Etymologically
Log in

gratis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word gratis

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*gʷerH-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɡraː.tiːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡraː.tis][1]

Forms

grātīs (not comparable)[1] Also grātiīs.[2]

Etymology

It is contracted from ⟨grātiīs⟩, the ablative plural of grātia “favour, thanks”, so “for thanks”, hence “without recompense”.[3][1][4] De Vaan traces ⟨grātus⟩ to Proto-Italic *gʷrāto- (“grateful”), Proto-Indo-European *gʷr̥H-to- (“praised (in song)”), cognate with Oscan ⟨brateis⟩ “of grace”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Plautus.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant without payment, for nothing, free of charge, and freely, gladly.[3][2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means free, freely.[6] Medieval Latin used it for in vain, without reason, groundlessly, and deliberately.[7] English gratis (mid-15th century) and German gratis are from it.[3][2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2]
  • mid-15th century – English gratis is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Without payment, for nothing, free.[3][4]
  2. Freely, willingly.[2][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) In vain; without reason.[7]

Usage notes

The OLD and Lewis & Short treat it under grātia.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c 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
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Gratis.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/gratis. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·