þisse, 3–5 þis. γ. fem. 1–3 þisse, þissere, (þysse), 1–2 þisser, 2 þesser, þeser, 2–4 þusse, 3 þese, þis, 3–4 þise, 4 þyssere.
| α, β c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 21 Eac þeh ᵹe cweþan to þisum [Lindisf. ðissum, Hatton þisen] munte, Ahefe þe upp. a 1131 O.E. Chron. an. 1124, Sende se papa of Rome to ðise lande. c 1205 Lay. 9912 A þisse londe. |
| γ c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xii. 32 Ne on þisse worulde ne on þære toweardan. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 235 Wið-ute þeser laȝe. Ibid., ærndraces of þisser laȝe. Ibid., An þesser laȝe. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 9 Heo is unbunden in þisse newe laȝe. Ibid. 91 On þissere tide. a 1200 Moral Ode 342 Fared bi þusse strete. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 59 On þese wise. c 1205 Lay. 5320, I þissere [c 1275 þisse] burh. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 292/148 Criede in þusse place. c 1315 Shoreham Poems i. 1449 Inne þe elde lawe þe ordre a-gan, Ine tokne of þyssere newe. a 1325 MS. Rawl. B. 520 lf. 48 On þusse manere ant in þilke forme sal þe writ ben idressed. |
4. gen. α, β. masc. and neut. 1 þises, þys(s)es, 1–3 þisses, 3 þesses, 4 þisis. γ. fem. 1–2 þisse, 2–3 þissere.
| α, β c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. i. §1 Þisne ymbhwyrft þises middanᵹeardes. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xxiv. 3 Ofer heane hrof heofones þisses. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 230 Wið þesses wreches woreldes luue. c 1205 Lay. 823 Ich habbe þisses [c 1275 þis] folkes king. a 1225 Ancr. R. 198 Þisses hweolpes nurice. 1382 Wyclif Tobit vii. 5 Tobie, of the whiche thou askest, is thisis fader [1388 the fadir of this man]. |
| γ c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 22 Be-hyᵹdnis weorulde þisse. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. ibid., Eornfullness þisse worulde. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 21 For þisse weorlde lewnesse. Ibid. 105 Þa sorinessen þissere sterke worlde. |
5. General uninflected form. 3 (Orm.) þiss, tiss, 3–5 þis, (3–4 tis, þes, 4–5 thus, 4–6 thys), 4– this.
| c 1200 Ormin Ded. 95, & whase wilenn shall þiss boc Efft oþerr siþe writenn. Ibid. 303, & tohh þatt tiss Elysabæþ..Wass þuss off Aaroness kinn. Ibid. 411, & ȝet tiss Godd⁓spell seȝȝþ off hemm [etc.]. c 1220 Bestiary 88 Al is man so is tis ern. Ibid. 276 Ðis little wile ðe we on ðis werld wunen. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 387 Her is comen to thus walle,..Sire Degrevvant the gode knyȝt. 1478 J. Paston in P. Lett. III. 219 To handyll well..thys mater now thys Lent. 1551 R. Robinson tr. More's Utopia Transl. Ep., This my poore present. 1552 Huloet, Thys, hic, hæc, hoc. |
B. Signification. I. Demonstrative Pronoun.
1. Indicating a thing or person present or near (actually in space or time, or ideally in thought, esp. as having just been mentioned and thus being present to the mind); spec. as being nearer than some other (hence opposed to that, or in earlier and dial. use to yon: see 3, also that B. II. 2). a. a thing (concrete or abstract).
