self-gratulation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   pleased reflection on one's own success, good fortune, or supposed merit; self-congratulation, often with a suggestion of complacency

   His account of the victory was marked by self-gratulation rather than gratitude to the team.

Formed from self- and gratulation. Gratulation came through Middle English gratulacyon from Latin gratulatio, 'a rejoicing or congratulation,' from gratulari, 'to show joy or congratulate,' ultimately related to gratus, 'pleasing, welcome, thankful.' The compound has been recorded since the late seventeenth century.

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