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anniversary

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English

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Etymology

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Etymology tree
Anglo-Norman anniversariebor.
Old French anniversairebor.
Middle French anniversairebor.
Proto-Indo-European *h₂et-
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Indo-European *h₂etnós
Proto-Italic *atnos?
Latin annus
Proto-Indo-European *wert-
Proto-Indo-European *-tós
Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós
Proto-Italic *worssosder.
Latin vorsus
Latin versus
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-os?
Proto-Indo-European *-o-
Proto-Indo-European *-so-
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂so-
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂s(i)yós
Proto-Italic *-āsijos
Proto-Italic *-āsios
Latin -ārius
Classical Latin anniversāriusbor.
Middle English anniversary
English anniversary

    From Middle English anniversary, annyversarie, annyverary, annyversarye, anyversarye, from Anglo-Norman aniversarie, anniversarie and Anglo-Norman, Old French, and Middle French aniversaire, anniversaire (modern French anniversaire) and their etymon Classical Latin anniversārius (“yearly”, in Medieval Latin also used as a noun, meaning “anniversary”, along with the neuter form anniversārium), from annus (“year”) + vertō (“to turn”, formed using its past participial stem, vers-).[1] The verb is from the noun.[2]

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    anniversary (plural anniversaries)

    2. A day that is an exact number of years (to the day) since a given significant event occurred. Often preceded by an ordinal number indicating the number of years. [from late 12th or early 13th c.][1]
      Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war.
      A 'millennium' is a thousand-year anniversary.
      • 2020, Angus Trumble, On Endeavour in Australian Waters‎[1], National Museum of Australia, archived from the original on 20 March 2022:
        To some extent all anniversaries derive their significance from testing, from contemplating this observation, especially when it concerns cultures as radically different as those of Aboriginal Australia before first contact (and since), and of Georgian England.
      • 2026 July 1, Fabiola Cineas, “‘The next 250 years belong to all of us’: Seven activists on rebuilding the US”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎[2], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2 July 2026:
        As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we must seize this moment to build a genuine culture of free expression for all.
      • 2026 August 17, Donald J. Trump, “Presidential Message on the Anniversary of Winning World War II”, in The White House‎[3], archived from the original on 14 August 2026:
        Today, our Nation celebrates the 81st anniversary of Imperial Japan’s unconditional surrender—the moment American might brought the Second World War to its end in complete and total victory.
      1. (especially) Such a day that commemorates a wedding.
        We are celebrating our tenth anniversary today.
    4. (loosely) A day subsequent in time to a given event by some significant period other than a year (especially as prefixed by the amount of time in question). [from late 19th c.][1]
      • 1984 February 27, Laura Lopez, “Guatemala: Never Mind the Tranquil Facade”, in Time‎[4], New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 11 September 2026:
        The occasion was the six-month anniversary of the Aug. 8 coup that brought General Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores to power.
      • 2002 March 14, “Politics this week”, in The Economist‎[5], London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 5 December 2019:
        In a thinly veiled threat to Saddam Hussein, President George Bush marked the six-month anniversary of September 11th by reiterating America's commitment to prevent rogue countries obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
      • 2006, DB Schrock, Soulmonger Dot Com, page 28:
        Jonathon proposed to his [Jess's] mom on their three-month anniversary of meeting and married her on their fourth.

    Usage notes

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    • Despite the loose usage, phrases with an ordinal number preceding anniversary are typically understood as being in years. For example, 4th anniversary or fourth anniversary is understood as being four years after the event being remembered.

