CONGRATULATE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Congratulate

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/kəngrˈætʃəlˌeɪt/ Listen

verb

Congratulate v. t. (past & past part. congratulated; pres. part. congratulating) To address with expressions of sympathetic pleasure on account of some happy event affecting the person addressed; to wish joy to. "It is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion."

To congratulate one's self, to rejoice; to feel satisfaction; to consider one's self happy or fortunate.

Synonyms: To Congratulate, Felicitate. To felicitate is simply to wish a person joy. To congratulate has the additional signification of uniting in the joy of him whom we congratulate. Hence they are by no means synonymous. One who has lost the object of his affections by her marriage to a rival, might perhaps felicitate that rival on his success, but could never be expected to congratulate him on such an event. "Felicitations are little better than compliments; congratulations are the expression of a genuine sympathy and joy."

Congratulate v. i. To express of feel sympathetic joy; as, to congratulate with one's country. (R.) "The subjects of England may congratulate to themselves."

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Etymology of 'Congratulate'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Congratulate" Quotes from Famous Books

... you're doing the right thing, sergeant," said Rnine, "and I congratulate you on the way in which you have ...

— The Eight Strokes of the Clock • Maurice Leblanc

... you, great Conkeror of the man whose son was so bully at pickin' up bullocks, is to congratulate you. ...

— Punchinello, Vol. 2, No. 27, October 1, 1870 • Various

... "I congratulate you on being the perfect pupil. Your teacher, could it feel such emotions, would be proud of you. Only to an exceptional student can it be given so faithfully to reproduce 'His ...

— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, May 19, 1920 • Various

... this was to be my breakfast. I call that, my dear, the very smallest egg I have seen since I took sparrows' nests. No wonder they sell them at twelve a penny. I congratulate you upon your first egg, my ...

— Erema - My Father's Sin • R. D. Blackmore

... him. "You were wonderful, Hugh," he said enthusiastically. "The way that you crawled up on him the last hundred yards was thrilling. I shouted until I was hoarse. I never saw any one fight more gamely. He's a faster man than you are, but you almost beat him. I congratulate you—excuse the ...

— The Plastic Age • Percy Marks

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