gratify
[ grat-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈgræt əˌfaɪ /
verb (used with object), grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing.
to give pleasure to (a person or persons) by satisfying desires or humoring inclinations or feelings: Her praise will gratify all who worked so hard to earn it.
to satisfy; indulge; humor, as one's desires or appetites.
Obsolete. to reward; remunerate.
RELATED WORDS
delight, enchant, please, thrill, baby, humor, pamper, favor, oblige, appease, content, gladden, recompense, indulge, requite, fulfill, coddle, arride, delectate
Nearby words
- grater,
- gratiae,
- gratian,
- graticule,
- gratification,
- gratifying,
- gratin,
- gratinate,
- gratinated,
- grating
Origin of gratify
SYNONYMS FOR gratify
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for gratify
gratify
/ (ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
to satisfy or please
to yield to or indulge (a desire, whim, etc)
obsolete to reward
Word Origin for gratify
C16: from Latin grātificārī to do a favour to, from grātus grateful + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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gratify
c.1400, "to bestow grace upon;" 1530s, "to show gratitude to," from French gratifier (16c.) or directly from Latin gratificari "to do favor to, oblige, gratify," from gratus "pleasing" (see grace) + root of facere "make, do, perform" (see factitious). Meaning "to give pleasure to" is from 1560s. Related: Gratified; gratifying.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper