Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gift
Gift
,Noun.
[OE. ]
gift
, yift
, yeft
, AS. gift
, fr. gifan
to give; akin to D. & G. gift
, Icel. gift
, gipt
, Goth. gifts
(in comp.). See Give
, Verb.
T.
1.
Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering.
Shall I receive by
I can command ?
gift
, what of my own, . . .I can command ?
Milton.
2.
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing;
as, the office is in the
. gift
of the President3.
A bribe; anything given to corrupt.
Neither take a
gift
, for a gift
doth blind the eyes of the wise. Deut. xvi. 19.
4.
Some exceptional inborn quality or characteristic; a striking or special talent or aptitude; power; faculty;
as, the
gift
of wit; a gift
for speaking.5.
(Law)
A voluntary transfer of real or personal property, without any consideration. It can be perfected only by deed, or in case of personal property, by an actual delivery of possession.
Bouvier.
Burrill.
Syn. – Present; donation; grant; largess; benefaction; boon; bounty; gratuity; endowment; talent; faculty.
–
Gift
, Present
, Donation
. These words, as here compared, denote something gratuitously imparted to another out of one’s property. A gift is something given whether by a superior or an inferior, and is usually designed for the relief or benefit of him who receives it. A present is ordinarly from an equal or inferior, and is always intended as a compliment or expression of kindness. Donation is a word of more dignity, denoting, properly, a gift of considerable value, and ordinarly a gift made either to some public institution, or to an individual on account of his services to the public; as, a donation to a hospital, a charitable society, or a minister. Gift
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Gifted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gifting
.] To endow with some power or faculty. See
gift
{4}. He was
gifted
. . . with philosophical sagacity. I. Taylor.
Webster 1828 Edition
Gift
GIFT
,Noun.
1.
The act of giving or conferring.2.
The right or power of giving or bestowing. The prince has the gift of many lucrative offices.3.
An offering or oblation. If thou bring thy gift to the altar. Matt.5.
4.
A reward. Let thy gifts be to thyself. Dan.5.
5.
A bribe; any thing given to corrupt the judgment. Neither take a gift; for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise. Deut.16.
6.
Power; faculty; some quality or endowment conferred by the author of our nature; as the gift of wit; the gift of ridicule.GIFT
,Verb.
T.