v. [f. L. congrātulāt- ppl. stem of congrātulā-rī in same sense, f. con- together + grātulārī to manifest or express one’s joy: cf. F. congratuler (14th c. in Littré; now somewhat archaic).]
† 1. intr. To rejoice along with another; to express to a person one’s pleasure or gratification at his good fortune, success, or happiness. Const. with the person, for, on the thing. In later use congratulate with = congratulate trans., sense 4. Obs.
1577–87. Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), II. 252. The governor therefore, to congratulate with the earl for his return, restored unto him the chancellorship.
1598. Florio, Congratulare, to congratulate, to reioice togither.
1609. Bible (Douay), Luke i. 58. And they congratulated with her.
1619. Doncaster, Lett., in Eng. & Germ. (Camd. Soc.), 201. If his Maty shall command me to returne to Francfurt to congratulate with King Ferdinand when he shall be elected King of the Romans.
1647. Cromwell, Lett., 14 Sept. (Carlyle). Occasion as to congratulate so abundantly to rejoice in God’s gracious dispensation unto you and by you.
1732. Swift, Lett. to Gay, Wks. 1761, VIII. 133. I congratulate with you, for losing your great acquaintance.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), II. XVIII. 415. An ambassador had been sent to congratulate with the Duke on this desirable event.
1820. J. Talbot, in Parr’s Wks. (1828), VII. 26. Many who will congratulate with you upon the addition of another year to [your] venerable age.
1824. Lamb, Lett. to Barton, 24 March. I therefore most sincerely congratulate with you.
† 2. trans. To express sympathetic joy on the occasion of; to express joy, pleasure, or satisfaction at (an event or circumstance). Obs.
1577–87. Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), II. 272. Wherefore ambassadors were sent from the queen regent to Philip and Marie to congratulate their marriage.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, II. 64 (R.). To see So many hands and hearts congratulate Th’ advancement of his long-desir’d degree.
1664. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 161. I congratulate the happiness of your kingdom.
1688. Bp. Thomas, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 332. I thank you for your congratulating my recovery.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 168, ¶ 2. I send you this to congratulate your late Choice of a Subject.
1766. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. v. 93. The obsequious assembly congratulated their own and the public felicity.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 226. Verses and sonnets … congratulated our wedding-day.
1805. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., III. 512. The friends of liberty came to congratulate his arrival.
1819. Hazlitt, Polit. Ess., 88. Mr. Southey … congratulates the successes of the son.
† b. To express such joy by some significant act; to celebrate with. Obs.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 2. You are most hartily welcome, and I … to congratulate your comming, will impart vnto you the substance and effect therof in as few words as I can.
1614. Bp. Hall, Recollect. Treat., 289. I desired to congratulate your happy Returne with some worthy present.
1636. Winthrop, Hist. New Eng. (1825), I. 187. The ships congratulated his election with a volley of great shot.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 415. The university of Oxford congratulated his birth with printed poems.
† c. Const. to, unto, the person, also with indirect obj. (dative). Obs.
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. iii. 143. They may congratulate to themselues the warme side they walke in.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 228. These are blessings which … all our friends have congratulated unto us.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., Ded. The Subjects of England may justly congratulate to themselves that both … our Government, and … our King secure us from any such Complaint.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. vii. 106. Should I not … congratulate you this so great happiness … befallen you. Ibid. Congratulate England her felicity and her Queen.
1710. R. Ward, Life H. More, 59. To whom he heartily congratulated such Dignities.
† d. Const. with the person. Obs.
1618. Mrq. Buckingham, in Fortescue Papers, 49. To congratulate with him the rendring of that town.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 136. An Ambassador … sent to congratulate with their Majesties, the happy birth of their second Daughter.
1705. Bp. Patrick, Comm. 2 Kings x. 15. Who … came … to congratulate with him his happiness in fulfilling God’s commands.
† 3. To rejoice at (a thing); to hail. Obs.
1622. Donne, Serm., Lam. iv. 20, Wks. 1839, V. 207. Whosoever, in rectified affections, hath lamented a danger and then congratulated a deliverance, he will provide against a relapse.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, II. 286. See what Marriage and Repentance may bring a Man to! I heartily congratulate this Change.
4. To address (a person) with expressions of joy or satisfaction on an occasion considered fortunate; ‘to compliment upon any happy event’ (J.); to felicitate. Const. on, upon (formerly for), or with clause.
1548. Hall, Chron., 164 b. The enhabitauntes … sent to him messengers … thanking and congratulating him for his thither comming.
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xviii. 10. Hee sent Hadoram his sonne to King Dauid … to congratulate [Heb. blesse] him, because hee had fought against Hadarezer.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xviii. (1675), 276. Eusebius … congratulated my Friend for his escape.
1667–8. Pepys, Diary, 5 March. All the world … did congratulate me, and cry up my speech as the best thing they ever heard.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Pal. & Arc., III. 730. The king in person … Comforts the sick, congratulates the sound.
1769. Bp. Warburton, Lett. (1809), 445. To congratulate him in having got well rid of [them].
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 8. Am I to congratulate an highwayman … who has broke prison, upon the recovery of his natural rights?
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 49. Clive … congratulated them on the good fortune which had freed them from a tyrant.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, I. 27. Congratulating him about his success in the School of Art.
b. refl. To call or account oneself happy or fortunate in relation to some matter. (Same Const.)
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., i. 2. To congratulate our selves that we are neither Turks nor Papists.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 206, ¶ 9. He often congratulated himself that he had none of that disgusting excellence, [etc.].
1796. Burney, Mem. Metastasio, III. 45. Congratulating myself for the good fortune which has procured me such valuable friends.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 79. We congratulated ourselves upon this.
c. absol. To offer congratulations.
1630. J. Rous, Diary (Camd.), 56. The Spanish embassador, coming to the King to congratulate, fell all along.
a. 1800. Cowper, Ep. Protest. Lady. A stranger’s purpose in these lays Is to congratulate and not to praise.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. VI. iii. Mayor Pache, not prompt enough in denouncing these Pitt Plots, may congratulate about them now.
† 5. To salute. Obs.
1578. Thynne, Perf. Ambass., Ep. Ded. But also desirous … to congratulate your Lordship with the tokens of my old vowed fidelitie.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 93. It is the Kings most sweet pleasure and affection, to congratulate the Princesse at her Pauilion.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxiv. (Arb.), 292. To congratulat and salute by giuing a becke with the head, or a bende of the bodie.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., II. i. Hee is a Souldier … Let the Instruments Of warre congratulate his memorie.
† 6. To offer or present by way of congratulation.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., vii. 304. To whose memory and prayse I am not able to Congratulate the least Commendations their Heroicke dispositions deserued at my hands. Ibid., x. 427. After Congratulating Complements, he being returned ashoar, dismissed the Burgers and their Arms.
