| 释义 |
thanksgiving|ˈθæŋksˌgɪvɪŋ|
[f. thanks, pl. of thank n. + giving vbl. n.]
1. a. The giving of thanks; the expression of thankfulness or gratitude; esp. the act of giving thanks to God.
1533Tindale Supper of Lord E iv b, One or other Psalme or prayer of thankes giuyng in the mother tongue. 1539Bible (Great) 1 Tim. iv. 4 For all the creatures of God are good, and nothing to be refused, yf it be receaued with thankesgeuynge. 1562Winȝet Cert. Tract. iii. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 29 Gyf sic zeirlie memorial in blythnes and thankisgeifing wes haldin. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 193, I cannot stay thanks-giuing. 1658Whole Duty Man v. §8 The fifth part of prayer is thanksgiving; that is, the praising and blessing God for all his mercies. 1842Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. ix. 159 Think how full of thanksgiving were my prayers last night.
b. A public celebration, with religious services, held as a solemn acknowledgement of Divine favours; also, a day set apart for this purpose; spec. in U.S., Thanksgiving Day (see 3 b).
1641Nicholas Papers (Camden) 10 It was resolved that there shalbe on y⊇ 7th of September next a publique thanksgiving for this good accord betweene y⊇ 2 nacions. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 217 Publick Thanksgivings were Ordered to be given to God for this Victory. 1760J. Adams Diary 26 Nov., Night before Thanksgiving. 1869Mrs. Stowe Oldtown Folks xxvii, Great as the preparations were for the dinner, everything was so contrived that not a soul in the house should be kept from the morning service of Thanksgiving. 1930J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel i. 87 By Thanksgiving Mac had beaten his way to Sacramento. 1981Nordic Skiing Jan. 50/1 The resort is situated at 7,000 feet..with a ski season extending from Thanksgiving to mid-May.
2. An act or expression of thanks; esp. a form of words, a prayer or religious service used to render thanks for Divine benefits.
General Thanksgiving, the first of the forms of thanksgiving in the Book of Common Prayer, that for the blessings of life in general. Great Thanksgiving, in early and oriental liturgies: see quot. 1708–22.
1535Coverdale Ps. xxxix. [xl.] 3 He hath put a new songe in my mouth, euen a thankesgeuynge vnto oure God. 1552Bk. Com. Prayer (heading), The Thankes geuing of Women after Childe birth. 1662Ibid., Prayers & Thanksgivings upon several occasions... A General Thanksgiving. 1708–22J. Bingham Chr. Antiq. xv. iii. (1845) 770 After this the priest went on with the εὐχαριστία properly so called, that is the great thanksgiving to God for all his mercies, both of creation, providence and redemption. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 185 The ministers selected from that liturgy such prayers and thanksgivings as were likely to be least offensive to the people.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1641Evelyn Diary Aug., The next Sunday was the thanksgiving sermons perform'd in Col. Goreing's Regiment. 1814Southey Carmen Triumph. xvi, With one consent, The high thanksgiving strain to heaven is sent,..Glory to God! Deliverance for Mankind! a1859Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiii. (1861) V. 17 They had still in their ears the thanksgiving sermons and thanksgiving anthems. 1902I. Hamilton Let. 8 June in R. S. Churchill Winston S. Churchill (1969) II. Compan. i. 145 We have just had our Thanksgiving Service. 1923Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 338 On the 14th a great thanksgiving-service was held in the Cathedral.
b. Thanksgiving Day, a day set apart for public thanksgiving for Divine goodness; spec. in the United States, an annual festival religious and social, now appointed by proclamation and celebrated (since 1941) on the fourth Thursday in November; also in Canada, celebrated on the second Monday in October; Thanksgiving dinner U.S., a dinner, usu. consisting of traditional dishes, served on Thanksgiving Day; Thanksgiving turkey U.S., a turkey served as a traditional part of a Thanksgiving dinner.
The first celebration was held by the Plymouth colony in 1621, in thankfulness for their first harvest in America after a year of struggle and privation, and the usage became general in New England. After the Revolution, it extended to the Middle States, and later to the West; after the Civil War gradually to the South. Its national observance has been annually recommended by the President since 1863.
1674J. Josselyn Voy. New Eng. 214 Towards night I returned to Boston again, the next day being *Thanksgiving day, on Fryday the Tenth day we weighed Anchor. 1704Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) V. 460 Sir Christopher Wrenn is erecting a throne in St. Pauls cathedral for her majestie to sitt in on the thanksgiving day. 1714S. Sewall Diary 25 Nov., Thanks-giving day; very cold. 1844Whittier Pumpkin iii, Ah! on Thanksgiving day..When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board The old broken links of affection restored. 1903Daily Chron. 6 Nov. 5/1 Thanksgiving Day long remained an institution peculiar to New England, but it has been observed annually in New York State since 1817.
1830Workingman's Gaz. (Woodstock, Vermont) 1 Dec. 78/2 They have added to the comfort and happiness of those, whose scanty pittance would hardly allow them to enjoy the luxuries of *Thanksgiving dinner. a1892W. Whitman Daybks. & Notebks. (1978) I. 89 Took Thanksgiving dinner there Nov 26 '80. 1981Washington Post 22 Nov. k 1/3 Thanksgiving dinner starts with an enormous glut of oysters.
1829Virginia Herald (Fredericksburg) 25 Apr. 4/1 (heading) A *Thanksgiving Turkey. 1960American Home Nov. 50 Who should know better how to roast a Thanksgiving turkey or bake a mince pie than the women of early America. 1981Washington Post 26 Nov. b1/1 Such a small Thanksgiving turkey. |