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What (who) is thing - definition
TYPE OF GOVERNING ASSEMBLY
Þing; Gestricia Eastern Court District; Gestricia Western Court District; Tingslag; Delsbo Court District; Hälsingland South-Eastern Court District; Hälsingland South-Western Court District; Ljustorp Court District; Ljustorp; Hallen Court District; Gudmundrå Court District; Boteå; Enonteki; Thing(assembly); Thing (gathering); Helsingia South-Eastern Court District; Helsingia South-Western Court District; Folkmoot; Botea; Gudmundra; Gaellivare Lapland Court District; Haelsingland South-Western Court District; Botea Court District; Gudmundra Court District; Halsingland South-Eastern Court District; Haelsingland South-Eastern Court District; Gallivare Lapland Court District; Halsingland South-Western Court District; Folkmoots; Germanic thing; Thingstead; Folkmote; Thing (government); Folcgemot; Thingstow; Folkesmot; Folkemøte; Þingą; Assembly democracy; Boteå Ting; Tribal council (Germanic)
![A Germanic Assembly, by [[Charles Rochussen]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Germaanse volksvergadering (cropped).jpg?width=200 "A Germanic Assembly, by [[Charles Rochussen]]")
![Germanic ''thing'', drawn after the depiction in a relief of the [[Column of Marcus Aurelius]] in [[Rome]] (193 AD)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Germanische-ratsversammlung 1-1250x715.jpg?width=200 "Germanic ''thing'', drawn after the depiction in a relief of the [[Column of Marcus Aurelius]] in [[Rome]] (193 AD)")
![The Icelandic [[Althing]] in session, as imagined in the 1890s by British artist [[W. G. Collingwood]].<ref>Oil version. There is a related watercolour [https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=43511&partId=1&searchText=william+collingwood&page=1 ''The Icelandic Thing''] in the [[British Museum]].</ref>](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Law speaker.jpg?width=200 "The Icelandic [[Althing]] in session, as imagined in the 1890s by British artist [[W. G. Collingwood]].<ref>Oil version. There is a related watercolour [https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=43511&partId=1&searchText=william+collingwood&page=1 ''The Icelandic Thing''] in the [[British Museum]].</ref>")
![Olaf the Stout]] of Norway, but also to give his daughter to him in marriage. Illustration by C. Krogh.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Olav den helliges saga CK5.jpg?width=200 "Olaf the Stout]] of Norway, but also to give his daughter to him in marriage. Illustration by C. Krogh.")
thing
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
The Thing; The Thing (movie); Thing (disambiguation); The Thing (film); The Thing (disambiguation); Thing (film); The Thing (album)
n.
deed
event
1) to do a thing (she did a nice thing when she offered to help; to do great things; to do the right thing)
2) a bad; difficult; easy; good; mean; nasty; nice; sensible; strange; stupid; terrible thing; the right; wrong thing
3) a thing to + inf. (it was an easy thing to do; it was the wrong thing to do)
object
4) to use a thing for (don't use this thing for removing paint)
facts, details
5) to get a thing out of smb. (I couldn't get a thing out of her)
6) to know a thing about (he doesn't know a thing about music); to know a thing or two ('to know quite a bit')
fact, point
(colloq.)
7) the thing is that + clause (the thing is that I still have a great deal of work to do; the other thing is that I really don't want to go)
article of clothing
8) not to have a thing to wear (I don't have a thing to wear)
9) to put on; take off one's things
possessions, effects
10) to pack one's things
step
11) the first; next thing (the next thing is to submit your application)
person of a certain type
12) a pretty; poor thing (a pretty little thing; you poor thing)
thought, idea
13) to say the right thing
matters
(used in the plural)
14) to even things up
15) to see things (as they are)
16) (misc.) all things considered ('with everything taken into account'); things don't look good; things are looking up for us; how do things stand. how are things.
utensils
17) to clear the (breakfast) things away
individual
18) a living thing (there wasn't a living thing in sight)
fear
obsession
(colloq.)
19) a thing about (she has a thing about flying)
misc.
20) to do one's thing ('to do what one feels competent or motivated to do'); any old thing ('anything at all'); a sure thing ('smt. that is certain to succeed'); of all things ('most surprisingly'); to tell smb. a thing or two ('to tell smb. frankly what one thinks')
thing
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
The Thing; The Thing (movie); Thing (disambiguation); The Thing (film); The Thing (disambiguation); Thing (film); The Thing (album)
¦ noun
1. an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
(things) personal belongings or clothing.
