Gratify

Gratify
Gratify Grat"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gratified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gratifying}.] [F. gratifier, L. gratificari; gratus pleasing + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {-fy}.] 1. To please; to give pleasure to; to satisfy; to soothe; to indulge; as, to gratify the taste, the appetite, the senses, the desires, the mind, etc. [1913 Webster]

For who would die to gratify a foe? --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To requite; to recompense. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

It remains . . . To gratify his noble service. --Shak.

Syn: To indulge; humor please; delight; requite; recompense.

Usage: To {Gratify}, {Indulge}, {Humor.} Gratify, is the generic term, and has reference simply to the pleasure communicated. To indulge a person implies that we concede something to his wishes or his weaknesses which he could not claim, and which had better, perhaps, be spared. To humor is to adapt ourselves to the varying moods, and, perhaps, caprices, of others. We gratify a child by showing him the sights of a large city; we indulge him in some extra expense on such an occasion; we humor him when he is tired and exacting. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • gratify — (v.) c.1400, to bestow grace upon; 1530s, to show gratitude to, from Fr. gratifier (16c.) or directly from L. gratificari to do favor to, oblige, gratify, from gratus pleasing (see GRACE (Cf. grace)) + root of facere make, do, perform (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • gratify — index accommodate, bestow, consent, favor, grant (concede), pander, sanction, satisfy ( …   Law dictionary

  • gratify — *please, delight, rejoice, gladden, tickle, regale Analogous words: content, *satisfy: indulge, humor, pamper Antonyms: anger: offend, affront (by inattention): disappoint (desires, hopes) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • gratify — [v] give pleasure; satisfy appease, arride, baby*, cater to, coddle, content, delectate, delight, do one proud*, do the trick*, enchant, favor, fill the bill*, fulfill*, get one’s kicks*, gladden, hit the spot*, humor, indulge, make a hit*, make… …   New thesaurus

  • gratify — ► VERB (gratifies, gratified) 1) give pleasure or satisfaction. 2) indulge or satisfy (a desire). DERIVATIVES gratification noun gratifier noun gratifying adjective. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • gratify — [grat′i fī΄] vt. gratified, gratifying [Fr gratifier < L gratificare, gratificari, to oblige, please < gratus, pleasing (see GRACE) + ficare, FY] 1. to give pleasure or satisfaction 2. to give in to; indulge; humor 3. Archaic to reward SYN …   English World dictionary

  • gratify — UK [ˈɡrætɪfaɪ] / US [ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms gratify : present tense I/you/we/they gratify he/she/it gratifies present participle gratifying past tense gratified past participle gratified formal [usually passive] to make someone… …   English dictionary

  • gratify — /ˈgrætəfaɪ / (say gratuhfuy) verb (t) (gratified, gratifying) 1. to give pleasure to (persons) by satisfying desires or humouring inclinations or feelings. 2. to satisfy; indulge; humour: to gratify desires; to gratify appetites. 3. Obsolete to… …  

  • gratify — transitive verb ( fied; fying) Etymology: Middle French gratifier, from Latin gratificari to show kindness to, from gratus + ificari, passive of ificare ify Date: 1539 1. archaic remunerate, reward 2. to be a source of or give pleasure or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gratify — gratifiable, adj. gratifiedly /grat euh fuy id lee, fuyd /, adv. gratifier, n. /grat euh fuy /, v.t., gratified, gratifying. 1. to give pleasure to (a person or persons) by satisfying desires or humoring inclinations or feelings: Her praise will… …   Universalium

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