gratulatory, a. (n.)
(ˈgrætjʊlətərɪ)
Also 6–7 gratulatorie.
[ad. med.L. *grātulātōri-us, f. grātulārī to gratulate; see -ory and cf. obs. F. gratulatoire.]
1. Expressing joy or gratification for the good fortune, etc. of another; conveying gratulation; congratulatory, complimentary.
| 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 183 That Sermon gratulatorie of the repairing of the Churches. 1622 Peacham Compl. Gent. x. (1634) 92 His gratulatory verse to King Henry upon his Coronation day. a 1656 Ussher Ann. (1658) 795 He was entertained with gratulatory acclamations. 1763 Chesterfield Let. to Faulkner 4 Jan., Lett. 1892 III. 1287, I take it for granted, that some of your many tributary wits have already presented you with gratulatory poems. 1867 Parkham Jesuits N. Amer. vi. (1875) 68 He gave an outcry of delight, echoed by gratulatory cries from all present. 1871 Daily Tel. 14 Sept., Lord Derby could hardly use other than gratulatory language to an audience of great manufacturers. He therefore felicitated them on the material prosperity of the present year. |
† b. Bearing or charged with congratulations. Obs. rare.
| 1655 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 195 The Gratulatory Ambassador to the new Pope. |
† 2. Expressing gratitude or thanks; made as a thankoffering. In theological language, spec. applied to sacrifices ‘of thanksgiving’ as opposed to propitiatory sacrifices. Obs.
| a 1555 Bradford in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 1204/1 The sacrifice of the churche is no propiciatorie sacrifice but a gratulatorie sacrifice. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 100 A gratulatorie letter, that is, an Epistle of thankes. a 1631 Donne Serm. lv. (1640) 549 The Psalme hath..a Gratulatory part, a sacrifice of thankesgiving. 1670 Devout Commun. (1688) 163 Let me do something gratulatory..Let me give myself a thank-offering to him. 1675 L. Addison State Jews (1676) 121 They make a gratulatory Oration unto God, for that he has been pleased to assist and accept their Services. 1739 Waterland Eucharist Wks. 1823 VIII. 263 Whereas formerly he had disowned any propitiatory sacrifice, content with gratulatory, after the Protestant way. |
† 3. n. An expression of gratulation, a congratulatory speech. Obs. rare.
| a 1734 North Lives (1826) III. 385 The chief failing that appeared in him was an over repetition of gratulatories and compliments. |