gratuity

== English == === Etymology === From Middle French gratuité (from Old French gratuite) or directly from Medieval Latin gratuitas (“a free gift”), from Latin gratuitus (“freely given, free”); see gratuitous. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ɡɹəˈtjuːətɪ/ (US) IPA(key): /ɡɹəˈtuːətɪ/ === Noun === gratuity (plural gratuities) An additional payment given freely as thanks for service. Euphemistic form of fee, in contexts where such additional payments have been made obligatory. Euphemistic form of bribe. ==== Synonyms ==== (additional payment offered in thanks): douceur, grace, pourboire, tip; baksheesh (Turkish and Middle Eastern contexts); cumshaw (SE Chinese contexts; archaic); see also gift (obligatory fee): service charge; douceur, tip (euphemistic) (bribe): Thesaurus:bribe (additional gift from a vendor): lagniappe ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== gratis gratuitous gratuitously ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== “gratuity”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “gratuity”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.