This, pron.

pl. THĒSE. [A-S. thes, m., theós, f., this, n., O. Sax. these, thius, thit, O. D. dese, dit or ditte, N. D. dēze, dit, Icel. thessi, thetta, Sw. denne, denna, detta, pl. dessa, Dan. denne, dette, pl. disse, O. H. Ger. deser, desju, diz and dizi, N. H. Ger. dieser, diese, dies and dieses.] A pronoun, used, (a.) As a demonstrative, denoting something that is present or near in place or time, or something just mentioned, or that is just about to be mentioned;—thus used as a pronoun proper, or as a pronominal adjective.

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, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Matt. xxiv. 43.

(b.) Denoting the last part, as a period of time; as, I have taken no snuff for these two months. “I have not wept this forty years.” Dryden. (c.) As opposed or correlative to that, and sometimes as opposed to other.

This way and that the wavering sails they bend. Pope.

A body of this or that denomination is produced. Boyle.

Consider the arguments which the author had to write this, or to design the other, before you arraign him. Dryden.

When this and that refer to different things before expressed, this refers to the thing last mentioned, and that to the thing first mentioned.

Their judgment in this we may not, and in that we need not, follow. Hooker.

By this, after such an interval; by this time;—used elliptically for by this time; as, by this the mail has arrived.