Etymology and origin of the Latin word gratificatio
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 81–43 BC Cicero More words from the 1st century BC
- Ultimate origin
- Latin grātificor
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
grātificātiō f (genitive grātificātiōnis); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is formed from Latin grātificor (“to do a favour, oblige”) + -tiō.[2][3][1]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is first found in Cicero (81–43 BC),[4] meaning kindness or obligingness: in On the Nature of the Gods he objects to placing kindness and goodwill (gratificationem et benivolentiam) in weakness.[2]
Semantic evolution
In Cicero the word can also be a favour granted, often unfairly: he joins a “shameless favour” to a harsh injustice, and the OLD explains Sullana gratificatio as Sulla's grant of land to veterans.[2][5] Pliny the Elder uses it of a kindness done to a ruler.[2] L&S calls it rare but classical.[5]
In Medieval Latin it meant favour or grace, in theology the bestowal of grace,[6][7] in legal texts an assignment or award,[6] and also thanks.[6] English borrowed it in the 1590s as gratification, from French or directly from Latin.[8]
Timeline
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of kindness and of favours granted.[2][4]
- 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a kindness.[2][4]
- 1590s – English borrows it, perhaps through French, as gratification.[8]
Meanings
Noun
- Obligingness, kindness; a favour done to someone.[2][5]
- (Medieval Latin, theology) The bestowal of grace.[6][7]
- (Medieval Latin, law) An assignment, award.[6]
- (Medieval Latin) Thanks.[6]
Related words
- grātificor
- English gratification
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry
“Gratificatio.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/gratificatio. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.
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