gift

n. [ OE. gift, yift, yeft, AS. gift, fr. gifan to give; akin to D. & G. gift, Icel. gift, gipt, Goth. gifts (in comp.). See Give, v. t. ] 1. Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, . . .
I can command ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing; as, the office is in the gift of the President. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A bribe; anything given to corrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise. Deut. xvi. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Some exceptional inborn quality or characteristic; a striking or special talent or aptitude; power; faculty; as, the gift of wit; a gift for speaking. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) A voluntary transfer of real or personal property, without any consideration. It can be perfected only by deed, or in case of personal property, by an actual delivery of possession. Bouvier. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gift rope (Naut), a rope extended to a boat for towing it; a guest rope.

Syn. -- Present; donation; grant; largess; benefaction; boon; bounty; gratuity; endowment; talent; faculty. -- Gift, Present, Donation. These words, as here compared, denote something gratuitously imparted to another out of one's property. A gift is something given whether by a superior or an inferior, and is usually designed for the relief or benefit of him who receives it. A present is ordinarly from an equal or inferior, and is always intended as a compliment or expression of kindness. Donation is a word of more dignity, denoting, properly, a gift of considerable value, and ordinarly a gift made either to some public institution, or to an individual on account of his services to the public; as, a donation to a hospital, a charitable society, or a minister. [ 1913 Webster ]