# thank

Pronunciation: say "THANK" /θæŋk/

## Verb

1. To show or express gratitude to someone for something, in words or through a gesture or reward.
   - Simple: To tell or show someone you are grateful for something they did.
   - _He thanked the volunteers for the long hours they spent at the shelter._
   - _Remember to thank your hosts before you leave the dinner party._
2. To hold someone or something responsible, especially for something negative; to blame, used chiefly with "for."
   - Simple: To say someone or something caused a bad result, often in an angry or joking way.
   - _You can thank your brother for the broken window in the garage._
   - _If the project collapses, the board will have only its own poor planning to thank._
3. To request that someone do something, occurring in the frame "will thank someone to," usually as a sharp command or pointed criticism.
   - Simple: To firmly tell someone to do something, usually when you are annoyed with them.
   - _I'll thank you to remember who pays your wages around here._
   - _Now that you've had your say, I'll thank you to let someone else speak for a change._

## Noun

4. Singular of thanks: an expression or feeling of gratitude, or goodwill shown toward someone. *(obsolete)* — singular of thanks (“an expression of appreciation or gratitude; grateful feelings or thoughts; favour, goodwill, graciousness”)
   - Simple: Singular of thanks. An older word for a single word or feeling of gratitude.

## Verb

5. To offer expressions of gratitude, without naming a particular recipient. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To say or show that you feel grateful.

## Origin

**Meaning 4** — From Middle English thank and Old English þanc (gratitude, goodwill, and also mind or thought), from Proto-Germanic *þankaz, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root *teng- meaning 'to perceive' or 'to think'. It is related to German Dank, Dutch dank and Swedish tack.
**Meanings 1–3, 5** — This comes from Middle English "thanken" and Old English "þancian" (to thank), from Proto-Germanic "*þankōną," formed from "*þankaz" (see etymology 1) plus a verb-forming suffix. It is related to German "danken," Dutch "danken," and Swedish "tacka."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/thank (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).