anniversary

[ an-uh-vur-suh-ree ]

noun

, plural an·ni·ver·sa·ries.

1. the yearly recurrence of the date of a past event:

   the tenth anniversary of their marriage.

2. the celebration or commemoration of such a date.
3. wedding anniversary.

adjective

1. returning or recurring each year; annual.
2. pertaining to an anniversary: : anniv.

   an anniversary gift.

anniversary

/ ˌænɪˈvɜːsərɪ /

noun

1. the date on which an event occurred in some previous year

   a wedding anniversary

2. the celebration of this

adjective

1. of or relating to an anniversary
2. recurring every year, esp on the same date

Word History and Origins

Origin of anniversary¹

1200–50; Middle English anniversarie (< Anglo-French ) < Medieval Latin ( diēs ) anniversāria anniversary (day), Latin anniversārius recurring yearly, equivalent to anni- (combining form of annus year) + vers ( us ) turned, past participle of vertere ( vert- turn + -tus past participle suffix) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of anniversary¹

C13: from Latin anniversārius returning every year, from annus year + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

Mr McConville also criticised the timing of the series for proximity to the anniversary to his mother's death on 1 December.

From BBC

Though she is a teenager now, Emma said "there are still difficult days like anniversaries or birthdays".

From BBC

Memorial services are being held in Birmingham on Thursday to mark the anniversary of the bombings, for which no-one has been held responsible.

From BBC

The 69-year-old screen legend shared his upcoming anniversary in Esquire, recalling how “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body” with past alcohol and drug use.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a battle every hip-hop historian has either tape-traded, downloaded or streamed and, in a sad coincidence, its 30th anniversary was exactly one day before Saafir died.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ceremony
• commemoration
• festival
• holiday
• jubilee