Added 6 October 2026
give
/ˈɡɪv/ verb
In Latin: do, perhibeo, exhibeo Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about give at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere. To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
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To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
-
To make a present or gift of.
I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.
noun
noun
- Alternative form of gyve.
Origin
From Middle English given, yeven, yiven, ȝiven, from merger of Old English ġefan, ġeofan, ġiefan, ġifan, ġiofan, ġyfan (“to give”) and Old Norse gefa (“to give”), from Proto-Germanic *gebaną (“to give”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰebʰ- (“to give; to take”). Displaced yive, from Middle English yiven, of the same origin, from influence of Old Norse gefa.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)