I.a manifestation of joy; a wishing joy, congratulation; a rejoicing, joy (class.).
I. In gen., constr. usu. with gen. or absol.: “nuntiatur mihi, tantam isti gratulationem esse factam, ut, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 1, 8, 21: “gratulationes habere,” id. Mil. 35, 98: “unius diei,” id. Pis. 3, 7: “laudis nostrae gratulatio tua,” id. Att. 1, 17, 6: quam (imaginem parentis sui) paucis ante diebus laureatam in sua gratulatione conspexit, during the congratulations made to him (on account of obtaining the consulship), id. Mur. 41, 88: “cum gratulatione ac favore ingenti populi,” Liv. 4, 24, 7: “inter gratulationes amicorum,” Suet. Ner. 6: “(signum Dianae) in suis antiquis sedibus summa cum gratulatione civium et laetitia reponitur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 34, § 74; cf.: “quanta gratulatio consecuta est!” id. Fl. 39, 98: “hic parenti suo ... solatio in laboribus, gratulationi in victoria fuit,” id. Mur. 5, 12.—
II. (Acc. to gratulor, II.) A religious festival of joy and thanksgiving, a public thanksgiving (= supplicatio, obsecratio): “gratulatio, quam tuo nomine ad omnia deorum templa fecimus,” Cic. Fam. 11, 18 fin.: “is supplicationem mihi decrevit ... qui quaestori gratulationem decrevit,” id. Cat. 4, 5, 10; cf.: “ceteris bene gestā, mihi uni conservatā re publicā gratulationem decrevistis,” id. ib. 4, 10, 20: “diis immortalibus non erat exigua eadem gratulatio,” id. Prov. Cons. 11, 26: “gratae nostrae diis immortalibus gratulationes erunt,” id. Phil. 14, 3, 7: “tum patefacta gratulationi omnia in urbe templa,” Liv. 30, 40, 4 Weissenb. (al patuere, facta gratulatione): “civitatem in supplicationibus ac gratulationibus esse,” id. 8, 33, 20.
