anything

== English == === Alternative forms === any thing (obsolete) === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɛn.ɪ.θɪŋ/, /ˈɛn.i.θɪŋ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɛn.i.θɪŋ/ (Ireland) IPA(key): /ˈæn.i.θɪŋ/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈɛn.i.θɪŋ/ (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈɛn.ɪ.θɪŋ/, /ˈɛn.i.θɪŋ/ Hyphenation: an‧y‧thing === Etymology 1 === From Middle English anything, enything, onything, from Late Old English aniþing, from earlier ǣniġ þing (literally “any thing”), equivalent to any +‎ thing. ==== Pronoun ==== anything Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatsoever; a thing of any kind; something or other. Synonym: aught (with “as” or “like”) Expressing an indefinite comparison. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== anything (plural anythings) Someone or something of importance. ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== anything (third-person singular simple present anythings, present participle anythinging, simple past and past participle anythinged) (ambitransitive, colloquial) Used as a placeholder verb for any verb out of a set of related verbs. [from 19th c.] ===== See also ===== something (verb) everything (verb) === Etymology 2 === From Middle English anything, enything, onything, onythynge, from Old English ǣniġe þinga, ǣnġi þinga (literally “by any of things”), from ǣniġe, instrumental form of ǣniġ (“any”) + þinga, genitive plural of þing (“thing”). ==== Adverb ==== anything (not comparable) In any way, any extent or any degree. === References === “anything”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Anagrams === Thingyan