Gratulate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To express joy or praise towards someone for their achievement or good fortune ; to offer congratulations or commendation on a special occasion ; to acknowledge success or happiness through words of goodwill
2. To convey felicitations or approval for a person's accomplishment or positive event ; to communicate good wishes or acclaim in recognition of an achievement ; to salute or honor someone with expressions of happiness for their success
3. To communicate warm regards or praise to an individual for a favorable outcome or event ; to extend acknowledgment or compliments on a notable accomplishment ; to offer praise and good wishes celebrating someone's positive milestone

Etymology: "Gratulate" entered English around 1567 as a borrowing from Latin "grātulārī," meaning to express joy or give thanks, and it is the older form of the verb that gave us "congratulate." The Latin verb itself was built from "grātus," meaning pleasing or welcome, which is also the source of "grateful" and "gratitude." So the English word carries the same sense of pleasure at someone else's good fortune that its Latin ancestor did. The word has a sibling that is far more common today. "Congratulate" appeared in the same period and is simply the same verb with the prefix "con-," meaning together or thoroughly, added to it. "Gratulate" was the earlier and shorter form, and it has since faded from everyday use while its prefixed twin took over the job of celebrating another person's success.

Synonyms: congratulate, commend, praise, felicitate, salute

Antonyms: criticize, condemn, blame, disparage, rebuke