thank

[thangk] /θæŋk/

verb (used with object)

to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to:

She thanked them for their hospitality.

thank God, (used interjectionally to express relief, thankfulness, etc.)

Also, thank goodness, thank heaven.

noun

Usually, thanks. a grateful feeling or acknowledgment of a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed by words or otherwise:

to return a borrowed book with thanks.

interjection

thanks, (used as an informal expression of gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment).

Idioms

have oneself to thank, to be personally to blame; have the responsibility:

The citizens have only themselves to thank for corruption in government.

no thanks to, (used to express annoyance) not owing to:

I caught my flight after all, no thanks to you.

thanks to, (used to express gratitude or blame) because of; owing to: Thanks to good organization and hard work, the benefit concert was a great success.

The case went poorly thanks to the lawyer's incompetence.

thank you, (used interjectionally to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment, as for a gift, favor, service, or courtesy).

Origin

before 900; (noun) Middle English: favorable thought, goodwill, gratitude, (in singular and plural) expression of thanks; Old English thanc (in singular) expression of thanks, orig., thought, thoughtfulness; (v.) Middle English thanken, Old English thancian (cognate with Dutch, German danken); akin to think¹

Related forms

thanker, noun

rethank, verb (used with object)

unthanked, adjective

unthanking, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for thanks to

thank

/θæŋk/

verb (transitive)

to convey feelings of gratitude to

to hold responsible: he has his creditors to thank for his bankruptcy

used in exclamations of relief: thank goodness, thank God

I'll thank you to, used ironically to intensify a command, request, etc: I'll thank you to mind your own business

Word Origin

Old English thancian; related to Old Frisian thankia, Old Norse thakka, Old Saxon, Old High German thancōn

Word Origin and History for thanks to

thank

Old English þancian "to give thanks," from Proto-Germanic *thankojan (cf. Old Saxon thancon, Old Norse þakka, Danish takke, Old Frisian thankia, Middle Dutch, German danken "to thank"), from *thankoz "thought, gratitude," from PIE root *tong- "to think, feel." For sense evolution, cf. related Old English noun þanc, þonc, originally "thought," but by c.1000 "good thoughts, gratitude." The whole group is from the same root as think (q.v.). In ironical use, "to blame," from 1550s. To thank (someone) for nothing is recorded from 1703. Related: Thanked; thanking.

Idioms and Phrases with thanks to

thanks to

On account of, because of, as in Thanks to your help, we'll be done on time. This phrase alludes to gratitude being due to someone or something. It is also put negatively, no thanks to, meaning “without the benefit of help from,” as in We finally found your house, no thanks to the confusing map you drew. This usage, first recorded in 1633, is about a hundred years older than the first term, recorded only in 1737.

thank

also see:

give thanks for small blessings