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

To marvel at my 30th anniversary X-Men Hologram Set — which is still miraculously sealed!

From Salon

Senegal is due to mark the 80th anniversary of the shootings on Sunday.

From BBC

Simon, who has two years left on his current contract, is six months away from celebrating his 16th anniversary at Harrogate.

From BBC

Vasquez has now been drug-free for more than a decade, and this year marks the couple’s 19th anniversary.

From Los Angeles Times

The hits of Scotland's biggest boyband are to be turned into a new musical to mark the 50th anniversary of their first number one hit next year.

From BBC

Related Words

• ceremony
• commemoration
• festival
• holiday
• jubilee