gratification

English

Etymology

From Latin grātificātiō either directly or through Middle French gratification, from Latin grātificō (“to do a favor to, oblige, please, gratify”), from grātus (“kind, pleasing”) + faciō (“to make”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: grat‧i‧fi‧ca‧tion
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

gratification (countable and uncountable, plural gratifications)

1. (countable)
   1. The act of gratifying or pleasing, either the mind, or the appetite or taste.

      Synonym: gladness

      gratification of the heart    gratification of the palate

      • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, pages 295–296:

        I know nothing of Mr. Courtenaye; but I can perceive enough of this affair to see that he is one of those who, for a moment's selfish gratification, or for the yet meaner love of gratified vanity, will excite the deepest feelings, and trifle with the dearest hopes of all who trust them!

      • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 161:

        Many of the so-called rites of these secret societies were so patently ridiculous, that it is quite obvious that they were merely an excuse for men and women to indulge in sex-play and lustful gratification, frequently of an abnormal kind.

   2. A gratuity; a reward.
2. (uncountable) A feeling of pleasure; satisfaction.

   Synonyms: delight, enjoyment, gladness, fruition

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Confidence”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume II, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 102:

     I will tell you all my faults frankly beforehand. I am very vain, for I cultivate my vanity on a principle, and cannot understand why we should neglect such a source of gratification.

   • 1900, Booker T[aliaferro] Washington, “Helping Others”, in Up from Slavery: An Autobiography, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Co., published 1901, →OCLC, page 66:

     To my gratification he told me I could reënter the institution, and that he would trust me to pay the debt when I could.

Derived terms

• oral gratification
• self-gratification

Related terms

• gratify

Translations

Further reading

• “gratification”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “gratification”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “gratification”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡʁa.ti.fi.ka.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

gratification f (plural gratifications)

1. gratification

Further reading

• “gratification”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.