[thanks] n pl [pl. of ME thank, fr. OE thanc thought, gratitude; akin to OHG dank gratitude, L tongere to know] (bef. 12c) 1: kindly or grateful thoughts: gratitude
2: an expression of gratitude "return ~ before the meal"--often used in an utterance containing no verb and serving as a courteous and somewhat informal expression of gratitude "many ~" -- no thanks to : not as a result of any benefit conferred by "he feels better now, no thanks to you" -- thanks to : with the help of: owing to "arrived early, thanks to good weather"