This Meaning and Definition
This
Pronunciation
/ðɪs/
Part of Speech
Proper Adjective/Adverb
Definition
A specific or particular thing or being, as opposed to something else or anything in general.
Examples
1. “This is my favorite book.”
2. “This restaurant has the best service in town.”
Synonyms
1. Certain
2. Particular
Antonyms
1. General
2. Universal
Etymology
The word ‘This’ is derived from Old English ‘þis’, which was also a pronoun meaning ‘this’ or ‘these’. Its origins can be traced back to Proto-Germanic ‘þis’, and further to Proto-Indo-European ’tis’, a demonstrative word used to indicate proximity or familiarity.
Usage Notes
The word ‘This’ is commonly used as a definite article and as an adverb to indicate proximity or specificity in English language. It is often used to make general statements or to describe a particular instance or experience.
Cultural References
The word ‘This’ has been used in various cultural references, such as in literature (e.g., Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be: this is the question”) and in song lyrics (e.g., David Guetta’s “This is What You Came For”).
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
1. “This and that”
2. “This is not the end”
Collocations
1. “This is a/an… “
2. “This one is…
Frequency of Use
The word ‘This’ is a commonly used word in English, ranking among the top 100 most frequently used words in the English language.
Common Misspellings
1. Thou
2. Thay