felicitate
UK: fɪˈlɪsɪteɪt | US: fəˈlɪsɪteɪt
vt. to congratulate or express joy for someone’s success or good fortune
vt. (archaic) to make happy or bring joy
felicitate = felic<happy> + itate<verb suffix>
- felic: From Latin felix (happy, fortunate), retained in English as a root denoting happiness.
- itate: A verb-forming suffix derived from Latin -itare, indicating causation or repeated action.
Etymology Origin:
The word "felicitate" traces back to the Latin felicitare, meaning "to make happy." The root felix (happy) is foundational in Romance languages (e.g., Spanish feliz). The suffix -itate was adopted into English via Medieval Latin to form verbs of action. Over time, "felicitate" narrowed to its modern sense of formal congratulation, reflecting societal emphasis on celebrating achievements.
The team gathered to felicitate their leader on the project’s success.
In her speech, she took a moment to felicitate the award winners.
The king felicitated the hero with a grand ceremony.
It’s customary to felicitate newlyweds with heartfelt wishes.
The community felicitated the scholar for her groundbreaking research.