It, pron.
pron. [O. Eng. it, hit, hyt, A-S. hit, D. het, Goth. ita, O. Sax. it, O. H. Ger. iz, for iza, M. H. Ger. iz, ez, N. H. Ger. es, allied to Lat. id, Skr. it.] An impersonal or neuter pronoun, usually regarded as a demonstrative, corresponding to the masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the same plural, they, their or theirs, them. It is in some cases used without reference to the gender; as, Who is it? “It is God that avengeth me.” Ps. xviii. 47. The possessive form, its, is modern, being rarely found in the writings of Shakespeare and Milton, and not at all in 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.
Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab? Is. li. 9.
The day present hath ever enough to do w’ it owne grief. Genevan Test.
Do, child, go to it grandam, child. Shak.
It knighthood shall do worse. It shall fright all it friends with borrowing letters. B. Jonson.
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.” Latham.
It is used,—
Sense 1. 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 is apparent or well known; often, in such cases, as a substitute for a sentence or clause; as, it is thought he will come.
It is I; be not afraid. Matt. xiv. 27.
Sense 2. As a substitute for any noun of neuter gender.
Sense 3. 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 of me when it shall be well with thee. Gen. xl. 14.
Sense 4. As an indefinite nominative for an impersonal verb; as, it snows; it rains.
Sense 5. As an indefinite object after some intransitive verbs, or after a substantive used humorously as a verb.
The Lacedemonians, at the Straits of Thermopylæ, when their arms failed them, fought it out with their nails and teeth. Dryden.
Whether the charmer sinner it or saint it, If folly grows romantic, I must paint it. Pope.