Sometimes, for emphasis (in mod. use), placed (as subj.) after the noun (as pred.) with ellipsis of is: cf. that B. I. 1 a.
| a 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. Pref. i. (1890) 2 For þinre ðearfe & for þinre ðeode ic þis awrat. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark i. 27 Hwæt ys þis? 1056–66 Inscr. on Dial. Kirkdale Ch. Yorks., Þis is dæᵹes sol merca. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 110 Al þis was ȝwile icluped þe march of walis. a 1300 Cursor M. 22476 (Edin.) Þe toþer day..it sal be wel wer þan þiis. 1477 Paston Lett. III. 186 Thes beyng the vj. letter that I have send yow. a 1575 Wife lapped, etc. 1100 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 225 This yong man was glad, ye may be sure, That he had brought hys wyfe to this. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. ii. 148 O Stephano, ha'st any more of this? 1622 Fletcher Beggar's Bush iii. iii, This is the wood they live in. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 131 The greatness of its horror had this of advantageous, that it made Death a Comparative Good. 1699 Vanbrugh False Friend ii. i, A very humdrum marriage this. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) VIII. lxxvi. 362 This of Bavaria is a gallant and polite court. 1809 Windham Let. 23 July, in Sp. (1812) I. 108 Terrible news this from Germany! 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. iii. v, It has grown to be no country for the Rich, this. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 240 A gracious gift to give a lady, this! Mod. This is what I like. |
b. a person. Now indicating a person actually present, or a person speaking or (interrog.) being spoken to on a telephone, etc., and always as subj. of the verb to be, with the person as predicate; in which position the neuter þis was used in OE. (so Ger. dies ist mein bruder). (Cf. that B. I. 1 b.)
† he this, she this, this man, this woman: see also 3. Obs.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxiii[i]. 5 Ðes onfoeð bledsunge from dryhtne. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. iii. 17 Ðis is sunu min leof [c 975 Rushw. þis is min sune]. Ibid. xxi. 10–11 Hua is ðis?..ðis is ðe hælend. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. ibid., Hwæt is þes?..þis ys se hælend. Ibid. xiv. 2 Þes [Lind., Rushw. þis Hatton þes] is iohannes se fulluhtere. c 1275 Passion our Lord 244 in O.E. Misc. 44 Þer arysen tweyne and bigunne to speke, Þes seyde hwat he wolde þe temple al to-breke. a 1300 Cursor M. 11351 Quen þat sco þis can iesus se. Ibid. 18209 A ded man suilk als tis es an. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 855 (904) This is so gentil and so tender of herte. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 52 More þan Jonas is he þis. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vi. 19 He þis, by cause he was ane aliene,..was putte oute of þe land. 1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 77 And þis þat schuld be his successour he lerned for to do lich as he saide. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 640 Hector was but a Troyan in respect of this. 1601 ― Jul. C. i. ii. 299 What a blunt fellow is this growne to be! c 1633 Milton Arcades 5 This, this is she To whom our vows and wishes bend. 1808 Scott Marm. i. xxiv, Here is a holy Palmer come... This were a guide o'er moor and dale. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 28 This is my house and this my little wife. a 1912 Mod. This is our new inspector. 1947 Sun (Baltimore) 8 Jan. 17 (caption) Very well, we'll expect you at nine this evening. Who did you say this was? |
c. Referring to a fact, act, or occurrence, or a statement or question, mentioned or implied in the preceding context. (Cf. that B. I. 1 c.)
