| this | Origin: OE. This, thes, AS. Oes, masc, oeos, fem, ois, neut.; akin to OS. These, D. Deze, G. Dieser, OHG. Diser, deser, Icel. Oessi; originally from the definite article + a particle -se, -si; cf. Goth. Sai behold. See The, That, and cf. These, Those. 1. As a demonstrative pronoun, this denotes something that is present or near in place or time, or something just mentioned, or that is just about to be mentioned. "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart." (Acts II. 37) "But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched." (Matt. Xxiv. 43) 2. As an adjective, this has the same demonstrative force as the pronoun, but is followed by a noun; as, this book; this way to town. This may be used as opposed or correlative to that, and sometimes as opposed to other or to a second this. See the Note under That. "This way and that wavering sails they bend." (Pope) "A body of this or that denomination is produced." (Boyle) "Their judgment in this we may not, and in that we need not, follow." (Hooker) "Consider the arguments which the author had to write this, or to design the other, before you arraign him." (Dryden) "Thy crimes . . . Soon by this or this will end." (Addison) This, like a, every, that, etc, may refer to a number, as of years, persons, etc, taken collectively or as a whole. "This twenty years have I been with thee." (Gen. Xxxi. 38) "I have not wept this years; but now My mother comes afresh into my eyes." (Dryden) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| thistle | <botany> Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera Cnicus, Craduus, and Onopordon. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants. Blessed thistle, Carduus benedictus, so named because it was formerly considered an antidote to the bite of venomous creatures. Bull thistle, Cnicus lanceolatus, the common large thistle of neglected pastures. Canada thistle, Cnicus arvensis, a native of Europe, but introduced into the United States from Canada. Cotton thistle, Onopordon Acanthium. Fuller's thistle, the teasel. Globe thistle, Melon thistle, etc. See Globe, Melon, etc. Pine thistle, Atractylis gummifera, a native of the Mediterranean region. A vicid gum resin flows from the involucre. Scotch thistle, either the cotton thistle, or the musk thistle, or the spear thistle; all used national emblems of Scotland. Sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus. Spear thistle. Same as Bull thistle. Star thistle, a species of Centaurea. See Centaurea. Torch thistle, a candelabra-shaped plant of the genus Cereus. See Cereus. Yellow thistle, Cincus horridulus. Thistle bird, the goldfinch; so called from its fondness for thistle seeds. Thistle funnel, a funnel having a bulging body and flaring mouth. Origin: OE. Thistil, AS. Thistel; akin to D. & G. Distel, OHG. Distila, distil, Icel. Thistill, Sw. Tistel, Dan. Tidsel; of uncertain origin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |