(plural). Forms: see below. [This word has a complicated history. The OE. pl. of ðes, ðéos, ðis, was ðás, less commonly ðǽs(:—OTeut. *þai-se, -si), dat. ðiosum, ðis(s)um, gen. ðissa, ðisra. The form ðás remained in ME. as þās, which was duly retained in the north, and by regular phonetic development became þōs in midland and south. The OE. ðǽs gave ME. þǣs, þēs, þeos, and their local variants, including s. w. þüs. A frequent form of þēs from the 12th to the 16th c. was þis, identical with the sing.: see γ below. The two forms þēs and þās became differentiated in use after 1250–1300, þēs and its variants remaining in the south as plural of THIS, while þās became synonymous with þā, the plural of se, séo, þæt, THAT. This was prob. due to assimilation, þēs, þis, etc., being more like the singular and the dat. and gen. pl., while þās was in vowel like þat and þā. Apparently the assumption of þās as pl. of þat began in the north, and slowly spread to the south in the form þōs: see THOSE. But from the 12th c. there was evidently a tendency in the midl. dialects to differentiate the plural of this by adding -e, as in the plural of adjs. (al, alle, sum, sume, his, hise, etc.), so that from c. 1200 to 1500 a frequent midland form was þis-e (2 syllables in Ormin, etc.); in e. midl. also þese appears c. 1200. Even the s. w. þüs varied with þüse. Of all these varieties, these was the survivor. Also, of thō and thōs, the two plurals of that, the former was finally dropped in the course of the 16th c.; so that there now remain in standard English only the two forms these and those (thoos, thōs)—both in their origin plurals of this; the original plural of that being lost in standard English, though in Scotland and the northern counties of England it survives dialectally as thae, theä, theeä: see THAE. In the same district these has been superseded by THIR (thur, thor). (The original pl. þās, þōs is treated under THOSE, to which it belongs in form, though in meaning it belongs here.)]
A. Illustration of Forms,
[α. 1–3 ðás, þás, þōs: see THOSE.]
β. 1 ðǽs, 1–3 þǽs, 2–5 þēs, 3 ðēs, 3–4 þeos, (teos, þeors), 5 þies, thees, 5–6 thes, thies, 6 thyes, thez, theis. Early inflexions: dat. 1 ðisum; ðiosum, ðissum, ðassum, 2 þison, -an, 2–3 þissen, þisse, 2–4 þisen, 3 þesse. gen. 1 ðissa; ðeossa, ðassa þisra, 2–3 þisse, þissere.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxii. § 2. Hwelc þæs flæslican good sien.
971. Blickl. Hom., 5. Þeos haliʓe fæmne … brohte eallum ʓeleaffullum þæs bletsunga.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 11. Moyses þe hehte heom feste þes daȝes uppon þe munte of synai.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 19. Nu ich eu habbe opened þes fif word… Hereð nu þes oðre.
c. 1205. Lay., 1038. Þæs [c. 1275 þeos] tiðende him weren læðe. Ibid., 4621. We … nuten næuere þæs gume [c. 1275 þis gomes].
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 5. Þeos þohtes warp ut of þin heorte.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1643. Iacob ðes hirdes freinen gan.
a. 1375. Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. IV. 175. Þeos Auctours alle.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 113. Studie þes wordis.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1454. All thies maters.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xvi. 65. By what wayes he maye notyfye thees thynges to Dydo.
c. 1500. New Not-br. Mayd, 235. Ayenst thyes thre.
1529. Col. Wolsey, in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880), 10. Thes thyngs consyderyd.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 74. Theis iiij. knyghttes.
a. 1596. Sir T. More, II. ii. 26. Fier the howses Of theis audatious strangers.
dat. c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xvii[i]. 18. From ðissum ða fiodon me.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Orosius, II. ii. § 2. He þa Romulus æfter þiosan underfeng Cirinensa ʓewinn. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xviii. 138. Betweox ðissum. Ibid., xxi. 152. Be ðiosum ʓit is swiðe ryhtlice ʓecweden.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. iii. 9. Of þysum stanum. Ibid., xxvii. 21. Hwæþerne … of þisum twam? [c. 1160 Hatt. G. ibid. of þisen stanen … Of þisan twam?].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 11. On þisse gastliche daȝen. Ibid., 37. Summe of þisse þinge.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 217. On þesse fewe litele wored…. Ac ich ne mai ne ich ne can þesse [pr. þosse] on openi.
c. 1205. Lay., 26356. No aȝæf þissen [c. 1275 to þeos] eorlen.
1340. Ayenb., 218. Of þisen we habbeþ ane uorbisne ine þe godspelle.
gen. c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xiv. 82. Mid nanum ðissa.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxi. 3. Hlaferd ðisra nytt hæfeð.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Lives of Saints, xxiii. 137. Menn … þisra seofona ʓeorne heddon.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 22. Leasung þissa woruld-welena.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., ibid. Leasunge þissere worlde welen.
c. 1205. Lay., 14829. Ich æm þissere leodene king.
γ. 2–5 þis, 5–7 this, (5–6 thys).