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. viii. §1 Þa þis ᵹedon wæs. Ibid. ii. i. §3 On þæm ilcan ᵹeare þe þiss wæs. a 1123 O.E. Chron. an. 1101, And þis þa mid aðe ᵹefæstnodan. c 1200 Ormin 1340 All þiss wass don forr heore ned. a 1300 Cursor M. 14776 (Cott.) Quen iesus had said tis [other MSS. þis] and mare, He left all his disciplis þar. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xxv. 2910 Fore þis þane rais þe gret debaite. c 1500 Melusine 368 Euer thinking vpon this that Melyor had said to hym. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. ii. 49 Why this it is, to be a peeuish Girle. 1693 J. Edwards Author. O. & N. Test. 152 They said this as a jeer to the Jews. 1825 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 325 Bodies which have no taste, and no power of affecting the skin, may, notwithstanding this, act upon organs which are more delicate. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. vi. 234 This was years ago, Four hundred, full. 1954 G. Kersh in D. Knight 100 Yrs. Sci. Fiction (1969) 223 So you came back to life—more than four hundred years ago! Is this right? 1965 Times 16 Mar. 13/4, I cannot refrain from a violent protest against the ever increasing use of ‘this’ instead of ‘that’: e.g., ‘Will you come to supper tomorrow?’ Answer: ‘This would be very nice.’ 1970 Nature 4 Apr. 47/2 The reader..may come to think that this new approach to mathematics is not worth while. This would be a shame. |
d. Pointing to a statement, proposal, or question which immediately follows. Cf. II. 1 b.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke viii. 11 Soðlice þis is þæt biᵹspell, þæt sæd ys godes word. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8719 He bihet god & þat folc an biheste þat was þys, To alegge alle luþer lawes..& þe betere make. c 1400 Gamelyn 603 My reed is now this, Abide we no lenger. 1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Aug. 42 The question disputed amongis hem was þis, Fro whens þat euel comith. 1535 Coverdale Dan. v. 25 This is the scripture, that is written vp: Mane, Thetel, Phares. 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. iii. 78 This aboue all: to thine owne selfe be true. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. ii. 255 Yet all of us hold this for true, No faith is to the Wicked due. 1858 M. Arnold Merope 895, I speak no word of boast, but this I say: A private loss here founds a nation's peace. |
e. After various prepositions (after, before, by, ere, etc.), = ‘this time’; i.e. either, the present time, the time of speaking or writing; or, in narrative, the time just mentioned. (Cf. that B. I. 1 d; also now 13, then 7.)
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. Pref. 6 Hu sio lar Lædenᵹeðeodes ær ðysum [Hatt. MS. ðissum] oðfeallen wæs. a 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. i. vii. (1890) 40 Ða wæs se dema æfter ðyssum..ᵹedrefed. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxx. 7 Of þisson forð awa to worulde. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 925 After ðis spac god to abram. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 430 Ihc wulle fonde what i do may Bituene þis and þe þridde day. a 1300 [see by prep. 21 b]. 13.. Cursor M. 7252 (Fairf.) Be þis [Cott. wit þis] his hare was waxin new. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 21 For it hath proeved ofte er this. 1571–2 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 130 Frome this furth I sall and will beare fayth and trew allegeance. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iv. iii. 43, I shall betweene this and Supper, tell you most strange things. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 683 My Soldiers having (during this) taken a little refreshment. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1840) II. i. 17 Some time after this,..they fired three muskets. 1818 Keats Endym. i. 988 By this the sun is setting. 1922 Yeats Player Queen i. 20 The basket-makers and the sieve-makers will be out by this. 1971 in Sc. Nat. Dict. (1974) IX. 283/2 I'll hae plenty adee atween this and Whitsunday. |
f. After a preposition, or as obj. of a verb: = ‘this place’. (Now (in colloq. use) more usually here: cf. here adv. B.)
| c 1460 [see here adv. 1 d]. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 2191 Betwixt this and Dumbartane. 1802 Jefferson Writ. (1830) III. 496, I shall leave this on the 21st. 1841 Lytton Money ii. v, The finest player..between this and the Pyramids. 1868 W. S. Gilbert Bab Ballads, Bob Polter xiv, You filthy beast, get out of this. |
g. Strengthened by here immediately following (cf. II. i. i): see here adv. 1 d. dial. and vulgar.
† 2. In OE. and early ME., used (like that) with the verb to be in the plural in reference to a plural predicate.
(This was a collective use of the singular neuter.)
