The word gratitude contains a root that means “cheerful.” “polite.” “joyous.” “pleasing.”
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: “pleasing.”
Explanation (300 words):
The word “gratitude” originates from the Latin word gratus, which means “pleasing”, “thankful”, or “agreeable.” This root is the key to understanding the deeper meaning of the word “gratitude.”
In Latin, gratus served as a base for several English words, all of which share themes of thankfulness, kindness, or something being welcome or pleasing. For example, “gracious,” “gratuity,” “grateful,” and “gratify” all come from the same root and retain a sense of appreciation or pleasure.
The word “gratitude” itself is formed by combining gratus with the suffix -tude, which is used to form abstract nouns and refers to a state or condition. So, “gratitude” literally means the state of being pleasing or thankful.
Though gratitude is often associated with feelings of joy, cheerfulness, or politeness, those are not the core meanings of the root gratus. “Cheerful” and “joyous” relate more closely to emotional expressions, while “polite” refers to manners and social behavior. The concept of “pleasing,” however, is foundational. It reflects the quality of being appreciated or welcomed, which is at the heart of gratitude.
In practice, gratitude is the feeling or attitude of thankfulness and appreciation for kindness or help received. When someone does something “pleasing” or favorable to us, our emotional and social response is one of gratitude. That response, rooted in the Latin gratus, shows how the idea of something being pleasing or agreeable is embedded in the word itself.
So, the correct answer is “pleasing” because the root gratus conveys that specific idea, forming the basis of the word “gratitude.”