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 211. On þis fuwer laȝes.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 320. Þes men of þis wilde bestes slowe & caȝte inowe.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 30. Thou hast ben in all this dangers.
1534. in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 11. Yn thys thynges I desyryd you to do that you thowht metyst.
1622. S. Ward, Christ All in All (1627), 13. This Eagles feathers will not abide blending with others.
δ. 3–5 þus (ü), þuse, thus(e.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11950. Þus sixe iwis.
a. 1300. Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright, 1841), 135/124. Of thuse four elementz ech quik best y-maked is.
c. 1300. Beket, 890. Thuse kniȝtes ich lovie more.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1012. Þus þay prikede, þuse two baroun hure frendes to rescowe.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 41. And hade þuse foure in his gouernynge. Ibid., 1359. And dred þus laudable wordus.
ε. 2–5 þise, 4–5 thise, 5 thyse.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4573. Whas itt iss þatt follȝheþþ wel & filleþþ þise mahhtess.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 514. Ðis cete ðanne … ðise fisses alle in sukeð.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 560. Thise wermes, ne thise Motthes, ne thise mytes.
c. 1450. Merlin, i. 23. Whan alle thise thynges were don.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 359. The best men of ye cytie by thyse ryotous persones were spoyled & robbid.
ζ. 3 ðese, 4–5 þese, 4– these, (4 þeose, þiese, 5 þeese, 6 theese, theise).
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. Ðese six werkes … ben cleped lihtes scrud.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3697. Forð was gon al ðese oðer ȝer.
13[?]. Cursor M., 16767 + 65 (Cott.). These ilk wordez said he. Ibid. (c. 1425), 4597 (Trin.). Þeese oþere seuen woful neet.
c. 1550. Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893), 139. In consideration of theese thinges. Ibid. At theise days.
B. Signification.
The plural of THIS pron. and adj.
I. Demonstrative pronoun.
1. Denoting things or persons actually or ideally present or near; esp. those that have just been mentioned.
a. things: plural of THIS B. I. 1 a.
c. 893. [see A. β].
c. 1205. Lay., 26044. Ær þe king hæfde þæs ful isæide.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 11112. Þese are þo yche twey verse Þat to holynes are reuers.
1340. Ayenb., 97. Þise byeþ þe seve ruieles of holy lyf þet þe soþe salomon tekþ to his children.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 10115 (Trin.). Lecchory and gloteny, Þourȝe þese am I doun dryuen.
1474. Coventry Leet Bk., 397. If he do the contrary to any of thies his fyne is al euery tyme xl d.
1581. Campion, in Allen, Martyrd. (1908), 2. These are the words of S. Paule.
1624. Wotton, Archit. in Reliq. (1651), 211. Such conceipts as these seem somewhat too fine among this Rubbage.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 56. For want of these, they have seen the medicine of the state corrupted into its poison.
1862. Ruskin, Unto this Last, iv. § 78 (1901), 158. His [man’s] race has its bounds also; but these have not yet been reached.
b. persons.
Still used without the restriction to which the singular this is now subject; see THIS B. I. 1 b.
c. 825. [see A. β].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 547. Þes were as þre kinges.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13395. Bifore Arthur schuld þeos alle wende.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. vii. 13, 14. Who ben thes … and of whennus camen thei?… Thes ben thei, that camen fro greet tribulacioun.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 14022 (heading). Thez Paris slogh in the ffeld.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxiii. 274 (Harl. MS.). Þees ben þei, that sleith hire soulis.
1526. Tindale, John xxi. 15. Lovest thou me more then these?
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 91. These are diuels; O defend me.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 342. One of these being taken, and apprehending he was in danger.
1869. Tennyson, Coming of Arthur, 52. He … rode a simple knight among his knights, And many of these in richer arms than he.
c. Referring to things mentioned or enumerated immediately after: pl. of THIS B. I. 1 d; cf. II. 1 b.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 36. Þe vreisuns beoð þeos. ‘Deus qui sanctam crucem’ [etc.].
c. 1380. Lay Folks Catech., 349. These ben also þy fyue Inwyttys, Wyl, Resoun, Mynd, ymaginacioun, and thogth.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 68. Þes er þe tokenys of a good stomak—lightnes of body, clernes of vnderstondynge, stiryng appetyt.
1526. Tindale, Gal. v. 19. The dedes of the flesshe are manyfest, whiche are these, advoutrie, fornicacion [etc.].
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 190. Such sayings as these: All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags [etc.].
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 55. Then an officer Rose up, and read the statutes, such as these: Not for three years to correspond with home [etc.].
2. In opposition to † tho, those (of things or persons); sometimes spec. = ‘the latter’: plural of THIS B. I. 3, 3 b. Also † these … they = some … others (quot. c. 1450).
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. xi. ʓeþence þonne þara tida and nu þissa.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 266. Other sustres … nowe these, now thei, owe of pyte … to visitte suche prysoners.
1611. Bible, Ezek. i. 21. When the liuing creatures were lift vp from the earth, the wheels were lift vp…. When those went, these went, and when those stood, these stood.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, 15. The Russians are generally tall, the Laplanders … very short; those are fat and corpulent, these lean and slender.
