词源 |
gratuitous adj.1650s, "freely bestowed," from Latin gratuitus "done without pay, spontaneous, voluntary," from gratus "pleasing, agreeable," from gratia "favor" (from suffixed form of PIE root *gwere- (2) "to favor"). Earlier was gratuital (1590s). Sense of "uncalled for, done without good reason" is first recorded 1690s. updated on October 19, 2017 |