| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| praise |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  pr z |
| NOUN: | 1. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration. 2. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero. 3. Archaic A reason for praise; merit. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: praised, prais·ing, prais·es
1. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for. 2. To extol or exalt; worship. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English preise, from preisen, to praise, from Old French preisier, from Late Latin pretire, to prize, from Latin pretium, price. See per-5 in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | prais er —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | praise, acclaim, commend, extol, laud These verbs mean to express approval or admiration. To praise is to voice approbation, commendation, or esteem: “She was enthusiastically praising the beauties of Gothic architecture” (Francis Marion Crawford). Acclaim usually implies hearty approbation warmly and publicly expressed: The film was highly acclaimed by many critics. Commend suggests moderate or restrained approval, as that accorded by a superior: The judge commended the jury for their hard work. Extol suggests exaltation or glorification: “that sign of old age, extolling the past at the expense of the present” (Sydney Smith). Laud connotes respectful or lofty, often inordinate praise: “aspirations which are lauded up to the skies” (Charles Kingsley).
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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