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Webster 1913 Edition


Ingratiate

In-gra′ti-ate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ingratiated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Ingratiating
.]
[Pref.
in-
in + L.
gratia
. See
Grace
.]
1.
To introduce or commend to the favor of another; to bring into favor; to insinuate; – used reflexively, and followed by with before the person whose favor is sought.
Lysimachus . . .
ingratiated
himself both with Philip and his pupil.
Budgell.
2.
To recommend; to render easy or agreeable; – followed by to.
[Obs.]
Dr. J. Scott.
What difficulty would it [the love of Christ] not
ingratiate
to us?
Hammond.

In-gra′ti-ate

,
Verb.
I.
To gain favor.
[R.]
Sir W. Temple.

Webster 1828 Edition


Ingratiate

INGRA'TIATE

,
Verb.
T.
ingra'shate. [L. in and gratia, favor.]
1.
To commend one's self to another's good will, confidence or kindness. It is always used as a reciprocal verb,and followed by with, before the person whose favor is sought. Ministers and courtiers ingratiate themselves with their sovereign. Demagogues ingratiate themselves with the populace.
2.
To recommend; to render easy; used of things.

Definition 2024


ingratiate

ingratiate

English

Verb

ingratiate (third-person singular simple present ingratiates, present participle ingratiating, simple past and past participle ingratiated)

  1. (reflexive) To bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please him or her.
    • 1849, Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, ch. 15:
      [H]e 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:
      [H]e 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 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.
  2. (followed by to) To recommend; to render easy or agreeable.
    • c. 1650, Henry Hammond, "Sermon XIII" in Miscellaneous Theological Works of Henry Hammond, Volume 3 (1850 edition), p. 283 (Google preview):
      What difficulty would it [the love of Christ] not ingratiate to us?
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dr. J. Scott to this entry?)

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