Monday, August 13, 2007

Definition: Gift

–noun
1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. the act of giving.
3. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: Those extra points he got in the game were a total gift.
4. a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent: the gift of saying the right thing at the right time.
–verb (used with object)
5. to present with as a gift; bestow gifts upon; endow with.
6. to present (someone) with a gift: just the thing to gift the newlyweds.
[Origin: 1125–75; ME < ON gift; c. OE gift (ME yift) marriage gift; akin to give]

—Related forms
giftless, adjective

—Synonyms 1. donation, contribution, offering, benefaction, endowment, bounty, boon, largess, alms, gratuity, tip, premium, allowance, subsidy, bequest, legacy, inheritance, dowry. See present2. 4. faculty, aptitude, capability, bent, forte, genius, turn, knack.