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Thing 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. [1913 Webster]

God made . . . every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind. --Gen. i. 25. [1913 Webster]

He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt. --Gen. xiv. 23. [1913 Webster]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. --Keats. [1913 Webster]

2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material. [1913 Webster]

Ye meads and groves, unconscious things! --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed. [1913 Webster]

[And Jacob said] All these things are against me. --Gen. xlii. 36. [1913 Webster]

Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. --Matt. xxi. 24. [1913 Webster]

4. A portion or part; something. [1913 Webster]

Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]

5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; -- often used in pity or contempt. [1913 Webster]

See, sons, what things you are! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The poor thing sighed, and . . . turned from me. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

I ll be this abject thing no more. --Granville. [1913 Webster]

I have a thing in prose. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to pack or store one s things. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Note: Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense. [1913 Webster]

And them she gave her moebles and her thing. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

In the garden [he] walketh to and fro, And hath his things [i. e., prayers, devotions] said full courteously. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Hearkening his minstrels their things play. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; -- distinguished from person. [1913 Webster]

8. [In this sense pronounced t[i^]ng.] In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

{Things personal}. (Law) Same as {Personal property}, under Personal.

{Things real}. Same as {Real property}, under Real. [1913 Webster]

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. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]