    Synonyms

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    Hyponyms

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    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • Tok Pisin: aniveseri

    Translations

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    Adjective

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    anniversary (comparative more anniversary, superlative most anniversary)

    1. (rare after 18th c.) Lasting for or completed in a year. [from early 17th c.][1]
      • 1629, Archibald Symmer, “Decad. 2. Fl. 1. Of Time.”, in A Spirituall Posie for Zion. Or Two Decades of Observations, Theologicall and Philosophicall., London: […] [Miles Flesher] for W[illiam] Sheares, →OCLC, page [32]:
        The Sunne by his anniverſary revolution maketh the day and the yeare; the Moone by her monethly courſe the Moneths and Quarters; […]
      • [1660], Richard Burney, Κέρδιστον Δῶρον [Kerdiston Doron]. King Charles the Second […] Presented to the Right Honourable Houses of Parliament in Their Next Session, […], London: […] I. Redmayne, for the Authour, →OCLC, page 20; quoted in “Anniversary, a. and sb.”, in James A[ugustus] H[enry] Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, 1884–1928, →OCLC, page 341, column 1:
        Their applauded Government is like a Turn-coat, and is Anniversary.
      • 1714, Tho[mas] Hearne, “Of the Philosophers and Others Who Invented or Introduced into Greece the Liberal Arts and Sciences”, in Ductor Historicus: or, A Short System of Universal History, and an Introduction to the Study of It. […], London: […] H. Clark, for Tim[othy] Childe, […], →OCLC, book III (An Account of the Ancient Monarchies, Which Preceeded the Birth of Jesus Christ), page 410:
        Æſculapius is fabled to be the Son of Apollo, and to have this Art given him by his Father; intimating that the Anniverſary Revolution of the Sun purifies the Air, and gives Health to Men, which Æſculapius probably obſerv’d with more than ordinary Wiſdom.
      • 2009, James A. Hyerczyk, “Time”, in Pattern, Price & Time: Using Gann Theory in Technical Analysis, 2nd edition, Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, pages 210–211:
        Variations of the anniversary cycle occur when this cycle is divided into ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, and ¾ time periods (Figure 11.8). Since an anniversary cycle is approximately 365 days, a ¼ division is 90–91 calendar days, a ⅓ division is 120–122 calendar days, a ½ division is 180–182 calendar days, a ⅔ division is 240–244 calendar days, and a ¾ division is 270–274 calendar days.
    2. (obsolete) Synonym of yearly (“occurring once a year; recurring annually”). [mid 16th – late 19th c.][1]
      • 1603, Plutarch, “What Passions and Maladies Be Worse, Those of the Soule or Those of the Bodie?”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 314:
        [L]ike as by yeerly acceſſe and anniverſarie revolutions, the forcible vigor of the peſtilence returneth for to irritate and provoke all Aſia; […]
      • 1712 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “THURSDAY, July 17, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 433; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 139:
        By means of this anniversary carnival, which lasted about a week, the commonwealths were recruited from time to time, and supplied with their respective subjects.
        The spelling has been modernized.
      • 1812 January 1, John Coakley Lettsom, “Letter LXXIII. On Prisons.”, in The Gentleman’s Magazine: and Historical Chronicle, volume LXXXII (V, New Series), part I, London: […] Nichols, Son, and Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 34, column 2:
        Humanity, contemplating the numerous munificent actions of this Corporation, cherishes a hope, that, in the anniversary revolution of the great City Officers, some Alderman or Sheriff may possess the patriotism and courage of effecting substantial good, to the accomplishment of which great mental exertion is requisite.
      • 1897 April 26, “Brooklyn Alumni Celebrate. Fifth Anniversary of the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy.”, in Caswell A. Mayo, Thomas J. Keenan, editors, American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record […], volume XXX, number 8 (373 overall), New York, N.Y.: American Druggist Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 236, column 3:
        He [John F. Golding] congratulated them on the success of their anniversary gathering and predicted still greater success for the future.

    Usage notes

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    Verb

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    anniversary (third-person singular simple present anniversaries, present participle anniversarying, simple past and past participle anniversaried) (informal)

