grateful

adj

Etymology: From grate (“(obsolete) serving to gratify, agreeable, pleasing; grateful, thankful”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives with the sense of tending to have or thoroughly having a quality). Grate is a learned borrowing from Latin grātus (“agreeable, pleasing; beloved, dear; grateful, thankful”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (“to express approval, praise; to elevate”).

1. Of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation; appreciative, thankful.

   “I’m grateful that you helped me out.”

   “I cannot giue thee leſſe to be cal'd gratefull: / Thou thoughtſt to helpe me, and ſuch thankes I giue, / As one neere death to thoſe that vviſh him liue: […]”

2. Of a thing or (obsolete) person: pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable, pleasant, welcome.

   “[T]his is a guift / Very gratefull, I am ſure of it, to expreſſe / The like kindneſſe my ſelfe, that haue beene / More kindely beholding to you then any: […]”

   “Chaſt, nothing better; vvanton, nothing vvorſe, / The grate-fulſt Bleſsing, or the greateſt Curſe.”