Gift
/ɡɪft/noun
A thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present.
Did you know?In Old Norse, 'gift' not only meant 'gift' but also 'marriage,' linking the act of giving with sacred bonds and rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʲebʰ-
“To give; to bestow.”
Old Germanic
Old Norse
gift
“A gift, also referring to a marriage or bond.”
Old English
Old English
gyft
“Something given; a present.”
Middle English
Middle English
gifte
“A gift or present, often with connotations of a divine blessing.”
Modern English
English
gift
“A present or donation, retaining its association with generosity and obligation.”