grateful English · revision 5781

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1552|origins=la gratus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡreɪt.fəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from obsolete grate “agreeable, thankful” (1523) and [[-ful]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) grate being [[bor|la|grātus|t=pleasing, thankful]] (see [[grace]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*gʷerə-|alt=*gwere-|t=to favour]].^(Etymonline) Weekley called it “a most unusual formation”, -ful being added to an adjective,^(Etymonline) and the OED suggests that it may have been influenced by Italian gradevole “pleasing”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Feeling gratitude, thankful: 1552 in the OED, Barnhart and MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Pleasing to the mind or senses is from 1553 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and Etymonline gives the 1550s for both.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “pleasing, agreeable, welcome”, as in ''the grateful shade'', is now archaic.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) Land responsive to cultivation was called grateful from 1832.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1523 – grate, agreeable.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1552 – thankful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – pleasing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1832 – of land, fertile.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Feeling or showing [[gratitude]]; [[thankful]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Pleasing or welcome: ''a grateful shade''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gratefully]]

+ * [[gratefulness]]

+ * [[overgrateful]]

+ * [[ungrateful]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gratitude]]

+ * [[ingrate]]

+ * [[grace]]

+ * [[gratify]]

+ * [[gratis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}