birthday
/ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
noun
Origin
Old English
byrde — birth
Overview
Meaning Now
- The anniversary of the day on which a person was born.
- The day on which a person is born; date of birth.
Literal older meaning
The day of one's birth.
Language path
Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
birthdai
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
In early Germanic and Christian traditions, the 'birthday' of a saint or martyr was often celebrated on the day of their death (the 'heavenly birthday'), as it marked their entry into eternal life. The celebration of a person's literal birth anniversary became more secularized and common among the general population in later centuries.
Evolution
- Old English
byrd
“birth”
- Middle English
birthe day
“the day of birth”
Transitioning from separate words to a compound.
- Early Modern English
birthday
“anniversary of birth”
Standardized spelling established.
Connections
Word parts
birth
root
the act of being born
day
root
a period of twenty-four hours
Related across languages
Old Norse
burðr
birth
German
Geburtstag
birthday
Related words
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Related to birthday
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.