gratia Latin · revision 6866

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la grātus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡraː.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡrat.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''grātia''' ''f'' (genitive grātiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[grātus]] “pleasing” with the suffix [[-ia]]; compare [[grātēs]] “thanks”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Wiktionary relates it to [[sa|गूर्ति|tr=gūrtí|t=praise, welcome]].^(Wiktionary) The dative and ablative plural is usually ⟨grātīs⟩ in the adverbial sense “for nothing”, otherwise ⟨grātiīs⟩.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations for most senses are from Plautus.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short describe it as favour, both that in which one stands with others and that which one shows them.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant favour shown to another, goodwill, kindness, and ''grātiam facere'' was to excuse or let off, as in Seneca.^(OLD 2012) It meant goodwill between people, friendship, and in a bad sense partiality, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012) It meant the favour one enjoys, popularity, influence, and in Virgil and Ovid charm, attractiveness.^(OLD 2012) The ablative ''grātiā'' with a genitive was a preposition, “for the sake of”, as in ''exemplī grātiā'' “for example”, and ''grātīs'' meant without payment.^(OLD 2012) The plural ''Grātiae'' were the three Graces, as in Horace.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant grace, mercy, a supernatural gift.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of a ruler's grace and favour, and of his free will or discretion.^(Niermeyer 1976) It passed through Old French ''grace'' into [[en|grace]] in the late 12th century, first of God's unmerited favour.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of favour, thanks and “for the sake of”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of partiality and influence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace names the Graces.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 12th century – English ''grace'' is recorded, through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Favour shown, goodwill, kindness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Friendship, good relations; partiality.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Gratitude]], thanks, ''grātiās agere'', to thank, ''grātiam referre'', to repay.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Favour enjoyed, popularity, esteem; influence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Charm, attractiveness, [[m|en|grace]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(ablative, with genitive)'' For the sake of, ''exemplī grātiā'', for example.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''grātīs'', for nothing, without payment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''Grātiae'', the Graces.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Divine grace, mercy.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grātiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grātus]]

+ * [[grātēs]]

+ * [[en|grace]]

+ * [[en|gratis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}