felicitate

[fi-lis-i-teyt]

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verb (used with object), fe·lic·i·tat·ed, fe·lic·i·tat·ing.

to compliment upon a happy event; congratulate.

Archaic. to make happy.

adjective

Obsolete. made happy.

Origin of felicitate

1595–1605; < Late Latin fēlīcitātus made happy (past participle of fēlīcitāre). See felicity, -ate¹

Related formsfe·lic·i·ta·tor, nounun·fe·lic·i·tat·ed, adjectiveun·fe·lic·i·tat·ing, adjective

Can be confusedfacile facilitate facility felicitate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for felicitate

commend, compliment, praise, salute, recommend

Examples from the Web for felicitate

Historical Examples of felicitate

It will harmonize and felicitate to whatever extent it is diffused.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
I felicitate you heartily, sir, on your success, but beg I may be spared the story of it.
The Bramleighs Of Bishop's Folly
Charles James Lever
A word to the wise, etc., and let me speedily have occasion to felicitate you in like manner.
Social Life
Maud C. Cooke
They should call on her and felicitate her as soon as they have been informed of the affair.
The Complete Bachelor
Walter Germain
Having ceased to be your wife, dare I felicitate you on becoming a father?
Josephine
John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for felicitate

felicitate

verb

to wish joy to; congratulate

Derived Formsfelicitator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for felicitate

1620s, "to render happy;" 1630s, "to reckon happy;" from Latin felicitatus, past participle of felicitare "to make happy," from felicitas "fruitfulness, happiness," from felix (see felicity). Meaning "congratulate" is from 1630s. Related: Felicitated; felicitating.