From Latin 'grātus' (pleasing), from PIE *gʷerH- (to praise) — kin to 'grace,' 'grateful,' 'gratis,' and 'agree.'
The quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness; the warm feeling of thankfulness toward a benefactor.
From Medieval Latin 'gratitūdinem,' from Latin 'grātus' (pleasing, thankful, agreeable), from PIE *gʷerH- (to praise, to favor). The word 'grātus' had a double valence in Latin: it meant both 'pleasing to others' and 'pleased by others,' both 'giving thanks' and 'receiving thanks.' This reciprocity is built into the etymology: gratitude is inherently relational. The same root produced 'grace,' 'grateful,' 'gratis' (for free, as a favor), 'gratify,' 'congratulate,' and 'agree' (via Latin 'ad-grātum,' toward what is pleasing). Key roots: grātus (Latin: "pleasing, thankful, agreeable"), *gʷerH- (Proto-Indo-European: "to
The words 'gratitude,' 'grace,' 'grateful,' 'gratis,' 'gratify,' 'congratulate,' and even 'agree' all descend from Latin 'grātus' (pleasing). An 'ingrate' is literally 'not pleased' — unthankful. And 'gratis' (free of charge) originally meant 'out of favor' — something given not for payment but as a grace.
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