IT • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of It

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pronoun

It pron. The neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the same plural (they, their or theirs, them). Note: The possessive form its is modern, being rarely found in the writings of Shakespeare and Milton, and not at all in the original King James's version of the Bible. During the transition from the regular his to the anomalous its, it was to some extent employed in the possessive without the case ending. See His, and He. In Dryden's time its had become quite established as the regular form. "The day present hath ever inough to do with it owne grief." "Do, child, go to it grandam, child." "It knighthood shall do worse. It shall fright all it friends with borrowing letters." Note: In the course of time, the nature of the neuter sign t in it, the form being found in but a few words, became misunderstood. Instead of being looked upon as an affix, it passed for part of the original word. Hence was formed from it the anomalous genitive its, superseding the Saxon his. "The fruit tree yielding fruit after his (its) kind." It is used,

As a substance for any noun of the neuter gender; as, here is the book, take it home.

As a demonstrative, especially at the beginning of a sentence, pointing to that which is about to be stated, named, or mentioned, or referring to that which apparent or well known; as, I saw it was John. "It is I; be not afraid." "Peter heard that it was the Lord." Often, in such cases, as a substitute for a sentence or clause; as, it is thought he will come; it is wrong to do this.

As an indefinite nominative for a impersonal verb; as, it snows; it rains.

As a substitute for such general terms as, the state of affairs, the condition of things, and the like; as, how is it with the sick man? "Think on me when it shall be well with thee."

As an indefinite object after some intransitive verbs, or after a substantive used humorously as a verb; as, to foot it (i. e., to walk). "The Lacedemonians, at the Straits of Thermopylae, when their arms failed them, fought it out with nails and teeth." "Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grows romantic, I must paint it."

Its self. See Itself.

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Etymology of 'It'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"It" Quotes from Famous Books

... was walking with me in the fields near Halle when relating the anecdote, added, upon concluding, "I do not pretend to account for the phenomenon; no knowledge, scientific or metaphysical, in my possession, is adequate to explain it; but I have no more doubt it actually, positively, literally did occur, than I have of the existence of the sun im ...

— Atlantic Monthly, Volume 6, Issue 35, September, 1860 • Various

... region only dimly, and it has no more substance than a pale gray vision; my words, however intangible and elusive, give too definite a form to my dreamy conceptions. But still (I speak as a little child, with the child's faith), but still I always think of my mother as having, in that far off ...

— The Story of a Child • Pierre Loti

... 'According to thy promise, I will, O king, with concentrated mind, serve that Brahmana. O foremost of kings, I do not say this falsely. It is my nature to worship Brahmanas. And, as in the present case, my doing so would be agreeable to thee, even this would be highly conducive to my welfare. Whether that worshipful one cometh in the evening, or in morning, or at night or even at midnight, he will have no reason to ...

— The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 • Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

... of Great Britain might be prevented, was an enemy to the constitution. The Irish parliament was not behindhand with the common-council in exhibiting sympathy for the cause of the Americans. Soon after it assembled, which was on the 10th of October, the members rejected a money-bill transmitted from England, upon the plea that it had been altered in council. On the 23rd of November, still more unequivocal ...

— The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. - From George III. to Victoria • E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

... were but indifferently versed in the practical part of astronomy, without which, and those instruments which have been invented almost exclusively by the moderns, for measuring the paths, distances, and relative positions of the heavenly bodies, it is impossible to launch out with any tolerable success or safety on the trackless ocean. They were ignorant also of that wonderful property of the magnet or loadstone, which, pointing invariably towards the north, ...

— A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume X • Robert Kerr

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