Thanksgivings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An expression of gratitude typically shown during harvest festivals, especially in North America as a celebration at the season's end
2. The act of giving thanks or showing appreciation, often associated with communal gatherings and shared meals
3. A series of occasions designated for expressing gratitude, frequently celebrated in specific cultural contexts with feasting and festivities

Etymology: "Thanksgivings" is the plural of "thanksgiving," a compound of "thanks" and "giving" that dates to Old English, when "thancsiving" meant a grateful offering or act of thanks to God. The noun was sometimes used in the plural in older English, referring to multiple acts of thanksgiving rather than to festivals. The modern North American holiday took its name from the older religious sense. Early English-speaking settlers in North America held days of thanks after good harvests or safe arrivals, and the observances later became a national custom. The plural form appears mainly when speakers refer to several distinct occasions or expressions of gratitude, such as multiple days of thanks in different communities or years.

Synonyms: celebrations, feasts, reunions, gatherings, observances