    1. (transitive, somewhat rare after 19th c.) To mark, commemorate, or celebrate the anniversary of (something). [from mid 19th c.][2]
      • 1841 March 27, “Misplaced Pride”, in William Chambers, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, volume X, number 478, London: […] W[illiam] S[omerville] Orr and Co., […], published 1842, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 73, column 3:
        Most men, and most parties, and most nations, can gain no triumph over their opponents, without fêting and anniversarying it for ever after.
      • 1963 November 19, John Crosby, “John’s ‘Family’”, in Chillicothe Gazette, volume 164, number 273, Chillicothe, Oh., →OCLC, page 4, column 7:
        Then every day there is a great event anniversaried, which sets our pulse to pounding with pride. “Today is the anniversary of the battle of Agincourt in 1415 and battle of Balaclava in 1854.” The other day we celebrated the anniversary of our cousins, you know, and we like to keep the memory of our departed kinfolk alive.
      • 2011, Margaret Roach, “The Giddiness Wears Off”, in And I Shall Have Some Peace There […], New York, N.Y.: Grand Central Publishing, →ISBN, pages 171–172:
        Yes, the giddiness has worn off—it is no longer my “new” life, but just my life, now that I have completed not merely a second spring but half a second year, now that I have anniversaried so many of what last year were first-time experiences, the thresholds or rites of passage everyone was watching to see me cross (wondering if I’d stumble and head on “home” to the city).
    2. (intransitive) To mark, commemorate, or celebrate an anniversary, especially a wedding anniversary. [from late 19th c.][2]
      • 1896 June 6, “Short Items”, in Geo[rge] Martin, J. C. Warner, editors, The Methodist, volume V, number 23, Sydney, N.S.W.: Wesleyan Book Depot, →OCLC, page 6, column 4:
        Lugar Brae anniversaried recently. Revs. G. Martin and C. W. Graham were the preachers. At the social Mr. Caleb Corbett was presented with a silver-plated inkstand as a marriage souvenir.
      • 1953 May 8, Ruth Earle Jones, “Salley Sidelights”, in Edward H[owell] Sims, editor, The Times and Democrat, volume 96, number 112, Orangeburg, S.C.: Sims Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 16, column 5:
        May is such a nice month to be born, wedded, or anniversarying in.
      • 1984 June 11, “Passing Parade”, in The Galveston Daily News, volume 142, number 62, Galveston, Tex.: Galveston Newspapers, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2-A, column 2:
        Anniversarying today are Nora and Francis Wilson, who are celebrating 59 years of marriage.
      • 2012 June 18, @thetimtracker, Twitter‎[6] (post):
        Sorry buddy, Jenn and I are anniversarying tonight!
        (Can we archive this URL?)
    3. (transitive, business, originally and chiefly US) To pass the anniversary of (something), in the context of a company’s yearly financial report. [from 1990s][2]
      • 1996 July 1, Don Parker, quotee, “A Cash-Laden Hedge Fund Puts a Spin on Value: Bargain Hunting”, in Barron’s, volume 76, number 27, Chicopee, Mass.: Dow Jones & Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 22, column 4:
        In ’96, there are a number of good things happening. […] Obviously, too, you are anniversarying the effect of the devaluation of the peso.
      • 1999 May 3, Joseph Chang, “Major Chemicals Q1 Earnings Beat Wall Street Estimates […]”, in Chemical Market Reporter, volume 255, number 18, New York, N.Y.: Schnell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 20, column 1:
        While the Asian recovery has not been robust, Mr. [John] Roberts says that “almost all companies have now anniversaried the worst of their Asian results, so the comparisons in Asian operations are up and will continue to be up for some time.”
      • 2006 January 13, Maureen Tkacik, “Markdown-onomics”, in New York‎[7], New York, N.Y.: New York Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 18 January 2008:
        A successful sale one year forces a store manager to “anniversary” those numbers the next year and every year for eternity, because the one number retail managers care about more than any other is the “comparable store sales” increase or “comp,” the monthly percentage with a plus or minus sign in front of it that compares the selling season this year with the same one last year.
      • 2017 November 28, Polly Mosendz, Kim Bhasin, “Gun sales rebound thanks to Black Friday blitz”, in Laredo Morning Times, 136th year, number 162, Laredo, Tex.: Hearst Newspaper II, →ISSN, →OCLC, page A9, columns 4–5:
        Edward Stack, chief executive of Dick’s Sporting Goods, acknowledged the nexus of the 2016 election of Donald Trump and poor sales on an earnings call this month: “I think that gets a little bit better because as we’ve anniversaried the election now,” he said. “I don’t know if it gets better, but it gets less bad.”

    References

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    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 “anniversary, n. and adj.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 “anniversary, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

    Further reading

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