The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
THING
thing
(noun) a separate and self-contained entity
thing
(noun) an action; “how could you do such a thing?”
thing
(noun) an artifact; “how does this thing work?”
thing
(noun) an entity that is not named specifically; “I couldn’t tell what the thing was”
thing
(noun) any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence; “the thing I like about her is ...”
matter, affair, thing
(noun) a vaguely specified concern; “several matters to attend to”; “it is none of your affair”; “things are going well”
thing
(noun) a special abstraction; “a thing of the spirit”; “things of the heart”
thing
(noun) a special objective; “the thing is to stay in bounds”
thing
(noun) a statement regarded as an object; “to say the same thing in other terms”; “how can you say such a thing?”
thing
(noun) an event; “a funny thing happened on the way to the...”
thing
(noun) a persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion; “he has a thing about seafood”; “she has a thing about him”
thing
(noun) a special situation; “this thing has got to end”; “it is a remarkable thing”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
Thing (plural Things)
(chiefly, historical) A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.
Anagrams
• Night, night
Etymology
Noun
thing (plural things)
That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.
A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.
An individual object or distinct entity.
(informal) A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief). [from 20th c.]
(legal)
Whatever can be owned.
Corporeal object.
(somewhat dated, with the) The latest fad or fashion.
(in the plural) Clothes, possessions or equipment.
(informal) A unit or container, usually containing edible goods.
(informal) A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor.
(slang) A penis.
A living being or creature.
That which matters; the crux.
Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.
(informal) That which is favoured; personal preference. (Used in possessive constructions.)
(chiefly, historical) A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.
(informal) A romantic relationship.
Synonyms
• (referent that can be used to refer to any entity): item, stuff (uncountable equivalent), yoke (Ireland)
• (penis): see penis
• (personal preference): see predilection
Verb
thing (third-person singular simple present things, present participle thinging, simple past and past participle thinged)
(rare) To express as a thing; to reify.
Anagrams
• Night, night
Source: Wiktionary
Thing, n. Etym: [AS. Ăľing a thing, cause, assembly, judicial assembly; akin to Ăľingan to negotiate, Ăľingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding a thing, formerly also, an assembly, court, Icel. Ăľing 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. Ăľeihs 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. [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. 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.
Definition: 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)
Definition: Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; -- distinguished from person.
8. [In this sense pronounced tîng.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
16 April 2025
RACY
(adjective) marked by richness and fullness of flavor; “a rich ruby port”; “full-bodied wines”; “a robust claret”; “the robust flavor of fresh-brewed coffee”
Coffee Trivia
