# 'Gift' is a noun. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209 "2015-10-30T22:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/21 "2015-10-31T20:44:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The OP is a few centuries late to the party. The OED shows it’s been used as a noun since before 1627. > > Did you look this up in any dictionary before claiming it’s wrong? He is saying it IS a noun and IS NOT a verb. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/22 "2015-10-31T20:57:03Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Seems like a new usage to me, at least in my experience. > > I wonder if it comes about from “present” being another word for “gift” and “present” with a slightly different pronunciation meaning to give a gift. So "gift’ gets the same usage as “present” whether it should or not. > > I also suspect there is internet jargon to blame here. According to the OED, “gift” as a verb has been around for 400 years. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/23 "2015-10-31T21:05:41Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Well, that _is_ [the primary definition of “give.”](https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=give) Not the primary: just the oldest. I can give you a cold, but it’s not a present. I can give you fifty dollars as a loan; that’s not a gift either. " Gift" is less ambiguous. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/24 "2015-10-31T22:16:37Z")
In English, you can verb anything. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/25 "2015-10-31T22:23:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > According to the OED, “gift” as a verb has been around for 400 years. Certainly it’s been around a long while in the sense of someone being gifted with talent/skills. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/26 "2015-10-31T22:27:55Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Certainly it’s been around a long while in the sense of someone being gifted with talent/skills. Ah yes, talent “gifted by God.” That does go well with the idea that it celebrates the gift, and the Giver. You are not good or significant; the greatest thing about you isn’t really of or from _you_ at all. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/27 "2015-10-31T22:46:53Z")
The one that really grates on me is “executive produced by”. You might as well say Joe Biden is vice-presidenting the country, and no one would be that stupid! Surely the great minds in Hollywood should know this. I don’t believe it’s done for the sake of brevity either. It’s just as quick and easy and takes up no less space on the screen to do it correctly. To wit: Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg vs. Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/28 "2015-10-31T23:11:43Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Ah yes, talent “gifted by God.” That does go well with the idea that it celebrates the gift, and the Giver. You are not good or significant; the greatest thing about you isn’t really of or from _you_ at all. Wow. That’s a lot of extrapolation from almost nothing! Also, being “gifted” is using the word as an adjective, not a verb. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/29 "2015-10-31T23:20:21Z")
“God gifted Samson with extraordinary strength.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/30 "2015-10-31T23:28:48Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The one that really grates on me is “executive produced by”. You might as well say Joe Biden is vice-presidenting the country, and no one would be that stupid! Surely the great minds in Hollywood should know this. I don’t believe it’s done for the sake of brevity either. It’s just as quick and easy and takes up no less space on the screen to do it correctly. To wit: > > Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg > > vs. > > Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg Everyone should know the correct form: Executively Produced by Steven Spielberg. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/31 "2015-10-31T23:30:54Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > “God gifted Samson with extraordinary strength.” Phrasing from the Bible is not a good indicate of how people speak today. The term “gifted” is most often used an adjective. If “gift” is a verb, then surely “gifted” is the past tense, but it doesn’t have to imply “from God”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209/32 "2015-10-31T23:32:22Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > But I can give you something that isn’t a gift. I can give you your paycheck. I can give you the salt and pepper and expect it back when you’re done. I can even give you a hard time. 😉 > > “Gift” as a verb means one and only one very specific thing: to make a present of something. It’s useful. I agree. Gift, as a verb, has a distinct enough meaning from give to justify its use. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-is-a-noun/736209.md?page=1)