it

I. pronoun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hit — more at he Date: before 12th century 1. that one — used as subject or direct object or indirect object of a verb or object of a preposition usually in reference to a lifeless thing <

took a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old

>, a plant <

there is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming

>, a person or animal whose sex is unknown or disregarded <

don't know who it is

>, a group of individuals or things, or an abstract entity <

beauty is everywhere and it is a source of joy

> — compare he, its, she, they 2. — used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent <

it is raining

> 3. a. — used as anticipatory subject or object of a verb <

it is necessary to repeat the whole thing

> — often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subject <

it was in this city that the treaty was signed

> b. — used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning <

footed it back to camp

> 4. — used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstances <

how is it going

> 5. a crucial or climactic point <

this is it

> II. noun Date: 1842 the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)