资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            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}.