From Latin 'pretium' (price, value), via Old French — praising was setting a high value on someone, literally 'pricing' their worth.
To express warm approval or admiration.
From Old French 'preisier' meaning 'to prize, value, praise,' from Late Latin 'pretiāre' (to value, to price), from Latin 'pretium' (price, value, reward). To praise was originally to set a high price on something. Key roots: pretium (Latin: "price, value