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

Declension of þanc (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	þanc	þancas
accusative	þanc	þancas
genitive	þances	þanca
dative	þance	þancum

Derived terms

• ġeþanc
• Gode þanc
• orþanc
• þanc dōn
• þances
• þancian
• þenċan
• unþanc

Descendants

• English: thank