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. iii. §4 Sint þis nu þa god & þa edlean þe þu ealne weᵹ ᵹehete. c 893 ― Oros. iii. i. §7 Þiss wæron ealle Creca leode. c 1000 ælfric Exod. i. 1 Thys synd Israela bearna naman. c 1205 Lay. 25387 Þis weoren þa sixe. |
3. In contrast to that: now almost always of things; esp. in phr. this and (or) that = one thing (or person) and (or) another. So † he this..he that = this (or the one) man..that (or the other) man (quot. 1426). Also occas. this..this = one thing (or person)..another; also this..the other. this, that, and (or or) the other, every sort (of), every possible or imaginable.
| [13.. Cursor M. 8502 (Cott.) Þat [the forbidden] tre was ded [v.r. deþ], þis sal be lijf.] 1390 Gower Conf. II. 210 In ech of hem he fint somwhat That pleseth him, in this or that. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 20110 He thys ys wroth, he that ys glad. 1526 Tindale Jas. iv. 15 For that ye ought to saye: yff the lorde will.., let vs do this or thatt. 1581 E. Campion in Confer. ii. (1584) L iv, It shalbe reported that I sayd this and that, and my wordes shalbe depraued. 1629 Donne Serm. xxxi. (1640) 308 A Ruby will conduce best to the Expressing of This & an Emeraud of This. 1693 Dryden Persius' Sat. iv. 19 This is not fair; nor profitable that; Nor t'other Question proper for Debate. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. II. 227 Because one man did this, that truly I must do that. 18.. M. Arnold Epil. to Lessing's Laocoon 116 This through the Ride upon his steed Goes slowly by, and this at speed. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's II. i. 24, I am sure I aye took your part when folk miscaa'd ye, and said ye were this, that, and the other thing. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. I. i. 381 At their..feast they sat Thinking their thoughts, and spoke of this or that. 1918 Nation (N.Y.) 7 Feb. 161/1 They..offered us a contract in this, that, or the other company, whose dividend-paying record had been thus and so. 1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime xvii. 255 It's a bit awkward what with this and that and the other thing. |
b. spec. (after Latin idiom.) The latter: in contrast to that = the former (that B. I. 3 b).
| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 21 Ffor sunne & wynde hem make a tegument, Lest they in this be shake, in that to brent. 1591 Fraunce (title) The Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch. Conteining the affectionate life, and vnfortunate death of Phillis and Amyntas: That in a Pastorall; This in a Funerall. 1627–47 Feltham Resolves i. lxxxvii. 271 Travaile..makes a wise man better, and a foole worse. This gains nothing but the gay sights, vices,..and the Apery of a Countrey. 1740 Berkeley Siris §72 Warm water..mixed with hot and cold, will lessen the heat in that, and the cold in this. 1868 S. J. Stone Hymn, ‘The old year's long campaign is o'er’ ii, Go forth! firm faith in every heart, Bright hope on every helm, Through that shall pierce no fiery dart, And this no fear o'erwhelm. |
c. With That, as quasi-proper names (with capital T), indefinitely denoting one person and another. So ‘No. [= number] This..No. That’.
| 1824 Byron Juan xvi. xliv, Miss That or This, or Lady T'other. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. i. (1904) 9/2 He..placed me between Provost This and Principal That. |
d. As quasi-n.: a this or a that = one thing or another (in quot. 1656, one or other person of consequence); also nonce-pl. thises and thats.
| 1656 Cromwell Sp. 17 Sept., in Carlyle, A company of mean fellows,..not a lord, nor a gentleman, nor a man of fortune, nor a this nor that, among them. 1865 Ruskin Eth. Dust v. (1883) 100 You..begin to think that it is a chastisement or a warning, or a this or that or the other of profound significance. 1895 Harper's Mag. Nov. 952/1 There were many thises and thats put together. |
4. Phrases. all this: cf. all that s.v. that B. I. 5 b; for all this, notwithstanding this: cf. for 23 a. like this, of this kind; in this manner, thus: cf. like that (like a. 1 ¶ , adv. 1; that B. I. 5 b).
