Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Anything?

\A"ny*thing\, n. 1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; thing of any kind; something or other; aught; as, I would not do it for anything. Did you ever know of anything so unlucky? --A. Trollope. They do not know that anything is amiss with them. --W. G. Sumner. 2. Expressing an indefinite comparison; -- with as or like. [Colloq. or Lowx] I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything. --Richardson. Note: Any thing, written as two words, is now commonly used in contradistinction to any person or anybody. Formerly it was also separated when used in the wider sense. ``Necessity drove them to undertake any thing and venture any thing.'' --De Foe. {Anything but}, not at all or in any respect. ``The battle was a rare one, and the victory anything but secure.'' --Hawthorne. {Anything like}, in any respect; at all; as, I can not give anything like a fair sketch of his trials.
\A"ny*thing\, adv. In any measure; anywise; at all. Mine old good will and hearty affection towards you is not . . . anything at all quailed. --Robynson (More's Utopia).