]ē, ]i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French gratuité, from Latin gratuitus + Middle French -té -ty
1.
a. : graciousness especially of manner or conduct : courteous consideration
her manner completely lacking in gratuity
b. : an act of graciousness : a graceful courtesy
all sorts of little gratuities of behavior — Elizabeth Bowen
2. : something given voluntarily or over and above what is due usually in return for or in anticipation of some service: as
a. chiefly Britain
(1) : a cash sum given a soldier when he reenlists, retires, or is honorably discharged
(2) : a lump sum paid in addition to pension to a retiring employee especially under civil service
b. : tip VIII
c. : a payment intended to influence a person in the payer's behalf usually improperly : bribe
d. : a payment made to a released convict in order to help him reestablish himself in society and sometimes in lieu of wages for labor performed in prison
e. : death benefit
3. obsolete : payment made or due for services : wages
4. : the quality or state of being gratuitous