Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “congratulation” come from?

Congratulation comes from Latin congratulatio, derived from congratulor, composed of the prefix con- and the root cum meaning "with."

congratulation (English): The act of congratulating

Definitions

  1. The act of congratulating

Ancestry of “congratulation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincongratulatio—
2LatincongratulorI wish joy; I rejoice with; I congratulate
3Latincōn-—
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “congratulation”

  • self-congratulation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →