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some·thing

(sŭmthĭng)

pron.

1. An undetermined or unspecified thing: Is something wrong? Did you buy her something for her birthday?

2. An unspecified or undetermined amount or extent: We know something about the early settlers in this area.

3. One having some or many of the same attributes, character, or essence as another: Trying to fix the computer myself was something of a mistake.

1. A remarkable or important thing or person: He thinks he is something in that uniform.

2. One who falls into a specified age range. Often used in combination: fortysomethings who attended their class reunion.

adj.

Of, relating to, or being a member of a specified age range. Often used in combination: "the lives and loves of hip, twentysomething city dwellers" (Joseph P. Kahn).

adv.

1. A little; somewhat: She looks something like her mother.

2. Informal To an extreme degree: He drinks something fierce.

Idiom:

something else Informal

One that is very special or quite remarkable: Her new film is something else.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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