Definition of "gratulate" [grat•u•late]

• To congratulate. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "July 17, 2008 at 3:56 pm an, an, we duzznt use dat werd…………. we say “nawt second” wen we gratulate teh “nawt second” peeps………. nebber use teh “f” werd….."
• "Permit me to con-gratulate you upon a most remarkable scientific discovery."
• "'I am an Osbaldistone like yourself,' replied the stranger suavely; 'we are the last of the ancient house that bears upon its chevron the spear and spurs (mullets), so when I heard of your good fortune I thought it but polite to call and gratulate you on your succession.'"