| c 1122 O.E. Chron. an. 1006 (Laud MS.), Ac for eallum þissum se here ferde swa he sylf wolde. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3791 For al ðis, oðer day ðor was nest, Aȝenes moyses and is prest Gan al ðis folc wið wreðe gon. a 1774 Goldsm. Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776) I. 288 Yet the friction shall not for all this become four times as great. 1858 J. H. Newman Sel. Ess. 213 The monks were not so soft as all this, after all. 1881 A. J. Duffield Don Quix. II. 548 To go like this..is like looking for..the bachelor in Salamanca. 1881 W. S. Gilbert Patience ii, You hold yourself like this, You hold yourself like that, By hook or crook, you try to look, both angular and flat. 1889 C. C. R. Up for Season 76 Of what could we talk on an evening like this? |
II. Demonstrative Adjective.
1. a. Used in concord with a n., to indicate a thing or person present or near (actually or in thought), esp. one just mentioned: cf. I. 1.
The use before a possessive pron. (e.g. this my son) is arch., the periphrasis with of being now substituted, as with that: cf. that B. II. 1.
this morning, this afternoon, this evening now always mean ‘the morning (etc.) of to-day’ (whether past, present, or future): cf. morning n. 3 d.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. ii. viii. §1 Þysne nyttan cræft, þeh he arlic næ re, funde heora tictator, Camillis hatte. c 897 ― Gregory's Past. C. 3 (Hatton MS.) heading, Ðeos boc sceal to wioᵹora ceastre. a 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. i. v. (1890) 32 Þes casere framlice rehte ða cynewisan. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xiv. 15 Ðeos stow ys weste. 1154 O.E. Chron., On þis ᵹær wærd þe king Stephne ded. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 141 Þes wimmannes name. c 1200 Ormin 473, & he, þiss Zakaryas, wass Bitwenenn oþre prestess..to serrfenn sett. a 1240 Ureisun in Cott. Hom. 199 Ich habbe i-sungen þe ðesne englissce lai. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3951 Al-so leun is miȝtful der, So sal ðis folc ben miȝtful her. 1340 Ayenb. 12 Þis article zette saynt andreu. 1382 Wyclif Luke xv. 24 For this my sone was deed, and hath lyued aȝen. c 1400 Brut 100 Þis Elfride hade a sone þat me callede Edwynne. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 285 Whiche consuetude peple of that cuntre vse to this tyme presente. 1518 in Peebles Burgh Rec. (1872) 46 This last Sonday he send his..men. 1554 J. Christopherson in Maitland Ess. (1849) 302 He had bene better a great deale to have lived amonge Turkes & Saracenes then amonge this kind of folke. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. i. 15 And this our life exempt from publike haunt. 1632 Sir T. Hawkins tr. Mathieu's Unhappy Prosperitie 163 This five yeares Consulship intoxicated him. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 471 To omit the same for this present. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 18 ¶1 It is my Design in this Paper to deliver..a faithful Account of the Italian Opera. 1772 Sheridaniana (1826) 47, I have this moment heard that Sheridan is returned. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xliv, To do battle for her in this her cause. 1851 Tennyson To the Queen v, Take, Madam, this poor book of song. |
b. Referring to something which is mentioned immediately after. (Cf. the use of that for something mentioned before: see that B. II. 1.)
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xliv. 324 ᵹehieren men ðisne cwide: Hald ðine ælmessan, ðylæs ðu hie forweorpe. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 225 Ic wille settan mi wed betwuxe me and eow to þisan behate, þat is [etc.]. a 1225 Ancr. R. 44 And sigge, stondinde, þesne vreisun. ‘Uisita quesumus, Domine, habitationem istam’. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 186 He began to syng þis antem, ‘O! pastor eterne’. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxv. (Percy Soc.) 180 In a russet banner..There was wrytten this worde, Detraction. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 48 Upon this account indeed they had great cause to rejoice, because now they knew they had a sure Friend in Heaven. 1703 Thoresby Let. to Ray (E.D.S.), This additional list of local words is larger than I expected. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. 63, I..confine myself to this one consideration, viz. [etc.]. |
c. In phrases denoting or referring to the present state or stage of existence; esp. this life, this world (q.v.).