2. an inanimate material object as distinct from a living being.
a living creature or plant.
a person or animal in terms of one's feelings of pity, approval, etc.: you lucky thing!
3. an action, activity, concept, or thought.
(things) unspecified circumstances or matters.
4. (the thing) informal what is needed or required.
what is socially acceptable or fashionable.
5. (one's thing) informal one's special interest or concern.
Phrases
be hearing (or seeing) things imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there.
a close (or near) thing a narrow avoidance of something unpleasant.
do one's own thing informal follow one's own inclinations regardless of others.
have a thing about informal have a preoccupation or obsession with.
there is only one thing for it there is only one possible course of action.
Origin
OE (also in the senses 'meeting' and 'matter, concern'), of Gmc origin.
thing
WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE
The Thing; The Thing (movie); Thing (disambiguation); The Thing (film); The Thing (disambiguation); Thing (film); The Thing (album)
(things)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You can use thing to refer to any object, feature, or event when you cannot, need not, or do not want to refer to it more precisely.
'What's that thing in the middle of the fountain?'-'Some kind of statue, I guess.'...
She was in the middle of clearing the breakfast things...
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?...
A strange thing happened...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
Thing is used in lists and descriptions to give examples or to increase the range of what you are referring to.
These are genetic disorders that only affect males normally. They are things like muscular dystrophy and haemophilia...
The Earth is made mainly of iron and silicon and things like that...
N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp
3.
Thing is often used after an adjective, where it would also be possible just to use the adjective. For example, you can say it's a different thing instead of it's different.
To be a parent is a terribly difficult thing...
N-COUNT: adj N
4.
Thing is often used instead of the pronouns 'anything,' or 'everything' in order to emphasize what you are saying.
It isn't going to solve a single thing...
Don't you worry about a thing...
N-SING: oft with brd-neg [emphasis]
5.
Thing is used in expressions such as such a thing or things like that, especially in negative statements, in order to emphasize the bad or difficult situation you are referring back to.
I don't believe he would tell Leo such a thing...
N-COUNT: usu with brd-neg, with supp [emphasis]
6.
You can use thing to refer in a vague way to a situation, activity, or idea, especially when you want to suggest that it is not very important. (INFORMAL)
I'm a bit unsettled tonight. This war thing's upsetting me...
N-COUNT: supp N, usu n N [vagueness]
7.
You often use thing to indicate to the person you are addressing that you are about to mention something important, or something that you particularly want them to know.
One thing I am sure of was that she was scared...
The funny thing is that the rest of us have known that for years...
N-COUNT: with supp, oft adj N
8.
Thing is often used to refer back to something that has just been mentioned, either to emphasize it or to give more information about it.
I never wanted to be normal. It was not a thing I ever thought desirable...
N-COUNT
9.
A thing is a physical object that is considered as having no life of its own.
It's not a thing, Beauchamp. It's a human being!
N-COUNT
10.
Thing is used to refer to something, especially a physical object, when you want to express contempt or anger towards it. (SPOKEN)
Turn that thing off!
N-COUNT [disapproval]
11.
You can call a person or an animal a particular thing when you want to mention a particular quality that they have and express your feelings towards them, usually affectionate feelings. (INFORMAL)
You really are quite a clever little thing...
N-COUNT: adj N
12.
Your things are your clothes or possessions.
Sara told him to take all his things and not to return...
N-PLURAL: poss N
13.
Things can refer to the situation or life in general and the way it is changing or affecting you.
Everyone agrees things are getting better...
N-PLURAL
14.
If you say that something is the thing, you mean that it is fashionable or popular.
I feel under pressure to go out and get drunk because it's the thing to do...
N-SING: the N, oft N to-inf
15.
If, for example, you do the right thing or do the decent thing in a situation, you do something which is considered correct or socially acceptable in that situation.
People want to do the right thing and buy 'green'...
Carrington did the honourable thing and resigned...
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
If you say that something is the done thing, you mean it is the most socially acceptable way to behave. (BRIT)
It was not the done thing. In those days the man was supposed to be the provider.
PHRASE: oft with brd-neg, v-link PHR
17.
