[ad. L. anniversāri-us returning yearly, f. ann-us year + vers-us turned, a turning + -āri-us: see -ARY. Cf. advers-ārius, f. advers-us. Used in med.L. subst. as anniversāria (sc. dies), and anniversārium, both ecclesiastical terms, whence also the subst. use is the earliest in Eng. Cf. Fr. anniversaire.]
A. adj.
1. ‘Returning with the revolution of the year; annual; yearly’ (J.); returning or commemorated at the same date in succeeding years.
The word was at first ecclesiastical: ‘Anniversary days were of old those days, wherein the Martyrdoms or Deaths of Saints were celebrated yearly in the Church; or the days whereon, at every years end, Men were wont to pray for the Souls of their deceased Friends, according to the continued Custom of Roman Catholicks.’ Blount, Law Dict., 1691.
1552. Huloet, Annyuersary, or that which yerlye runneth at one tyme, Anniversarius.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commonw. (1836), 113. This day (which they keep anniversarie).
1651. Wittie, Primrose’s Pop. Err., IV. xvi. 271. Sick of an anniversary disease.
1666. Phil. Trans., I. 110. Of Periodical and Anniversary Winds and their Causes.
1696. J. Aubrey, Misc. (1721), 7. On that day Anniversary his Father and Mother died.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 433, ¶ 4. This Anniversary Carnival lasted a Week.
1858. Cdl. Wiseman, 4 Last Popes, 403. Such were the three days, once called glorious in France, commemorated by anniversary festivities.
† 2. loosely, Annual, repeated each year. Obs.
1653. A. Wilson, James I., 156. Giving … anniversary stipends for connivency.
1685. Stillingf., Orig. Brit., Pref. 60. Carrying away their anniversary Prey beyond the Seas.
1738. J. Keill, Anim. Œcon., Pref. 23. The anniversary Vicissitudes of the Sun.
† 3. Enduring for or completed in a year. Obs. [So in med.L. anniversārium is used for annāle.]
1629. Symmer, Spir. Posie, II. i. 32. The Sunne by his anniversary revolution maketh the day and the yeare.
1660. Burney, Κέρδ. Δῶρον, 20. Their applauded Government is like a Turn-coat, and is Anniversary.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 410. The anniversary Revolution of the Sun purifies the Air.
4. [attrib. use of sb.] Of or pertaining to the celebration of an anniversary.
1654. Gayton, in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 299. A Goddard or an Anniversary Spice-Bowle.
1883. Chr. World, 3 Aug., 575/2. The anniversary services … were held last Sunday.
B. sb. [for anniversary day, service, etc.]
1. The day in any year which agrees in date with a particular day in a former year; hence, the yearly return of any remarkable date, the day on which some event of ecclesiastical, national, or personal interest, is annually celebrated; formerly called year-day, mind-day, mune-day.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 22. Ine anniuersaries, þet is ine munedawes of ower leoue vreond.
1482. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxlvi. 311. Ones in the yere at his annyuersarye his terement to be holden in the moost honest wyse.
1561. Veron, Hunt. Purg., 25. Yeares minds other wyse called anniversaries.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 157. The day we have appointed, viz. the Anniversary of S. John Baptist beheaded.
1695. Luttrell, Brief Rel., III. 460. This being the anniversary of King Williams coronation.
1860. Sat. Rev., No. 249. 136/1. Will any one undertake to promise that a Protestant regiment of Volunteers would not wear orange ribbons on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne…?
2. The celebration that takes place at such annually recurring dates; orig. a mass or religious service in memory of some one on the day of his death, also called ‘year’s mind.’
1447. Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys, 33. That ye for me wil preyn specyally, And therto my annyversarye kepyn yerly.
1539. Bury Wills, 138. My executors shall keape an yearelie obite or anniuersarie the space of v yeares.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 427. To keepe an aniuersarie or yeares minde, Exequi annua vota.
1637. Heywood, R. King, II. iv. This Anniversary doe we yeerely keepe In memory of our late victories.
1883. Chr. World, 3 Aug., 515/4. Large collections in connection with Sunday-School anniversaries continue to be reported.
† 3. R. C. Ch. Sometimes used for the annale or commemorative service performed daily for a year after the death of a person. Obs. See ANNALS 3.
1612. Dekker, If not Good, Wks. 1873, III. 285. Chant Anthems, Aniuersaries, Dirges.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 190. An Anniversary … is celebrated not only once, viz., at the end of the year … but ought to be said every day throughout the whole year for the soul of the deceas’d.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Anniversary is more particularly used for the annale, or mass rehearsed daily for the space of a year after a person’s death.
† 4. A magazine or review published annually; an ‘annual.’ Obs. rare.
1829. Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 140. I am sorry your anniversary has not answered … and indeed think the plan of a monthly much better than that of a yearly miscellany.
