gratulate

[ grach-uh-leyt ]
/ ˈgrætʃ əˌleɪt /
Archaic.

verb (used with object), grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.

to hail with joy; express joy at.
to congratulate.

verb (used without object), grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.

to express joy.

Origin of gratulate

1550–60; < Latin grātulātus (past participle of grātulārī to express joy), equivalent to grātul- express joy, congratulate, thank (derivative of grātus pleasing) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM gratulate

grat·u·la·to·ri·ly [grach-uh-luh-tawr-uh-lee, -tohr-] /ˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr ə li, -ˌtoʊr-/, adverb grat·u·la·to·ry, adjective

Words nearby gratulate

grattoir, gratuitous, gratuitous contract, gratuity, gratulant, gratulate, gratulation, graubünden, grauer's gorilla, graunch, graupel

Example sentences from the Web for gratulate

  • And now let me gratulate you upon the renovated vigor of your fine old friends the Russians.

    Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 4 (of 10) |John Gibson Lockhart.

  • Much joy I hope you'l find, we came to gratulate your new knit marriage-band.

    Wit Without Money |Francis Beaumont

  • There was ironic fatality in the accident which checked this tide of gratulate reflection.

    Joan Thursday |Louis Joseph Vance

  • These Letters do gratulate and remembre the ioy of the disciple for hauinge sutch a maister.

    The Palace of Pleasure |William Painter

British Dictionary definitions for gratulate

gratulate
/ (ˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt) /

verb (tr) archaic

to greet joyously
to congratulate

Derived forms of gratulate

gratulant, adjective gratulation, noun gratulatory, adjective

Word Origin for gratulate

C16: from Latin grātulārī, from grātus pleasing