To let someone have something, or to provide something such as help, information, or a chance.
From Old English *giefan* or *gifan* meaning “to give, bestow,” from a very old Germanic root. It is related to many similar verbs in Germanic languages. The core idea of transferring or granting something has stayed stable for centuries.
‘Give’ is at the heart of social life — gifts, favors, attention, even giving up. Many languages have a basic ‘give’ verb, but English uses it in an unusually wide range of expressions, making it a kind of Swiss Army knife of verbs.
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