ingrate
UK[ɪnˈɡreɪt]US[ˈɪnˌɡreɪt]
n
A person who is not grateful or who does not show thanks for a kindness or favor.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
grate
in
not
grate
pleasing, thankful
Etymology
The word "ingrate" entered English in the 14th century from the Latin adjective ingratus, meaning "unpleasant, ungrateful". This Latin term is itself a compound of the negative prefix in- ("not") and the adjective gratus ("pleasing, thankful"). The core concept of gratus is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root gʷerH-, meaning "to praise, welcome", which also gives us words like "grace", "gratitude", and "congratulate". Thus, the literal logic of "ingrate" is "not thankful", a meaning that has remained stable from its Latin origins to its modern use describing an ungrateful person.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + grate (pleasing, thankful)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not".
- grate: From Latin gratus, meaning "pleasing, thankful, agreeable".
Examples
After all I did for him, he never said thank you—what an ingrate.
She was labeled an ingrate for criticizing the very people who helped her succeed.
Do not be an ingrate; always acknowledge the support you receive.