/gratuitous/

 

/gratuitous/

 

-) Adjective.

 

-) Pronunciation and accent: grətjuːɪtəs.

 

-) Etymology: from Latin gratuitus (= gratuitous, voluntary), from gratus (= pleasing). 

 

-) It is dated from the end of 1600.

1. Voluntarily given, without recompense; obtained gratis; granted without pay, or without claim of merit; costing nothing to the user or recipient; including no cost.

 

-) Translation: gratuite, in French; gratuito, in Spanish; gratuito, in Italian.

-) Synonym for “gratuitous”: gratis.

 

-) Antonyms of “gratuitous”: expensive, costly, dear, sumptuous, precious.

 

Two gratuitous schools of drawing have been established by an individual in Paris.

American Annals… 1836

The names of the individuals to whom I am indebted for this gratuitous service, will be found upon the sketches which they have taken.

Edward Hitchcock… Geology of Massachusetts 1841

2. Done, made, asserted without incurring the cost of a reason or a thought.

 

-) Antonym: well-founded.

 

-) Synonyms: groundless, baseless.

 

Let us suppose (and this is not merely a gratuitous supposition) that an artist, […] conscious of his powers, should determine to evince them by producing a great historical picture.

The Quarterly Review, 1820

 The finishing touch of her preparations was to pick out the proper keys: even there she showed the same discretion. She did do no gratuitous mischief. She did not take the wine-cellar key, which would have irritated the good father confessor; she took those keys only that belonged to her, if ever keys did; for they were the keys that locked her out from her natural birthright of liberty.

Thomas De Quincey… Narrative… 1853

-) English words derived from GRATUITOUS: gratuitously, gratuitousness.

 

-) English words derived from Latin gratus: grace, agree, congratulate, congratulation, congratulational, congratulative, congratulator, congratulatory, grateful, gratefully, gratefulness, gratify, gratification, gratifier, gratifying, gratifyingly, ungrateful, ungratefully, ungratefulness, ungratifying, ungratified, gratitude, gratulate, ingrate, agreeability, agreeable, agreeableness, agreeably, agreed, agreeing, agreement, agreer, disagree, disagreeability, disagreeable, disagreeableness, disagreeably, disaˈgreed, disagreeing, disagreement, disagreer, ingratiate, ingratiation, ingratiatory, ingratitude, disgrace, disgraceful, disgracefully, disgracefulness, disgracer, disgracious, engrace.