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Glite Dictionary
to felicitate

to felicitate

1 9.6
To congratulate someone on a success or special occasion
  • verb
  • /fəˈlɪsɪˌteɪt/
  • Formal
: felicitar
  • I would like to felicitate you on your recent promotion at work.

Examples

  • She was eager to felicitate her friend on graduating from university.

  • I felicitate His Highness on the devotion of his women.

    Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

  • The community gathered to felicitate the athlete for winning the championship.

Synonyms

to praise
vsto felicitate
381 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

is specifically a formal expression tied to achievements or special occasions
to cheer
vsto felicitate
317 1.0

To shout to show support for someone or something

is a formal expression of good wishes rather than loud vocal support
to congratulate
vsto felicitate
207 2.4

To tell someone you are happy about their success or good news

is more formal and used in official or ceremonial language
to applaud
vsto felicitate
172 3.2

To show praise in public for a person or idea

is a formal verbal expression of good wishes rather than a physical public gesture
to celebrate
vsto felicitate
170 2.1

To praise someone in public for something they did

is a formal expression of good wishes rather than a public honoring event
to hail
vsto felicitate
  • Literature
156 4.1

To welcome or praise someone publicly and enthusiastically

is reserved for formal messages of good wishes, not general greeting or welcome
to compliment
vsto felicitate
102 1.6

To say something nice about someone or their work

is used for formal good wishes about achievements, not casual personal praise
to commend
vsto felicitate
85 4.4

To praise someone or something for good work

is reserved for formal good wishes about specific achievements rather than general approval
to acclaim
vsto felicitate
62 4.5

To praise someone in public with great excitement for their success

is a formal, polite expression of good wishes rather than loud enthusiastic welcome
to laud
vsto felicitate
  • Formal
32 7.7

To praise someone publicly in a formal way

is focused on formal good wishes specifically for achievements or occasions
to offer congratulations
vsto felicitate
  • Formal
6 2.8

To tell someone you are happy for their success

is the same action but used in fixed polite phrases more often

Antonyms

to criticize
653 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

to condemn
305 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

How Formal

to honor
  • US
722 2.3
to felicitate
  • Formal
1 9.6
to congratulate
207 2.4

Surface Forms

felicitate infinitive
felicitated past
felicitated past participle
felicitating present participle
felicitates third person singular

Morphology

felicitate = felicity (semi-transparent) = felicit + ate

The verb is formed from 'felicity' with the suffix '-ate', but the meaning 'to congratulate' is not fully predictable from the base.

Etymology

Felicitate comes from the old Latin word felix, which means 'happy' or 'lucky', and it is the same root as the name Felix and the word felicity. So to felicitate someone is to make them happy by congratulating them or offering good wishes.