Praise and Price Are the Same Word
To praise is to express approval. It comes from the Latin for price, and so do prize and appraise.
To praise is to express warm approval. The Latin *pretium* means a price or value, and it produced a whole cluster in English: *price*, *prize*, *appraise*, *precious* and *praise* itself. To praise something was originally to set a value on it, and the sense of approval grew from that valuation.
- To express approval. *Praise the work.*
- Expressions of approval. *High praise.*
- Worship. *Songs of praise.*
- Damn with faint praise — to criticise by understating. *Damned with faint praise.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | praise | Praise the effort. |
| Noun | praise | Warm praise. |
| Adjective | praiseworthy | A praiseworthy aim. |
| Related | price | A fair price. |
| Related | prize | A first prize. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Praise and price are the same word.Latin *pretium*.
- Damn with faint praise.Alexander Pope's phrase.
- To appraise is to set a value.Not to inform, which is apprise.
Words from *pretium*, price
- Praise — to set a value on
- Price — what something costs
- Prize — something valued
- Appraise — to assess value
- Precious — of great value
From Old French *preisier*, to value or praise, from Late Latin *pretiare*, from *pretium*, a price.
Appraise or apprise?
Appraise means to assess the value of something. Apprise means to inform someone. They are easily confused.
What does *damn with faint praise* mean?
To criticise indirectly by praising only mildly, implying that nothing better could be said.