thanks·giv·ing

[thangks-giv-ing]
noun
1.
the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
2.
an expression of thanks, especially to God.
3.
a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
4.
a day set apart for giving thanks to God.
5.
( initial capital letter ) Thanksgiving Day.

Origin:
1525–35; thank + -s3 + giving

pre-Thanks·giv·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To thanksgiving
00:10
Thanksgiving is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Collins
World English Dictionary
thanksgiving (ˈθæŋksˌɡɪvɪŋ, US θæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the act of giving thanks
2.  a.  an expression of thanks to God
 b.  a public act of religious observance or a celebration in acknowledgment of divine favours

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

thanksgiving
1530s, "the giving of thanks," from thanks (n.) + giving. The noun thanks is attested from mid-14c., from the verb thank. In the specific sense of "public celebration acknowledging divine favors" thanksgiving dates from 1632 (the first one in America was held October 1621
by Plymouth Colony Pilgrims in appreciation of assistance from members of the Massasoit tribe and celebration of the first harvest); though Thanksgiving Day itself is not attested until 1674.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
After dinner the whole family went to our church for a service of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving dinners at our house are pretty weird, he says.
For some minutes there was great rejoicing, and thanksgiving, and wild scenes
  of ecstasy.
Thanksgiving isn't officially over until the leftovers are gone.
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