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

22 February 2025

ANALYSIS

(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride’s father’


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Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

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