Definition of Thanksgiving

1. Noun. Fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.

Exact synonyms: Thanksgiving Day
Generic synonyms: Feast Day, Fete Day, Legal Holiday, National Holiday, Public Holiday
Group relationships: Nov, November

2. Noun. A short prayer of thanks before a meal. "Their youngest son said grace"
Exact synonyms: Blessing, Grace
Generic synonyms: Orison, Petition, Prayer

Definition of Thanksgiving

1. n. The act of rending thanks, or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.

Definition of Thanksgiving

1. Proper noun. (Canada US) Thanksgiving Day ¹

2. Proper noun. (Canada US) The long weekend which includes Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving weekend. ¹

3. Noun. an expression of gratitude. ¹

4. Noun. a short prayer said at meals; grace, a benediction ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Thanksgiving

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Thanksgiving

1. 1. The act of rending thanks, or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies. "Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." (1 Tim. Iv. 4) "In the thanksgiving before meat." (Shak) "And taught by thee the Church prolongs Her hymns of high thanksgiving still." (Keble) 2. A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. In the United States it is now customary for the President by proclamation to appoint annually a day (usually the last Thursday in November) of thanksgiving and praise to God for the mercies of the past year. This is an extension of the custom long prevailing in several States in which an annual Thanksgiving day has been appointed by proclamation of the governor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Thanksgiving

thankly
thanks
thanks a bunch
thanks a lot
thanks a million
thanks for coming
thanks for nothing
thanks for your help
thanks to
thanksgave
thanksgive
thanksgiven
thanksgiver
thanksgivers
thanksgives
thanksgiving (current term)
thanksgivings
thanku
thankworthiness
thankworthy
thankyou
thankyous
thankyouverymuch
thanna
thannah
thannahs
thannas
thanne
thans
thantophobia

Literary usage of Thanksgiving

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature by H.W. Wilson Company (1915)
"Popular triumph of the new school of scene painting, il Cur Opinion 59:103 Ag '16 Entertainment for the thanksgiving holidays. ..."

2. Holy-days and Holidays: A Treasury of Historical Material, Sermons in Full by Edward Mark Deems (1906)
"371 thanksgiving, Reason for 371 thanksgiving Service... 371 thanksgiving Themes... 372 thanksgiving Thoughts . 372 Trouble 372 POETRY Canticle, ..."

3. Bulletin of the New York Public Library by New York Public Library (1904)
"At the Circulation branches the picture bulletins and reading lists were as follows: CHATHAM SQUARE, thanksgiving day bulletins (2), Children of Japan, ..."

4. The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries by John Austin Stevens, Benjamin Franklin DeCosta, Henry Phelps Johnston, Martha Joanna Lamb, Nathan Gillett Pond, William Abbatt (1892)
"They were able in the autumn to celebrate the first American thanksgiving with good heart. The fortunate discovery, within this generation, of Bradford's ..."

5. The Antiquary (1871)
"KING HENRY V. A public thanksgiving was held on Sunday, the Feast of St. Edward ... Solemnly grand, indeed, must have been the sound of this thanksgiving! ..."

6. An Index to Poetry and Recitations: Being a Practical Reference Manual for by Edith Granger (1918)
"Ballad of the thanksgiving Pilgrim. Birth of Our thanksgiving Day. ... Farmer John's thanksgiving. Farmer's Kitchen before thanksgiving. ..."

7. The Journal of Home Economics by American Home Economics Association (1921)
"thanksgiving, which is held on the last Thursday in November, was instituted by the ... In early colonial days the thanksgiving turkey, it would seem, ..."

8. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature by H.W. Wilson Company (1915)
"Popular triumph of the new school of scene painting, il Cur Opinion 59:103 Ag '16 Entertainment for the thanksgiving holidays. ..."

9. Holy-days and Holidays: A Treasury of Historical Material, Sermons in Full by Edward Mark Deems (1906)
"371 thanksgiving, Reason for 371 thanksgiving Service... 371 thanksgiving Themes... 372 thanksgiving Thoughts . 372 Trouble 372 POETRY Canticle, ..."

10. Bulletin of the New York Public Library by New York Public Library (1904)
"At the Circulation branches the picture bulletins and reading lists were as follows: CHATHAM SQUARE, thanksgiving day bulletins (2), Children of Japan, ..."

11. The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries by John Austin Stevens, Benjamin Franklin DeCosta, Henry Phelps Johnston, Martha Joanna Lamb, Nathan Gillett Pond, William Abbatt (1892)
"They were able in the autumn to celebrate the first American thanksgiving with good heart. The fortunate discovery, within this generation, of Bradford's ..."

12. The Antiquary (1871)
"KING HENRY V. A public thanksgiving was held on Sunday, the Feast of St. Edward ... Solemnly grand, indeed, must have been the sound of this thanksgiving! ..."

13. An Index to Poetry and Recitations: Being a Practical Reference Manual for by Edith Granger (1918)
"Ballad of the thanksgiving Pilgrim. Birth of Our thanksgiving Day. ... Farmer John's thanksgiving. Farmer's Kitchen before thanksgiving. ..."

14. The Journal of Home Economics by American Home Economics Association (1921)
"thanksgiving, which is held on the last Thursday in November, was instituted by the ... In early colonial days the thanksgiving turkey, it would seem, ..."

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