Ingratiate
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɪnˈɡreɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
- Rhymes: -eɪʃieɪt
Origin
First attested in 1622. From Italian ingraziare, which from ingratiare, which from in gratia, which from Latin in grÄtiam, which from grÄtus.
Full definition of ingratiate
Verb
- (reflexive) To bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please him or her.
- 1849, Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, ch. 15:He considered this offering an homage to his merits, and an attempt on the part of the heiress to ingratiate herself into his priceless affections.
- 1903, Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, ch. 58:He would pat the children on the head when he saw them on the stairs, and ingratiate himself with them as far as he dared.
- 2007 July 9, Brian T. Bennett, "Why Maliki Is Still Around," Time (retrieved 26 May 2014)He ingratiated himself with the Kurdish bloc when he stood up to aggressive Turkish rhetoric about the Kurdish border in May.
- (followed by to) To recommend; to render easy or agreeable.
- circa 1650 Henry Hammond, "Sermon XIII" in Miscellaneous Theological Works of Henry Hammond, Volume 3 (1850 edition), p. 283 (Google preview):What difficulty would it love of Christ not ingratiate to us?
Related terms
- ingratiating (adjective)
- ingratiation (noun)