Grat

Grat is a Latin-derived morpheme that appears in English to express ideas related to grace, favor, thanks, or giving freely. It is not used as a standalone English word, but forms the basis of many common terms.

Etymology and usage: Grat originates from the Latin gratus, meaning pleasing, agreeable, or thankful. From this root come words tied to gratitude and favor, such as gratitude and grateful. The same root also underpins terms associated with giving or being given freely, often via the French intermediary gratuit or gratuitous. In modern English, the root is found in a pair of semantic clusters: one connected to thankfulness and grace, and another linked to something given without expectation or charge.

Semantic clusters and examples:

- Gratitude and thankfulness: grateful, gratitude, gratefulness. These terms express appreciation or a sense of receiving a favor.

- Given freely or without charge: gratis, gratuitous, gratuity. Gratis means free of charge; gratuitous describes something given without necessity or justification; gratuity refers to a tip or gift of money in recognition of service. Gratify and gratification are also derived from the same root, meaning to give pleasure or satisfaction.

Notes: The two senses are historically related through the broader idea of grace or favor—something granted as a benefit or kindness. In contemporary use, grat- words commonly touch on social exchange (thanks and gifts) and on items or actions provided without cost or warrant.

See also: gratitude, grateful, gratuitous, gratis, gratuity, gratify, gratification.

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