give — to freely transfer the possession of something to someone
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to freely transfer the possession of something to someone
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡɪv/
Example Sentences
- My mom always gives me extra food, saying I'm too skinny.
- The teacher gave us homework on Friday - what a surprise!
- Can you give me directions to the nearest coffee shop?
give
VERB[/ɡɪv/]
to freely transfer the possession of something to someone
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Give derives from Old English giefan, tracing back to Proto-Germanic *geban, ultimately rooted in Indo-European *ghabh- meaning 'to hold' or 'to give'. The word represents one of the most fundamental action verbs in English, expressing the basic human concept of transferring possession or offering something to another.
Breakdown
Old English giefan → Middle English given → Modern English give. The root *ghabh- (to hold/give) underwent regular sound changes through Germanic phonetic shifts, with the initial *g- preserved throughout its evolution from ancient Germanic languages to contemporary English.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom always gives me extra food, saying I'm too skinny.”
“The teacher gave us homework on Friday - what a surprise!”
“Can you give me directions to the nearest coffee shop?”
“She gave him a look that could freeze water.”
“The charity gives food to homeless people every weekend.”
📚Related Words
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