Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Thing?

\Thing\, Ting \Ting\, n. [Dan. thing, ting, Norw. ting, or Sw. ting.] In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly; -- used, esp. in composition, in titles of such bodies. See {Legislature}, Norway.
\Thing\ (th[i^]ng), n. [AS. [thorn]ing a thing, cause, assembly, judicial assembly; akin to [thorn]ingan to negotiate, [thorn]ingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding a thing, formerly also, an assembly, court, Icel. [thorn]ing a thing, assembly, court, Sw. & Dan. ting; perhaps originally used of the transaction of or before a popular assembly, or the time appointed for such an assembly; cf. G. dingen to bargain, hire, MHG. dingen to hold court, speak before a court, negotiate, Goth. [thorn]eihs time, perhaps akin to L. tempus time. Cf. {Hustings}, and {Temporal} of time.] 1. Whatever exists, or is conceived to exist, as a separate entity, whether animate or inanimate; any separable or distinguishable object of thought. God made . . . every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind. --Gen. i. 25. He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt. --Gen. xiv. 23. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. --Keats. 2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material. Ye meads and groves, unconscious things! --Cowper. 3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed. [And Jacob said] All these things are against me. --Gen. xlii. 36. Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. --Matt. xxi. 24. 4. A portion or part; something. Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom. --Tillotson. 5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; -- often used in pity or contempt. See, sons, what things you are! --Shak. The poor thing sighed, and . . . turned from me. --Addison. I'll be this abject thing no more. --Granville. I have a thing in prose. --Swift. 6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to pack or store one's things. [Colloq.] Note: Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense. And them she gave her moebles and her thing. --Chaucer. Note: Thing was used in a very general sense in Old English, and is still heard colloquially where some more definite term would be used in careful composition. In the garden [he] walketh to and fro, And hath his things [i. e., prayers, devotions] said full courteously. --Chaucer. Hearkening his minstrels their things play. --Chaucer. 7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; -- distinguished from person. 8. [In this sense pronounced t[i^]ng.] In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly. --Longfellow. {Things personal}. (Law) Same as {Personal property}, under {Personal}. {Things real}. Same as {Real property}, under {Real}.