þanc

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þankaz, whence also Old Frisian thonk, Old Saxon thank, Old Dutch thank, Old High German danc, and Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌲𐌺𐍃 (þagks). Old Norse þǫkk, though a feminine ō-stem, is clearly related; probably it was originally a collective of PGmc *þankaz.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /θɑnk/, [θɑŋk]

Noun

þanc m

  1. thanks, gratitude
  2. satisfaction, pleasure
  3. thought

Usage notes

  • Unlike the modern word "thank," sense 1 is usually, though far from always, in the singular.
  • Sense 2 is only attested in a few set phrases such as sumum menn tō þances (“to someone's satisfaction”).
  • Sense 3 is rare in prose. There the related term ġeþōht is usual.

Declension

Strong a-stem:

singular plural
nominative þanc þancas
accusative þanc þancas
genitive þances þanca
dative þance þancum

Derived terms

Descendants

  • English: thank