donate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /də(ʊ)ˈneɪt/ (UK); /ˈdoʊˌneɪt/, /doʊˈneɪt/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from donation,^[2][3][4][5] from Latin dōnātiō, from dōnāre, to give, from dōnum, a gift.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To give, present as a gift: 1785 in Merriam-Webster, 1819 in Etymonline, 1845 in the OED.^[4][2][6]

Semantic evolution

The OED and the Century Dictionary marked it as chiefly American.^[2] To present a person with something is from 1862.^[6] Related words are older: donation and donor from the 15th century, and donee from the 16th.^[3]

Timeline

• 15th century – donation, donor.^[3]
• 1785 – donate.^[4]
• 1862 – to present a person with something.^[6]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To give money, goods or time to a cause or charity; to contribute.
2. To give blood or an organ for medical use.

Word family

• donator

Related words

• donation
• donor
• donative
• pardon

Usage notes

A donate, or donat, is also a member or associate of certain religious orders (1804), from Medieval Latin dōnātus, given.^[6][5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press