thank
See also: thanks and þank
English
Pronunciation
- enPR: thăngk IPA(key): /θæŋk/
- (US) IPA(key): [θæŋk], [ðæŋk]
- (UK) IPA(key): [θaŋk]
- (æ-tensing, NYC) IPA(key): [θeɪ̯ŋk], [t̪eɪ̯ŋk], [ðeɪ̯ŋk]
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -æŋk
Etymology 1
From Middle English thank, from Old English þanc (“thought, favour, grace, pleasure, satisfaction, thanks”), from Proto-Germanic *þankaz (“thought, remembrance, gratitude”), from Proto-Indo-European *tong-, *teng- (“to think”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tonk, West Frisian tank, Dutch dank, Low German Dank, German Dank, Danish tak, Swedish tack, Faroese tøkk, Icelandic þökk. Related to thought.
Noun
thank (plural thanks)
- (obsolete) An expression of appreciation; a thought.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Luke 6:33:
- If ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
- 1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], OCLC 868004604, book:
- What great thank, then, if any man, reputed wise and constant, will neither do, nor permit others under his charge to do, that which he approves not, especially in matter of sin?
-
Etymology 2
From Middle English thanken, thankien, from Old English þancian, þoncian (“to thank, give thanks”), from Proto-Germanic *þankōną (“to thank”), from Proto-Germanic *þankaz (“thought, gratitude”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think, feel”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian tonkje (“to thank”), West Frisian tanke (“to thank”), Dutch danken (“to thank”), Low German danken (“to thank”), German danken (“to thank”), Danish takke (“to thank”), Swedish tacka (“to thank”), Icelandic þakka (“to thank”). Of the same root as the above etymology. Related to thought.
Verb
thank (third-person singular simple present thanks, present participle thanking, simple past and past participle thanked)
- (transitive) To express gratitude or appreciation toward.
- She thanked him for the lift.
- 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M. Hill Co., OCLC 297099816:
- The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion now thanked the Good Witch earnestly for her kindness; and Dorothy exclaimed: […]
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.
- (transitive) To feel gratitude or appreciation toward.
- I'll thank you not to smoke in my house!
- 1844, The Quarterly Review (volume 74, page 104)
- Our readers would not thank us for going into the badgerings which had for some time annoyed the chancellor on the subject of arrears in his court.
- (transitive) To credit or hold responsible.
- We can thank global warming for this weather.
- 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., OCLC 222716698:
- But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, […] . By the time we reached the house we were thanking our stars she had come. Mrs. Cooke came out from under the port-cochere to welcome her.
Derived terms
- bethank
- thankable
- thankworthy
- unthank
Related terms
- thanks
- thank you
- think
Translations
to express gratitude or appreciation to someone
| ||||||
to credit or hold something responsible
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked: "to express gratitude"
|
Scots
Etymology
From Old English þancian, þoncian (“to thank, give thanks”), from Proto-Germanic *þankōną (“to thank”).
Verb
thank (third-person singular simple present thanks, present participle thankin, simple past thankit, past participle thankit)
- to thank