from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gift \Gift\, n. [OE. gift, yift, yeft, AS. gift, fr. gifan to
give; akin to D. & G. gift, Icel. gift, gipt, Goth. gifts (in
comp.). See {Give}, v. t.]
1. Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one
person to another without compensation; a present; an
offering.
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Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, . . .
I can command ? --Milton.
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2. The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing; as, the
office is in the gift of the President.
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3. A bribe; anything given to corrupt.
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Neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes
of the wise. --Deut. xvi.
19.
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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.
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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.
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{Gift rope} (Naut), a rope extended to a boat for towing it;
a guest rope.
Syn: Present; donation; grant; largess; benefaction; boon;
bounty; gratuity; endowment; talent; faculty.
Usage: {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.
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