grateful
Etymology

From Latin gratus + -ful, morphologically grate + -ful.

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈɡɹeɪtfəl/
Adjective

grateful (comparative gratefuller, superlative gratefullest)

  1. Appreciative; thankful.
    I'm grateful that you helped me out.
    I'm grateful to you for helping me out.
  2. (obsolete or archaic) Pleasing, welcome.
    • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene i]:
      Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it.
    • 1659–1660, Thomas Stanley, “[The Doctrine of Epicurus.] Chapter XXIII. Of Fortitude, against Discontent of Mind.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Third and Last Volume, […], volume III, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC ↗, 5th part (Containing the Epicurean Sect), 3rd part of philosophy (Ethick, or Morals), page 261 ↗:
      [T]he aſſwagement of his [a wise man's] diſcontent conſiſts in two things, formerly preſcribed as remedies againſt corporeall pain; viz. Diverſion of his thoughts from his loſſe, or the cause of it; and an application of them to thoſe things, which he knowes to be gratefull and pleaſant to his mind.
    • 1839, Robert Hooper, Klein Grant, Lexicon Medicum: or, Medical Dictionary, 4th edition, page 1177:
      […] its glands give forth gum arabic; and its flowers an odour of a very grateful fragrance.
    • 1841, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Skeleton in Armor:
      Fell I upon my spear,
      Oh, death was grateful!
    • 1847 March 29, Herman Melville, chapter 67, in Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC ↗:
      […] grateful underfoot was the damp and slightly yielding beach, from which the waves seemed just retired.
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