The problem with people basing arguments on dictionary definitions, is whether the definition is valid for the time in question. A good example is the Liberal Party of Australia which reflects a much older meaning of ‘liberal’ which is referred to as ‘conservative’. It does tend to change what you think you read.

You can get an online subscription to the full OED and other resources for US$49.95/yr. Info here:

Oxford Dictionaries Pro Subscription

And this is what you get for your money:

What can you do with an Oxford Dictionaries Pro subscription

I really should get the OED on disk, but the sucker really is expensive. None of what pass for libraries in this area have it available to the general public.

Good question! I didn’t know the answer so I researched it a bit.

The phrase you’re welcome, as a response to thank you, dates only from the early part of the 20th century. The first record of it is in W. W. Jacobs’ Short Cruises: “‘Thank you,’ said the girl, with a pleasant smile. ‘You’re quite welcome,’ said the skipper.” This usage popped up so late because welcome meant “well come” (i.e., one’s arrival was pleasing) prior to that time, and that was broadened to include such meanings as “pleasing” or “acceptable”. That group of meanings, however, arose in Middle English due to the influence of Old French bien venu, “welcome” (literally, “well come”). In Old English, welcome, which had the form wilcuma, meant “one whose coming is pleasing” or applied to someone who was “acceptable as a visitor”. It was formed from wil- or will- “will, desire” and cuma “comer, guest”.

The sense in you’re welcome is one of “it was pleasing to me to do” whatever it was that you were thanked for.

Source(s): I googled it!

Where did the phrase “you’re welcome” come from?

So Bryan, you are not the first to ask. 😀

BTW, the above reference is found in the OED (Oxford English Dictionary):

OED: ” d. you are (or you’re) welcome: a polite formula used in response to an expression of thanks.
[1907 W. W. JACOBS Short Cruises ii. 34 ‘Thank you,’ said the girl, with a pleasant smile. ‘You’re quite welcome,’ said the skipper.]”

Actually, “No problem” is essentially what you say is many other languages, Steve, and is easy to translate.

There must be a reason that has been lost over time.