| c 1000– [see life n. 12 b]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 187 To freurende þo forsineȝede of þis wrecche woreld. 1526 Tindale 1 Cor. xv. 53 For this corruptible must putt on incorruptibilite: and this mortall must put on immortalite. 1709 Ken Hymn, ‘All Praise to Thee my God this night’ iii, That this vile Body may Rise Glorious at the awful day. |
d. Referring to something as known, talked about, or (as in quot. 1610) inferred; esp. (colloq.) to something now in vogue or recently introduced. (Cf. that B. II. 1 b.) Also, the present or existing.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy i. viii. (S.T.S.) I. 46 Numa, this civil and Illustar prince. 1582 Allen Martyrd. Campion (1908) 16 Raised and upholden by this new religion. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xiii, This lamentable losse of Constantinople. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. ii. 160 Oh this learning, what a thing it is. 1599 ― Much Ado iii. iv. 73 Get you some of this distill'd carduus benedictus. 1610 ― Temp. v. i. 280 Where should they Finde this grand Liquor? 1785 Boswell Jrnl. Tour Hebrides 86 We were told this Mr. Waller was a plain country gentleman. 1788 H. Walpole Let. 26 July (1918) Suppl. II. 24 Do you know the medals of gold belonged to this Lord Pembroke's grandfather? a 1912 Mod. colloq. What do you think of this wireless telegraphy? This railway strike is a serious business. a 1933 Mod. I knew the last doctor very well. I don't get on with this one. |
e. Used before a date, esp. (now only) in legal or formal documents.
| 1582 L. Kirby in Allen Martyrd. Campion (1908) 77, I bid you farewell, this x of Januarie, 1582. 1603 Parsons Let. 6 July, in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. (1906) II. 218 And with this I byd you most hartely farewell..this 6 of July 1603. 1648 Cromwell Procl. in Carlyle Lett. & Sp. (1871) II. 55 Given under my hand, this 20th September, 1648. 1739 in J. O. Payne Rec. Eng. Cath. of 1715 (1889) 53, I, William Plowden, being this 31st March, 1739, full 70 years of age. |
f. Used instead of these in concord with a plural n. or numeral; esp. (now only) with a plural treated as a singular (e.g. means, odds), or with a numeral expression denoting a period of time taken as a whole (in this case usually = ‘just past or completed’, or more rarely ‘just beginning’). So also this many a day (year, etc.) = these many days, this period of many days (etc.) just past.
The earlier evidence is often doubtful from the fact that this was long one of the forms of these: see these A γ.
| [c 1275 Lay. 26320 Þis [c 1205 þeos] þreo cnihtes bolde.] c 1420 Avow. Arth. lxix, Thoȝhe ȝe sege this seuyn ȝere, Castelle gete ȝe none here. c 1450 Cov. Myst. xiv. (1841) 132 More..Than evyr ther was this thowsand ȝere. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ix. 7 Whan the quene hard thys tidyngis. 1550 Cranmer Defence To Rdr., Where-with they haue this many yeares deluded and bewitched the world. 1578–1600 Scot. Poems 16th C. II. 164 This lang and mony ane day. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. ii. 25 Within this three houres will faire Iuliet wake. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 206 Which will bleed this many a yeare. 1779 Mirror No. 55. ¶7 By this means..even the worthiest men..may be led into fatal errors. 1810 Southey Ess. (1832) I. 9 Unless there be something to weigh against this fearful odds. 1867 Ruskin Time & Tide xv. §86 (1904) 109 The silence has kept my own heart heavy this many a day. 1883 L. Oliphant Altiora Peto II. 261 This last six months. |
† g. this bearer (this bringer) = the bearer of this.
