˜yÐÄvlog

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View synonyms for

thanksgiving

[ thangks-giv-ing ]

noun

  1. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
  2. an expression of thanks, especially to God.
  3. a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
  4. a day set apart for giving thanks to God.
  5. (initial capital letter) Thanksgiving Day.


thanksgiving

/ θæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ; ˈθæŋksˌɡɪvɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of giving thanks
    1. an expression of thanks to God
    2. a public act of religious observance or a celebration in acknowledgment of divine favours
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • ±è°ù±ð-°Õ³ó²¹²Ô°ì²õ·²µ¾±±¹î€ƒi²Ô²µ adjective
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of thanksgiving1

First recorded in 1525–35; thank + -s 3 + give ( def ) + -ing 1( def )
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In his native Argentina, churches across the country will hold masses of thanksgiving to mark the anniversary.

From

On 27 February, the Prince of Wales was due to give a reading at the thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

From

Cheating wasn’t just a violation of the competitive spirit or a taint on their city’s honor, but a transgression against the gods, for whom the games were held in thanksgiving.

From

Before arriving in Nigeria, Prince Harry visited London as part of celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, and attended a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral.

From

Prince Harry has arrived at St Paul's Cathedral in London for a thanksgiving service for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

From

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More About Thanksgiving

What doesÌýthanksgiving mean?

The word thanksgiving means the act of expressing or feeling thankfulness.

In other words, it’s the act of giving thanks for what you’re grateful for.

This sense of the word is often used in a religious context. For example, a prayer of thanksgiving involves praying to express gratitude for the blessings in one’s life.

The word thanksgiving is also used as the name of a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It’s officially known as Thanksgiving Day but is commonly just called Thanksgiving. It is observed in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday of November, and in Canada on the second Monday of October.

Today, the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. is traditionally celebrated with family gatherings and a large meal, especially one that includes a roast turkey. Other traditional Thanksgiving dishes include mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, and pumpkin pie. The association with eating turkey has led to the informal nickname Turkey Day.

Example: A lot of people forget that Thanksgiving is not just a time for gathering and eating but for actual thanksgiving—acknowledging all of the things we have to be thankful for.

Where doesÌýthanksgiving come from?

The first records of the word thanksgiving come from around 1530. The word has been used as the name of a holiday since the 1600s. The first records of the term Thanksgiving Day come from around the 1670s.

The history of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. is often traced back to the 1621 harvest meal that is believed to have been attended by Pilgrim colonists in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, and members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Native Americans. While historians do believe that the two groups were in fact present together at that time, many of the details surrounding their relations and the nature of the meeting have been mythologized. There is certainly no evidence that the event was seen as the start of a holiday tradition at the time.

The first official national Thanksgiving holiday was set by President George Washington in 1789, but it was a one-time event. It wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving was officially declared as an annual national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln. But the holiday was not connected to the history of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag until later. The holiday remained on the fourth Thursday of November until 1939, when it was moved to the third Thursday of November. It went back to being on the fourth Thursday in 1942.

Thanksgiving became an annual national holiday in Canada in 1879 and was set as the second Monday in October in 1957. Earlier celebrations of Thanksgiving in Canada were inspired by the U.S. holiday. Today, it’s often celebrated similarly, with family gatherings and large meals.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for thanksgiving?

What are some synonyms for Thanksgiving?

What are some words that share a root or word element with thanksgiving?Ìý

What are some words that often get used in discussing thanksgiving?

How isÌýthanksgiving used in real life?

Thanksgiving is most commonly used as the name of the holiday. When used in a general sense, it is often used in a religious context.

Ìý

Try usingÌýthanksgiving!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of the general sense of thanksgiving?

A. gratitude
B. thankfulness
C. supplication
D. gratefulness

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