Etymologically
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donate

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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

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