Etymologically
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thanksgiving

Etymology and origin of the English word thanksgiving

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1533

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /θæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/, /ˈθæŋksˌɡɪvɪŋ/[1]

Etymology

It is from thanks and the present participle of give.[2][3] The verbal phrase give thanks is attested from the late 14th century, and Wycliffe has doinge of thankes.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The giving of thanks, especially to God: 1533, the 1530s in Etymonline.[4][2][5]

Semantic evolution

The earlier noun was simply thanking (late 13th century).[2] An act or expression of thanks, especially a prayer, is from 1535,[4] and a public religious celebration acknowledging divine favour from 1641.[4] The North American festival commemorates the harvest celebration of the Plymouth colonists in 1621, held in appreciation of help from members of the Massasoit tribe and to celebrate the first harvest,[2] though Thanksgiving Day itself is not attested until the 1670s (1674).[2][4] A verb thanksgive (1630s) is a back-formation.[2]

Timeline

  • late 13th century – thanking.[2]
  • 1533 – the giving of thanks.[4]
  • 1535 – a prayer of thanks.[4]
  • 1641 – a public celebration.[4]
  • 1674 – Thanksgiving Day.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God.
  2. A public celebration acknowledging divine favour.
  3. (Thanksgiving) A national holiday in the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving Day.

References

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

“Thanksgiving.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/thanksgiving. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·