gratia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɡraː.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡrat.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

grātia f (genitive grātiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from grātus “pleasing” with the suffix -ia; compare grātēs “thanks”.^[2][1][3] Wiktionary relates it to Sanskrit गूर्ति (gūrtí, “praise, welcome”).^[1] The dative and ablative plural is usually ⟨grātīs⟩ in the adverbial sense “for nothing”, otherwise ⟨grātiīs⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations for most senses are from Plautus.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short describe it as favour, both that in which one stands with others and that which one shows them.^[3] It meant favour shown to another, goodwill, kindness, and grātiam facere was to excuse or let off, as in Seneca.^[2] It meant goodwill between people, friendship, and in a bad sense partiality, as in Cicero.^[2] It meant gratitude or thanks, as in grātiās agere “to thank” and grātiam referre “to repay a kindness”, and the polite refusal tam grātia est “thank you all the same”, all from Plautus onwards.^[2] It meant the favour one enjoys, popularity, influence, and in Virgil and Ovid charm, attractiveness.^[2] The ablative grātiā with a genitive was a preposition, “for the sake of”, as in exemplī grātiā “for example”, and grātīs meant without payment.^[2] The plural Grātiae were the three Graces, as in Horace.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant grace, mercy, a supernatural gift.^[6] Medieval Latin used it of a ruler's grace and favour, and of his free will or discretion.^[7] It passed through Old French grace into English grace in the late 12th century, first of God's unmerited favour.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of favour, thanks and “for the sake of”.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of partiality and influence.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace names the Graces.^[2][4]
• late 12th century – English grace is recorded, through Old French.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Favour shown, goodwill, kindness.^[2]
2. Friendship, good relations; partiality.^[2]
3. Gratitude, thanks, grātiās agere, to thank, grātiam referre, to repay.^[2]
4. Favour enjoyed, popularity, esteem; influence.^[2]
5. Charm, attractiveness, grace.^[2]
6. (ablative, with genitive) For the sake of, exemplī grātiā, for example.^[2]
7. grātīs, for nothing, without payment.^[2]
8. Grātiae, the Graces.^[2][5]
9. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Divine grace, mercy.^[6]

Word family

• grātiōsus

Related words

• grātus
• grātēs
• English grace
• English gratis

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com