gratulate

[grach-uh-leyt]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

Related formsgrat·u·la·to·ri·ly

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gratulate

Historical Examples of gratulate

These Letters do gratulate and remembre the ioy of the disciple for hauinge sutch a maister.
The Palace of Pleasure
William Painter
There was ironic fatality in the accident which checked this tide of gratulate reflection.
Joan Thursday
Louis Joseph Vance
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

British Dictionary definitions for gratulate

gratulate

verb (tr) archaic

to greet joyously
to congratulate

Derived Formsgratulant, adjectivegratulation, noungratulatory, adjective

Word Origin for gratulate

C16: from Latin grātulārī, from grātus pleasing

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 gratulate

archaic, 1550s, from Latin gratulatus, past participle of gratulari (see gratulation).