Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The state of being grateful; thankfulness.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or quality of being grateful or thankful; a warm and friendly feeling in response to a favor or favors received; thankfulness.
  • noun Synonyms See grateful.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being grateful.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, probably from Late Latin grātitūdō, from Latin grātus, pleasing; see gwerə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French gratitude, from Medieval Latin gratitudo ("thankfulness"), from Latin gratus ("thankful").

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Examples

  • It was gratitude; —gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection.

    Chapter XLIV 1917

  • Long-term gratitude is unlikely and suspicion of U.S. motives will increase as the occupation continues.

    Blind Into Baghdad 2004

  • Long-term gratitude is unlikely and suspicion of U.S. motives will increase as the occupation continues.

    Blind Into Baghdad 2004

  • She did not comprehend, perhaps, the depth of the sentiment with which her protector inspired her, which she called gratitude, but which, though she was unconscious of it, was really more than that.

    Around the World in 80 Days 2003

  • The third reason for our gratitude is the decision of the General Assembly to overwhelmingly return us to the Security Council.

    The United States and the United Nations 1988

  • The sense which we call gratitude, and which is not unmingled with what we call honor, came to this young cave man then.

    The Story of Ab A Tale of the Time of the Cave Man Stanley Waterloo 1879

  • She did not comprehend, perhaps, the depth of the sentiment with which her protector inspired her, which she called gratitude, but which, though she was unconscious of it, was really more than that.

    Around the World in Eighty Days 1873

  • In its etymology the word "gratitude" came from the Latin word "gratus" meaning "grace" and grace is the presence of God manifested in people through virtues.

    unknown title 2008

  • It is what parades represent - a celebration, a commemoration, and an expression of gratitude by a community that has finally learned to separate the war from warriors.

    Paul Rieckhoff: If the Giants or Pats get a parade, shouldn't Iraq vets? Paul Rieckhoff 2012

  • It is what parades represent - a celebration, a commemoration, and an expression of gratitude by a community that has finally learned to separate the war from warriors.

    Paul Rieckhoff: If the Giants or Pats get a parade, shouldn't Iraq vets? Paul Rieckhoff 2012

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