| 1493 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 106, I pray you that I may be answered by my servant, this bearer. c 1495 Ibid., I desire..you to send me a copple with my servant, this bringer. 1533 Cranmer Let. to Ld. Rochford in Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.) II. 259 This bringer P. M. sueth unto me to write unto you in his favour. 1623 Ussher Lett. (1686) 91, I received your Graces Letter brought by this Bearer. 1630 W. Bedell ibid. 440 These things I write now in exceeding post-haste, in respect that this Bearer goes away so presently. |
h. this once; this same (ilk); this side: see once 9 c, same A. 5, B. 2, 4 (ilk), side n. 13 b.
| 13.. Cursor M. 15928 (Cott.) Þis ilk es an of his felauscep for-soth. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiii. (George) 931 Þis sammyne aray, þat now þou seis me haf. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. vi. 36 This ilk cursit fame. c 1542 Udall in Flügel Neuengl. Leseb. I. 352 Be good maister to me this oons. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. I. i. 4 A little on this Side the Whalebone, a Place so called, because [etc.]. |
i. Strengthened by here immediately following: see here adv. 1 d. (Cf. that there, there B. 2 c.) Now dial. or vulgar.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 203 God forbede þat ony Cristene man understonde, þat þis here synsynge and criynge..be þe beste servyce of a prest. 1762– [see here adv. 1 d]. |
† j. this other = ‘the other’ (other A. 3 b).
| 1300–1596 [see other A. 3 b (b), (c)]. |
k. In unliterary narrative: referring to a person, place, etc., not previously mentioned or implied. orig. U.S.
| 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt viii. 116 Did you read about this fellow that went and paid a thousand dollars for ten cases of red-eye that proved to be nothing but water? 1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) ii. 41 They dug this great big trench with bull-dozers. 1969 Fabian & Byrne Groupie (1970) xvi. 111 The rest of the letters were all written on small sheets of blue notepaper in this really childish handwriting. 1976 Drive Nov.–Dec. 24/1 It was on the Chester road, in Birmingham. I saw this car with the keys in the ignition. |
2. In contrast to that: properly denoting the nearer of two things, but often vaguely indicating one thing as distinct from another, esp. in phr. this and (or) that.. = one and (or) another.. So also † this..this.. (quots. c 1460, 1624); this..the other.. (quot. 1717); this..the next.. (quot. 1768). Cf. I. 3 above.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 251 Thou wold I gaf hym this shefe, or this sheyfe. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 33 Shewyng it to be true in this substaunce, and that substance. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 40 b, The cause of this or that precept. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 942 You that way; we this way. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. c j b, Those turne this way and that way in the hande. 1624 Donne Serm. ii. (1640) 16 How Rheubarb, or how Aloes came by this, or this vertue, to purge this, or this humour. 1697 Dryden æneid i. 82 This way and that the impatient captives tend. 1717 Prior Alma iii. 494 This man pursues What if he gain'd he could not use: And t'other fondly hopes to see What never was, nor e'er shall be. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. i. §16 Truth..must not be measured by the convenience of this or that man. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man. i. i, He laughs this minute with one, and cries the next with another. 1842 [see divide v. 8 e]. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. iii. 128 The temporary..superiority of this or that Bretwalda. 1930 R. Graves Ten Poems More 11 Neat this-way-that-way and without mistake. 1937 C. Day Lewis Starting Point i. iii. 51 The field was scored..with streaking,..incessant this-way that-way movement. |
