Plural of gratuity; money or gifts given voluntarily as thanks for service, usually tips or bonuses.
From Latin 'gratuitous' (freely given), which comes from 'gratus' (pleasing, thankful). The word entered English in the 1600s as a formal term for voluntary gifts, especially tips.
The word 'gratuity' literally means 'something given out of gratitude,' but interestingly, modern gratuities (like restaurant tips) are often somewhat obligatory—a linguistic contradiction showing how social customs shift while word meanings lag behind.
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