1734. Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 22. Some place the bliss in action, some in ease, Those call it Pleasure, and Contentment these.
1902. Westm. Gaz., 20 Feb., 2/1. I left the skaters flitting to and fro, these with their hockey sticks, those with their sledges.
II. Demonstrative adjective.
1. Indicating things or persons present or near (actually, or in thought, esp. as having just been mentioned): plural of THIS B. II. 1.
c. 888, etc. [see A. β].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 107. Hu þes halie mihten ouercumað þa sunnan.
c. 1205. Lay., 29786. Þæs [c. 1275 þeos] tiðende come to Austine sone.
c. 1290. Beket, 303, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 115. Þis wise men þat weren is Messagers.
1340. Ayenb., 7. Þise þri hestes diȝteþ ous to gode specialliche.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 34. Yet these clerkes alday preche And sein, good dede may non be.
1411. Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/2. I … dyd assemble thise persones that here been.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 42. Nowder of þies two did itt; I did it my selfe.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xx. 21. These my two sonnes.
1557. North, Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 50. This daungerous and perillous warres.
1653. Walton, Angler, ii. 69. I’l give you another dish of fish one of these dayes.
1869. Lowell, Yussouf, ii. His who buildeth over these Our tents His glorious roof of night and day.
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 798. Well that ye came, or else these caitiff rogues Had wreak’d themselves on me.
b. Referring to something immediately following: plural of THIS B II. 1 b.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 16. Efter þis ualleð acneon … mid teos vif gretunges. ‘Adoramus te Christe [etc.].’
c. 1275. Lay., 688. And þeos [c. 1205 þas] word seide: Brutus þe sele, Niþinc þou art dead.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 184. A mous … to þe route of ratones reherced þese wordes: ‘Thouȝ we culled þe catte [etc.].’
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 2454. And þuse wordus to hym dude say.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. iv. (Arb.), 159. Also ye finde these words, penetrate, penetrable, indignitie.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 80. Then was he glad, and that for these reasons: First [etc.].
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 182/2. Under the Inscription are these Words, in Greek, Letters, Kairos ‘o Pandamatôr.
c. Referring to things or persons familiarly known, esp. to the whole class of such things or persons: plural of THIS B. II. 1 d.
c. 1325. Poem Times Edw. II., 49, in Pol. Songs (Camden), 326. Thise ersedeknes that ben set to visite holi churche.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. Prol., 1. Thise olde gentil Britons.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. ii. 123. These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Ibid. (1602), Ham., II. ii. 223. These tedious old fooles.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Misc., Match for Devil, Wks. 1711, IV. 149. These Husbands are such very Drones.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., iv. These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated.
1820. Byron, Mar. Fal., IV. ii. 17. These city slaves have all their private bias.
Mod. Do you approve of these old age pensions? Who are these Manchu’s in China?
d. Used instead of this with a sing. noun of multitude (formerly with company, number; now only with collectives in pl. sense, as vermin); or esp. with kind, sort († form, † manner) followed by of with pl. sb. (cf. KIND sb. 14 b, THOSE II. 1 c).
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., Let. xii. (1535), Oo ij b. As I say of these smalle nombre, I myght say of many other.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., I. (1879), 147. Then, marche these heathen company towards the Church.
a. 1643. J. Shute, Judgem. & Mercy (1645), 108. All the land was covered with these vermin.
1796. Southey, Lett. fr. Spain (1799), 328. A faithful picture of these vermin.
e. With a numeral (definite or indefinite) in expressions of time referring to a period immediately past or immediately future.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. Prol., 22. I haue ywedded bee Thise Monthes two.
1552. Ascham, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 11. Any thing that hapt vnto me, thies many years.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. i. 180. For these two houres Rosalinde, I wil leaue thee.
1641. R. Baillie, Lett. & Jrnls. (1841), I. 313. These three or four years bygone.
1655. Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 209. Att the French Court they expect not the conclusion these 4 monthes.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 44. Where has the Wench been these Three Hours?
1764. Foote, Patron, III. Wks. 1799, I. 357. I warrant he won’t shew his head for these six months.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, ii. Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. x. Dan Chaucer’s, who’s dead these ever so many hundred years.
1865. Whewell, in Life (1881), 549. As I have done any time these twenty years and more.
2. In opposition to those: pl. of THIS B. II. 2.
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, xxxiii. 104. O how great is the difference betwixt those holy exercises of Religion … and these prophane exercises of corruption and lust!
1660. Barrow, Euclid, V. xv. The number of these parts is equal to the number of those.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, iv. 54. And these fair acres, rented and enjoy’d, May those excel by Solway-moss destroy’d.
Mod. Do you think these scissors sharper than those you had yesterday?
III. Comb. These-like a., like these, such as these: cf. this-like s.v. THIS B. III.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 57. Every acute reader upon the first sight of a pedantick licence, will be ready with these like words to ding the book a coits distance from him, I hate a pupil teacher [etc.].
1819. Keats, Hyperion, I. 50. Some mourning words, which in our feeble tongue Would come in these like accents.
