something
UK: ˈsʌmθɪŋ | US: ˈsʌmθɪŋ
pron. an unspecified or unknown thing
n. a thing of importance or consequence
The word "something" combines the Old English morpheme "sum" (meaning "a certain one" or "some") with "þing" (meaning "object," "matter," or "assembly." Over time, "sum þing" merged into "something," retaining its core sense of an unspecified object or matter. The term reflects a straightforward compounding in English, where two functional words combine to create a pronoun or noun with broader, abstract applicability.
She whispered something in his ear before leaving.
There’s something strange about this place.
He wanted to say something but hesitated.
Is there something you’d like to share with the group?
Something tells me we’re not alone here.