gratis Italian · revision 39195

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1498, Vespasiano da Bisticci|origins=la grātus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɡra.tis/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the adverb [[bor|la|grātīs|t=for nothing, free]], contracted from [[m|la|grātiīs]], the ablative plural of [[m|la|grātia|t=favour, kindness]]: literally “out of kindness”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun comes from [[m|la|grātus|t=pleasing]], from [[ine-pro|*gʷerH-]].^(Wiktionary) D'Alberti called it a wholly Latin word that had become Italian.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record as an Italian adverb is in Vespasiano da Bisticci, before 1498, who says a pope gave a secretary his bulls ''gratis'', free of charge.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) The Latin phrase ''gratis data'' “freely given” (of divine grace) is already in Iacopone da Todi, before 1306.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Savonarola complained that what priests ought to give ''gratis'' had been sold, sacraments included.^(GDLI) Tommaseo compared the borrowing to ''omnibus'', a Latin form taken whole into Italian, and recalled that Latin ''gratis'' could be paired with verbs of costing.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The jocular reinforcement ''gratis et amore Dei'' “free and for the love of God” is ironic or playful.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) In colloquial use the word also serves as an invariable adjective, “free”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) French has had ''gratis'' since the 15th century.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses the Latin phrase ''gratis data''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1498 – Vespasiano da Bisticci uses ''gratis'' in Italian.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 16th century – DEI's date for the adverb.^(DEI|1864)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|free]] of charge, without paying: ''I bambini viaggiano gratis.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Without being paid, for nothing: ''Mi ha aiutato gratis.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Free, costing nothing (invariable): ''un ingresso gratis''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grazia]]

+ * [[gratuito]]

+ * [[la|grātia]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Gratis et amore Dei'' (or ''gratis et amore'') is a humorous way of saying “absolutely free”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}