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

As the second anniversary of Miss Edwards's death approaches, Mr Edwards said this development made it even tougher to deal with.

From BBC

The three-day event, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in April, draws nearly 200,000 people to the streets of Long Beach, contributing an estimated $63 million to the region’s economy annually.

From Los Angeles Times

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has recorded his own version of rap track Get Low alongside US star T-Pain, in tribute to his wife Priscilla Chan for their "dating anniversary".

From BBC

"Get Low was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary," the Meta boss explained on his own platform Instagram.

From BBC

Crediting his recovery to a positive attitude, his doctors and family, he returned to acting shortly after the one-year anniversary of the accident and starred this year in the third season of “Mayor of Kingstown.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ceremony
• commemoration
• festival
• holiday
• jubilee