Agradar & Agradecer

[laepelba]

Okay, you guys who are really into etymology ... do these two words have some etymological relationship?

[JPablo]

Yes indeed! I am pleased to tell you so. And thank you for asking.

To one degree or another, "agradar" comes from "grado" which comes from "gratus" = grato = pleasant

http://etimologias.dechile.net/?gracias

El significado original de gracias es "con placer" o "con agrado", satisfacción, goce. Al decir gracias estamos diciendo "te reconozco responsable de la satisfacción que siento en este momento". Ese es el sentimiento y la actitud que refleja el término.

(quoted from here) http://anakiell.multiply.com/journal/item/42

So, "agradecer" comes from "gradecer", in the sense of "dar las gracias" (thanking, with pleasure...)

I am not an authority on the matter, but if I am wrong... someone can correct me!

[poli]

not to be confused with agredir

[laepelba]

JPablo - thanks! Very interesting!!

Poli - I haven't heard that word before ... and see that it seems to have an opposing sort of meaning. Do you think that the roots/etymologies of the words are related?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Poli - I haven't heard that word before ... and see that it seems to have an opposing sort of meaning. Do you think that the roots/etymologies of the words are related?

agredir comes from Latin aggredi to attack, and I don't think there is a connection with gratus, thankful, -> Late L gratum-> agradar.