Thing (?), n. [AS. þing a thing, cause, assembly, judicial assembly; akin to þingan to negotiate, þingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding a thing, formerly also, an assembly, court, Icel. þing 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. þeihs 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, unsonscious things! Cowper.
3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed.
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.
Wieked 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.
☞ Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense.
And them she gave her moebles and her thing. Chaucer.
☞ 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 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 tĭng.] 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.