ingratiate, v.
(ɪnˈgreɪʃɪeɪt)
Also 7 en-.
[app. f. 16th c. It. ingratiare ‘to engrace’, to put in grace, refl. ingratiarsi (now ingraziarsi) ‘to engrace or insinuate himself into favour’ (Florio), f. phrase in grazia († gratia), L. in grātiam into favour.]
† 1. trans. To bring (a person) into favour (with any one); to render (him) agreeable (to any one).
| 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 49 The Embassador..to ingratiate his Master with his holinesse, told him [etc.]. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iv. iv. §6 All this would not ingratiate this Usurper with them. 1681 J. Flavel Meth. Grace xvii. 310 He hath ingratiated us, or brought us into the grace, favour and acceptance of God the Father. 1728 Newton Chronol. Amended ii. 207 This..might ingratiate Hadad with Pharaoh. 1755 Man ix. 4 We shall endeavour..to ingratiate this respectable order with the people. |
2. refl. To get oneself into favour; to gain grace or favour with; to render oneself agreeable to.
| 1622 Bacon Hen. VII 100 This Taxe..was abolished by Richard the Third..to ingratiate himselfe with the people. 1640 Habington Castara iii. (Arb.) 115 Should I my selfe ingratiate T' a Princes smile? 1644 Jessop Angel of Eph. 5 That he might the better engratiate himselfe in the eyes of that..Prelate. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §89 If he did not do somewhat to ingratiate himself to the People. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) II. 77 Several of the court who ingratiated themselves by offerings of pictures and curiosities. 1853 Macaulay Biog., Atterbury (1867) 16 At the coronation..[he] did his best to ingratiate himself with the royal family. |
b. with various pleonastic extensions.
| 1654 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) II. 64 On design to ingratiate himself in the good opinion of the Hugonots of France. a 1665 Goodwin Filled w. the Spirit (1867) 385 To ingratiate himself in their affections and good wills. 1713 Steele Guardian No. 14 ¶1 Desirous to ingratiate themselves further into their favour. 1828 P. Cunningham N.S. Wales (ed. 3) II. 195 A convict,—into whose good-will this gentleman had so far..ingratiated himself. 1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1876) II. ii. i. 248 He ingratiated himself still farther in the esteem of the Sicilians. |
† 3. intr. (for refl.) Obs.
| 1647 Trapp Comm. Luke xvii. 19 Thus gratitude ingratiates with Christ and gets more grace. 1699 Bentley Phal. xvi. 519 Those, who think to ingratiate with Him by calumniating Me. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 314 The methods of civility proper for removing all suspicions of themselves, and ingratiating with whatever company they fall into. |
† 4. trans. To make (a thing) pleasant, agreeable, or acceptable (to or with). Obs.
| 1639 Fuller Holy War iii. xx. (1647) 142 Such as might more ingratiate with God the persons and prayers of people there assembled. 1656 Sibbes Confer. Christ & Mary 11 Things, when wanted, are ingratiated to us, as warmth after cold, and meat after hunger. 1676 Temple Let. to the King 3 Mar., Wks. 1720 II. 379 A Clause..which he thought was put in on purpose to ingratiate it to Your Majesty. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 III. 79 Use doth wear out the pleasure which..Novelty commendeth and ingratiateth. a 1748 Watts Improv. Mind ii. vi. §1 That he may ingratiate his discourses with their ears. |
Hence inˈgratiating vbl. n. and ppl. a.; inˈgratiˌatingly adv., in an ingratiating manner, in a way to win favour.
| 1641 Heylin Hist. Episcopacy i. (1657) 62 His ingratiating with the Jewes. 1655 Fuller Church Hist. x. vi. §29 A Jesuite of excellent Morals, and ingratiating Converse. 1656 Artif. Handsom. (1662) 230 The concessions of which..had been a very great indulgence and ingratiating to women of greatest quality. a 1797 H. Walpole Mem. Geo. II (1847) I. ix. 276 Lord Isla was..if artful, at least not ingratiating. 1886 Longm. Mag. Feb. 423 The..lad bowed ingratiatingly. 1896 O. Smeaton Allan Ramsay i. 11 The ingratiating qualities..of her father's guest. |