these
UK: ðiːz | US: ðiːz
pron. plural form of "this," used to indicate specific people or things near the speaker
det. plural form of "this," modifying plural nouns to specify proximity
The word "these" originates from Old English "þās," the plural form of "þēs" (this). The "th" morpheme represents the demonstrative function (pointing to something), while the "-ese" suffix evolved to mark plurality. Over time, the spelling shifted from "þās" to "these" under Middle English influence, aligning with similar plural forms like "those." The core logic remains: a proximal demonstrative ("th") + plural marker ("-ese").
These books belong to the library.
I prefer these shoes over those.
Are these your keys on the table?
These problems need immediate attention.
She planted these flowers last spring.