III. Combinations and special collocations.
this child: see child n. 7 b; † this gate, (in) this way, thus (cf. thus-gate); † ˈthis half (obs.), this side (half n. 1, 2); a (on) this half = on this side of (see also a-this-half); ˈthis-how adv. (nonce-wd. after somehow), in this manner, thus (in quot. as n.); ˈthis-like a., like this, such as this, of this kind (cf. these-like, these, B. III); ˈthis-way-ward adv., towards this way, in this direction; † this while advb. phr. (also † this whiles), during this time, or the time in question; meanwhile; the while. See also thiskin, thiswise, this world.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xii. xi. 28 Turnus, lat ws persew Troianys *this gayt. 1872, 1893 [see gate n.2 2]. |
| c 1205 Lay. 14018 A *þas hælf [c 1275 a þis half] þere Humbre. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. ix. (Skeat) l. 39 Is not euery thyng a thiss-halfe God; Made buxome to mannes contemplacion? 1476 Sir J. Paston in P. Lett. III. 162, xij myle on thysehalff Roome, the Lorde Ryverse was robbyd off alle hys jowelles. |
| 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. i. 706 The somehow may be *thishow. |
| 1880 W. Watson Prince's Quest Poems 1905 II. 153 The passion..voiced itself in *this-like monotone. |
| 1662 Pepys Diary 7 May, He left the Queen and fleet in the Bay of Biscay, coming *this wayward. |
| 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xiii. (1596) 236 A thousand inconueniencies come into his fancie, which hold him in suspense, and *this-while the occasion of the remedie passeth away. 1644 Digby Nat. Soul Concl. 455 Making roome for this soule rauishing contemplation, by remouing this whiles all other images of things farre from me. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 3 This while the greatest part of us perished on the shallowes. |
▪ II. this, adv.
(ðɪs)
[In I. prob. OE. þ{yacu}s, þ{iacu}s, instrumental case of this dem. pron.; in II. app. advb. use of accus. sing. neuter (cf. that adv.). In some instances, perhaps an alteration of thus adv.]
I. † 1. In this way or manner; like this; thus.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Petrus) 729 And þis he ȝalde þe spyrit. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 3123 When þis lomb had þis y ron þrye þe tomb abouȝt. a 1518 Skelton Magnyf. 1043, I wyll not haue it so, I wyll haue it this. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 368 And this the King of Scottland depairtit out of France. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 205 What am I that thou shouldst contemne me this? |
II. † 2. a. To this extent or degree; as much as this; thus. Obs. exc. as in b. (Cf. that adv.)
| c 1460 Wisdom 936 in Macro Plays 66 To clense þe soull wyche ys þis fowll. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) II. 11 Elles this boulde durste he not be, To make such araye. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccclxxviii. 631 Let vs go forwarde, let vs nat be this a colde to make warr. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 60 This vmbeset I am on eurie syde. |
b. Qualifying an adj. or adv., orig. chiefly of quantity, esp. this much (where this is perh. felt as the pronoun = ‘as much as this’; cf. that adv. b); now also qualifying other adjs. and advs. (grading into an intensive).
| c 1460 Wisdom 982 in Macro Plays 67, I be-gyn awake, I that þis longe hath slumberyde in syne. 1586 Sir F. Walsingham in Leycester's Corr. (Camden) 230 This myche have I receyved from her majestye. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 62 And this far of the Iles called Hebrides. 1675 Baxter Cath. Theol. ii. viii. 190 Having said this much preparatorily. 1763 C. Johnston Reverie I. 23 He might have spared himself the trouble even of this much. 1877 Ruskin Fors Clav. lxxxii. 324 Perhaps this much of Plato is enough for one letter. 1884 J. P. Norris in Shakespearian May 181 None of the portraits mentioned by Walpole are dated this early. 1885 J. J. Murphy in Brit. Q. Rev. July 100 The Agnostic argument..must go this far if it is to be valid. 1932 J. Leatham Fisherfolk 13 A'm this aul', an' I never had a sy-ystem! 1967 Boston Sunday Herald 30 Apr. (Mag.) 34/2, I have a stack of telegrams this thick. 1971 Where Dec. 376/3 Yet the picture is usually not even this good. Most teachers..talk much more than half the time in their classes, and the time that is left is not all used for children talking. 1972 Real Estate Rev. Winter 8/2 Keep in mind, however, that no existing property is this typical. 1976 Woman's Day (U.S.) Nov. 154/2, I haven't felt this well in years. |