congratulate Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb say something to someone that expresses praise
compliment.
- He complimented her on her last physics paper
verb express congratulations
felicitate.
verb be proud of
plume; pride.
- He prides himself on making it into law school
verb pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement
preen.

L. congratulatus, p.p. of congratulari to wish joy abundantly; con- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing. See Grateful.

imperfect & past participle Congratulated; present participle & verbal noun Congratulating

To address with expressions of sympathetic pleasure on account of some happy event affecting the person addressed; to wish joy to.
It is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion. Shak.
Syn. -- To Congratulate, Felicitate. To felicitate is simply to wish a person joy. To congratulate has the additional signification of uniting in the joy of him whom we congratulate. Hence they are by no means synonymous. One who has lost the object of his affections by her marriage to a rival, might perhaps felicitate that rival on his success, but could never be expected to congratulate him on such an event.
Felicitations are little better than compliments; congratulations are the expression of a genuine sympathy and joy. Trench.

To express of feel sympathetic joy; as, to congratulate with one's country. R. Swift.
The subjects of England may congratulate to themselves. Dryden.