What did thing mean in old English?

Answer 1

My keyboard unfortunately does not have the letters edh and thorn which were used for th in Old English. I'll have to make do with th. The word "thing" had several meanings in Old English. Here are some examples:

"Me wearth Grendles thing on minre etheltyrf undyrne cuth." (Beowulf, l 409) which means something like "This business of Grendel is well-known in my country", and "thing" means business or matter. There is a similar meaning in "Beadolhilde ne waes hyre brothra death on sefan swa sar swa hyre sylfre thing." (The Exeter Book: Deor line 8) meaning "Bealdohild was not as concerned about her brothers' death as her own problems" where "thing" here is "problems" or "troubles".

"Ond nu with Grendel sceal, with tham aglaecan ana gehegan thing with thyrse." (Beowulf, l 424) which means something like "Grendel and I are called to meet together" and "thing" means a meeting or a parley. It is a similar meaning to the use of the word in the name of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing.

Perhaps the most common use was in the phrase "aenige thing" which meant "anything" or "anyhow". E.g. "No thy aer feasceafte findan meahton aet tham aethelinge aenige thinga" (Beowulf, line 2373) which means something like "No one could prevail upon the prince by any means".