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ingratiate

[in-grey-shee-eyt]
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verb (used with object), in·gra·ti·at·ed, in·gra·ti·at·ing.
  1. to establish (oneself or someone else) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed by with): He ingratiated himself with all the guests. She ingratiated her colleagues with her well-researched project proposal.
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Origin of ingratiate

1615–25; perhaps < Latin in grātiam into favor, after Italian ingraziare. See in, grace, -ate1
Related formsin·gra·ti·a·tion, nounin·gra·ti·a·to·ry [in-grey-shee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈgreɪ ʃi əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

honeyfawningexaggerationblandishmentincenseadulationoilbaloneywheedlingcoaxingingratiationoverpraiseeyewashcajoleryapprobationstrokeplauditsservilitysnowtribute

Examples from the Web for ingratiation

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He could not resist her beauty, her warmth, her ingratiation.

  • “Then I shall have to call another time,” said the woman, with a mixture of ingratiation and despair.

    The Debtor

    Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  • A hansom cab offers peculiar facilities for the aforesaid process of ingratiation.

  • He had prepared himself to be ingratiating; but he realized that ingratiation was not a successful line to pursue with dragons.

    The Heather-Moon

    C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson

  • The qualities of ingratiation and friendliness departed from M. Garfunkel's smile, leaving it wholly apologetic.

British Dictionary definitions for ingratiation

ingratiate

verb
  1. (tr often foll by with) to place (oneself) purposely in the favour (of another)
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Derived Formsingratiating or ingratiatory, adjectiveingratiatingly, adverbingratiation, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin, from in- ² + grātia grace, favour
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 ingratiation

ingratiate

v.

1620s, possibly via 16c. Italian ingraziarsi "to bring (oneself) into favor," from Latin in gratiam "for the favor of," from in "in" (see in- (2)) + gratia "favor, grace" (see grace).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper