GRATUITY

gratuity

(noun) an award (as for meritorious service) given without claim or obligation

gratuity, tip, pourboire, baksheesh, bakshish, bakshis, backsheesh

(noun) a relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

gratuity (plural gratuities)

An additional payment given freely as thanks for service.

Euphemistic form of fee, in contexts where such additional payments have been made obligatory.

Euphemistic form of bribe.

Synonyms

• (additional payment offered in thanks): douceur, grace, pourboire, tip; baksheesh (Turkish and Middle Eastern contexts); cumshaw (SE Chinese contexts; archaic); see also gift

• (obligatory fee): service charge; douceur, tip (euphemistic)

• (bribe): bribe

• (additional gift from a vendor): lagniappe

Source: Wiktionary


Gra*tu"i*ty, n.; pl. Gtratuities. Etym: [F. gratuité, or LL. gratuitas.]

1. Something given freely or without recompense; a free gift; a present. Swift.

2. Something voluntarily given in return for a favor or service, as a recompense or acknowledgment.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

9 May 2025

RIGHT

(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

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