If you do something first thing, you do it at the beginning of the day, before you do anything else. If you do it last thing, you do it at the end of the day, before you go to bed or go to sleep.
I'll go see her, first thing...
I always do it last thing on a Saturday...
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl, oft PHR prep
18.
If you have a thing about someone or something, you have very strong feelings about them. (INFORMAL)
I had always had a thing about red hair...
He's got this thing about ties.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing
19.
You say it is a good thing to do something to introduce a piece of advice or a comment on a situation or activity.
Can you tell me whether it is a good thing to prune an apple tree?...
PHRASE: PHR inf
20.
If you make a thing of something or make a thing about it, you talk about it or do it in an exaggerated way, so that it seems much more important than it really is. (INFORMAL)
Gossips made a big thing about him going on shopping trips with her...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing
21.
You can say that the first of two ideas, actions, or situations is one thing when you want to contrast it with a second idea, action, or situation and emphasize that the second one is much more difficult, important, or extreme.
It was one thing to talk about leaving; it was another to physically walk out the door...
PHRASE: V inflects, oft it PHR to-inf [emphasis]
22.
You can say for one thing when you are explaining a statement or answering a question, to suggest that you are not giving the whole explanation or answer, and that there are other points that you could add to it.
She was a monster. For one thing, she really enjoyed cruelty...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
23.
You can use the expression 'one thing and another' to suggest that there are several reasons for something or several items on a list, but you are not going to explain or mention them all. (SPOKEN)
What with one thing and another, it was fairly late in the day when we returned to Shrewsbury...
PHRASE: oft with PHR
24.
If you say it is just one of those things you mean that you cannot explain something because it seems to happen by chance.
'I wonder why.' Mr. Dambar shrugged. 'It must be just one of those things, I guess.'
PHRASE: V inflects
25.
You say one thing led to another when you are explaining how something happened, but you do not really want to give the details or you think people will be able to imagine the details.
He came by on Saturday to see if she was lonely. One thing led to another and he stayed the night.
PHRASE: V inflects
26.
If you do your own thing, you live, act, or behave in the way you want to, without paying attention to convention or depending on other people. (INFORMAL)
We accept the right of all men and women to do their own thing, however bizarre...
PHRASE: V inflects
27.
If something is a thing of the past, it no longer exists or happens, or is being replaced by something new.
Painful typhoid injections are a thing of the past, thanks to the introduction of an oral vaccine...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
28.
If you say that someone is seeing or hearing things, you mean that they believe they are seeing or hearing something that is not really there.
Dr Payne led Lana back into the examination room and told her she was seeing things...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu cont
29.
You can say there is no such thing as something to emphasize that it does not exist or is not possible.
There really is no such thing as a totally risk-free industry...
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR as n [emphasis]
30.
You say the thing is to introduce an explanation, comment, or opinion, that relates to something that has just been said. The thing is is often used to identify a problem relating to what has just been said. (SPOKEN)
'What does your market research consist of?'-'Well, the thing is, it depends on our target age group.'...
PHRASE: PHR cl
31.
If you say that something is just the thing or is the very thing, you are emphasizing that it is exactly what is wanted or needed.
Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack...
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf [emphasis]
32.
If you say that a person knows a thing or two about something or could teach someone a thing or two about it, you mean that they know a lot about it or are good at it.
Patricia Hewitt knows a thing or two about how to be well-organised...
The peace movement has learnt a thing or two from Vietnam.
PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR about n
33.
other things being equal: see equal
first things first: see first
Wikipedia
Thing (assembly)
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A thing, also known as a folkmoot, assembly, tribal council, and by other names, was a governing assembly in early Germanic society, made up of the free people of the community presided over by a lawspeaker. Things took place at regular intervals, usually at prominent places that were accessible by travel. They provided legislative functions, as well as being social events and opportunities for trade. In modern usage, the meaning of this word in English and other languages has shifted to mean not just an assemblage of some sort but simply an object of any sort.
Examples of use of thing
1. "It‘s a livin‘ thing/It‘s a terrible thing to lose/ It‘s a given thing/What a terrible thing to lose," sang the Electric Light Orchestra.
2. "That‘s a cultural thing rather than a religious thing.
3. It‘s usually a country thing, not a company thing.
4. This isn‘t a Tory thing or an anti–immigrant thing.
5. But that‘s their thing, and bands are the same thing.