gratuity
UK[ɡrəˈtjuːəti]US[ɡrəˈtuːəti]
n
a sum of money given to someone, such as a waiter or taxi driver, to thank them for their service; a tip.
n
a sum of money given to someone when they leave their job, especially in the armed forces.
Morpheme Breakdown
grat
uity
grat
pleasing
uity
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'gratuity' entered english in the 16th century from french 'gratuité', which itself stems from medieval latin 'gratuitas', meaning 'a free gift'. this latin term is built upon the root 'gratus', meaning 'pleasing' or 'thankful'. the conceptual link is clear: a gratuity is a gift of money given freely, out of a sense of thankfulness or to show pleasure with a service rendered. over time, its meaning specialized to refer specifically to a voluntary payment for service, distinguishing it from a compulsory wage or fee.
Analysis
Structure: grat (pleasing) + uity (noun suffix)
grat originates from latin 'gratus', meaning 'pleasing, thankful, agreeable'. uity is a noun-forming suffix derived from latin '-itas' (via old french '-ité'), indicating a state or condition.
Examples
the bill included a 15% service charge, but we left an additional gratuity for the excellent waiter.
it is customary to offer a gratuity to the hotel porter for carrying your luggage.
upon his retirement from the navy, he received a substantial gratuity.