English
gratis
Gratis comes from Latin grātīs ‘out of favor or kindness, without recompense…’, from grātus ‘grateful, thankful’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- ‘to express approval’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷerH-‘to express approval’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷr̥Htós‘praised’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*gʷrātos‘grateful, thankful’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātus‘grateful, thankful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātiīs
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātīs‘out of favor or kindness, without recompense or compensation, gratuitously, freely’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599gratis
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷerH-‘to express approval’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷr̥Htós‘praised’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*gʷrātos‘grateful, thankful’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātus‘grateful, thankful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātiīs
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgrātīs‘out of favor or kindness, without recompense or compensation, gratuitously, freely’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599gratis
Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.: “I know not how they sold themselves: but thou,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- ‘to express approval’
through Latin grātus ‘grateful, thankful’
agreement, grace, gracious, congratulate, gratuitous, grate, gracias, congratulation, gree, 9 more
Today it means
adj Free: without charge.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- / gratis