▪ I. † ˈgratulate, a. Obs. rare.
[ad. L. grātulāt-us, pple. of grātulārī (see next).]
To be rejoiced at; pleasing, gratifying.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 535 Thanks good friend, Escalus, for thy much goodnesse, There's more behinde that is more gratulate. |
▪ II. gratulate, v. Now arch. and poet.
(ˈgrætjʊleɪt)
Also 7 gratulat.
[f. L. grātulāt-, ppl. stem of grātulārī to manifest one's joy, congratulate, rejoice, give thanks, f. grātus pleasing, thankful.]
1. trans. To express joy at the coming or appearance of; to welcome, hail; to greet, salute.
| 1556 Abp. Parker Ps. xcvii. Argt., This Psalme in sprite: doth gratulate Christes kingdome cleare: immaculate. 1596 Edw. III, i. ii. 9 Dear aunt, descend and gratulate his highness. 1616 Chapman Homer's Hymn to Hymen Plays 1873 III. 122 Euery flowre and weed Looks vp to gratulate thy long'd for fruites. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 434 The birds..Cleared up their choicest notes..To gratulate the sweet return of morn. 1681 T. Jordan London's Joy 7 The Seven Champions..are come To gratulate my Lord, and guard you from Mutinous Mischiefs. 1746 Akenside Hymn to Naiads 101 Thames..with words Auspicious gratulates the bark. 1784 Cowper Task v. 820 When every star, in haste To gratulate the new-created earth, Sent forth a voice. 1799–1805 Wordsw. Prelude xi. 469 Some other spring, which by the name Thou gratulatest. 1822 ― Sonn. Waldenses, As the lark Springs from the ground the morn to gratulate. |
2. To express or manifest joy at or on account of (an event, a happy condition, etc.); = congratulate 2.
| 1584 Peele Arraignm. Paris i. iii, The muses give you melody to gratulate this chance. 1596 Harington Metam. Ajax 93, I hope all the Innes of court will gratulate the present flourishing estate of our Lincolnes Inne. 1603 B. Jonson Sejanus iv. ix, I gratulate the newes. 1637 Heywood Royall King i. i. Wks. 1874 VI. 7 The Embassadors that come..To gratulate our famous victories. 1699 Cibber Xerxes i, And come with pious Joy, to gratulate your Triumphs. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxviii, The minstrels sent forth their gayest notes to gratulate Eachin's succession. |
† b. const. to, unto (the person), or with simple indirect obj. Obs.
| 1591 Lambarde Archeion Ep., To gratulate unto You, that Honourable place wherunto you are right worthily advanced. 1624 Bacon Let. 9 Oct., Wks. 1874 XIV. 521, I cannot but..gratulate his Majesty the extreme prosperous success of his business. 1658 W. Burton Itin. Anton. 159 My Author gratulates to his own good luck this discovery. 1693 Dryden Ovid's Met. xii. 27 Calchas..with a smiling glance Thus gratulates to Greece her happy chance. |
3. To express joy or satisfaction to (a person) on a happy event; to compliment, felicitate; = congratulate 4. Const. on, upon, † in.
| 1598 Florio, Gratulare, to gratulate, to reioice with. 1621 Cade Serm. Ep. Ded., Well, then, may I gratulate our Commonwealth, that is so much blessed with wise and worthy men. 1644 Milton Judgm. Bucer (1851) 299 So as I may justly gratulat mine own mind with due acknowledgment of assistance from above. 1726 De Foe Hist. Devil ii. iv. (1840) 218 Where do his devotees gratulate one another and congratulate him more than at church? 1742 Mem. Lady Harriot Butler II. 50, I gratulate you upon it with all my heart. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxxii, Some..gratulated him upon his most unexpected return to the service of his country. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. iv. 83, I gratulate thee on thy new career! |
| refl. 1672 Sir T. Browne Let. to Friend §22 The heirs and concerned relations gratulating themselves in the sober departure of their friends. 1678 Marvell Def. John Howe Wks. 1875 IV. 232 Hereupon The Discourse..highly gratulates It self in three instances. 1823 Scott Quentin D. Introd., Your authors.., if they have children, [may] gratulate themselves that the peck-loaf may be had for sixpence. |
† b. absol. or intr. To offer congratulations.
| 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster ii. ii, We all come to gratulate, for the good report of you. |
† 4. To be grateful or show gratitude for; also, to express gratitude to (a benefactor) for; to thank. Obs.
| 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. (1599) 31 But friendly gratulate these fauours found. 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1662) 279 To acknowledge and gratulate that harmony, which God hath been pleased..to blesse. 1652 F. Kirkman Clerio & Lozia 120 After he had submissively gratulated him for the honour. 1667 Waterhouse Fire Lond. 149 To Gratulate the Kindness..I have had from any person or thing with frequency of acknowledgment. 1673 Marvell Reh. Transp. II. 399, I cannot but gratulate my good fortune rather than my wisdom, that I have travelled such an Author through with no more extravagancy. |
† 5. To reward or recompense (a service, etc.).
| a 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. i. ii, To gratulate So great a seruice done at my desire. 1612 Heywood Apol. Actors G 4, I could not choose but gratulate your honest indeauours with this short remembrance. 1633 Marmion Antiquary v. Dram. Wks. (1875) 290 I'll find some office To gratulate thy pains. |
† 6. To gratify, please. Obs.
| a 1592 Greene Jas. IV Prelude, To gratulate thee I brought these antics to show thee some sport in dancing. 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xix. 33 Nay many times to gratulate the company, we are fain to force our selves to un⁓worthiness. 1809 Campbell Gertr. Wyom. i. xxvi, I will teach thee..To pay with Huron blood thy father's scars, And gratulate his soul rejoicing in the stars. |
Hence ˈgratulating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1639 Sanderson Serm., Ad Aulam ix. (1689) 490, I note it, not without much rejoycing and gratulating to us of this Church. a 1711 Ken Christophil Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 468 Seeing God pleas'd, the heavenly Quire In gratulating Hymns conspire. 1803 Wordsw. Blind Highland Boy xliv, A gratulating voice, With which the very hills rejoice. 1850 De Quincey in H. A. Page Life (1877) II. xvii. 67 To pass through innumerable stations of gratulating comrades. |