[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

it \it\ i^t, pron. oe. it, hit, as. hit; cf. d. het.
   root181. see he.
   the neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the
   masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the
   same plural they, their or theirs, them.
   1913 webster

   note: the possessive form its is modern, being rarely found
         in the writings of shakespeare and milton, and not at
         all in the original king james's version of the bible.
         during the transition from the regular his to the
         anomalous its, it was to some extent employed in the
         possessive without the case ending. see his, and
         he. in dryden's time its had become quite established
         as the regular form.
         1913 webster

               the day present hath ever inough to do with it
               owne grief.                        --genevan
                                                  test.
         1913 webster

               do, child, go to it grandam, child. --shak.
         1913 webster

               it knighthood shall do worse. it shall fright all
               it friends with borrowing letters. --b. jonson.
         1913 webster

   note: in the course of time, the nature of the neuter sign t
         in it, the form being found in but a few words, became
         misunderstood. instead of being looked upon as an
         affix, it passed for part of the original word. hence
         was formed from it the anomalous genitive its,
         superseding the saxon his. --latham.
         1913 webster

               the fruit tree yielding fruit after his its
               kind.                              --gen. i. 11.

   usage: it is used,

   1. as a substance for any noun of the neuter gender; as, here
      is the book, take it home.
      1913 webster

   2. as a demonstrative, especially at the beginning of a
      sentence, pointing to that which is about to be stated,
      named, or mentioned, or referring to that which apparent
      or well known; as, i saw it was john.
      1913 webster

            it is i; be not afraid.               --matt. xiv.
                                                  27.
      1913 webster

            peter heard that it was the lord.     --john xxi. 7.
      often, in such cases, as a substitute for a sentence or
      clause; as, it is thought he will come; it is wrong to do
      this.
      1913 webster

   3. as an indefinite nominative for a impersonal verb; as, it
      snows; it rains.
      1913 webster

   4. as a substitute for such general terms as, the state of
      affairs, the condition of things, and the like; as, how is
      it with the sick man?
      1913 webster

            think on me when it shall be well with thee. --gen.
                                                  xl. 14.
      1913 webster

   5. as an indefinite object after some intransitive verbs, or
      after a substantive used humorously as a verb; as, to foot
      it i. e., to walk.
      1913 webster

            the lacedemonians, at the straits of thermopylae,
            when their arms failed them, fought it out with
            nails and teeth.                      --dryden.
      1913 webster

            whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it,
            if folly grows romantic, i must paint it. --pope.
      1913 webster

   its self. see itself.
      1913 webster
see also:
he his its self itself 

Its >> I Words
Its, definition of term: Its
its_pag1.html