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Praise

[preyz]

Example Sentences Origin

noun

the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.

the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship: a hymn of praise to God.

the state of being approved or admired: The king lived in praise for many years.

Archaic. a ground for praise, or a merit.

verb (used with object)

to express approval or admiration of; commend; extol.

to offer grateful homage to (God or a deity), as in words or song.

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Praise is one of our favorite verbs.

So is peculate. Does it mean:

to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.

to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.

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Idiom

sing someone's praises, to praise someone publicly and enthusiastically: He is always singing his wife's praises.

Origin:
1175–1225; (v.) Middle English preisen < Old French preisier to value, prize < Late Latin pretiāre, derivative of Latin pretium price, worth, reward; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.; see prize²

Related forms

praise·ful, adjective

praise·ful·ly, adverb

praise·less, adjective

prais·er, noun

half-praised, adjective

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half-prais·ing, adjective

out·praise, verb (used with object), -praised, -prais·ing.

re·praise, verb (used with object), -praised, -prais·ing.

self-praise, noun

self-prais·ing, adjective

su·per·praise, noun, verb (used with object), -praised, -prais·ing.

un·praised, adjective

un·praise·ful, adjective

un·prais·ing, adjective

COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1. acclamation, plaudit, applause, approbation, compliment. 2. encomium, eulogy, panegyric. 5. laud, applaud, eulogize. See approve. 6. glorify, exalt, honor.

Antonyms
1. condemnation. 5. depreciate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Praise

Example Sentences

Like faint praise, anonymous criticism is empty criticism.

And rewards and praise would still be in place, since we want to encourage this kind of behaviour in those capable of it.

Just stopping by to praise you for the wonderful read.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

praise (preɪz)

—n
1.	the act of expressing commendation, admiration, etc
2.	the extolling of a deity or the rendering of homage and gratitude to a deity
3.	the condition of being commended, admired, etc
4.	archaic the reason for praise
5.	sing someone's praises to commend someone highly

—vb
6.	to express commendation, admiration, etc, for
7.	to proclaim or describe the glorious attributes of (a deity) with homage and thanksgiving

[C13: from Old French preisier, from Late Latin pretiāre to esteem highly, from Latin pretium prize; compare prize², precious]

'praiser

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

praise

early 13c., from O.Fr. preisier "to praise, value," from L.L. preciare, earlier pretiare (c.550; see price). Replaced O.E. lof, hreþ. The noun is attested from early 15c., not common until 16c. Now a verb in most Gmc. languages (Ger. preis, Dan. pris, etc.), but only

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in English is it differentiated in form from cognate price. Praiseworthy is first recorded 1530s.

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

praise

In addition to the idiom beginning with praise, also see damn with faint praise; sing someone's praises.