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; granted without pay, or without claim or merit; not required by justice. We mistake the gratuitous blessings of Heaven for the fruits of our own industry. L'Estrange.

Gratuitous discharge; a release from debt or obligation without payment; free remission.

Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity. A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people. Acts x. 2. Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. Dryden. Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. Blackstone.

Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness. She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.

A gratuitous loan.

A bailment of money or goods to be kept gratuitously for the bailor.

pared and dispensed; esp., a place where the poor can obtain medical advice and medicines gratuitously or at a nominal price.

That which is given as a present; that which is transferred to another gratuitously; a gift. And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers. Shak.

One who gives or bestows; one who confers anything gratuitously; a benefactor.

A free and gratuitous right to lands made to one for service to be performed by him; a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money. Burrill.

Not gained by importunity or purchase; gratuitous; spontaneous; as, free admission; a free gift.

In a free manner; without restraint or compulsion; abundantly; gratuitously. Of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely eat. Gen. ii. 16. Freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. x. 8. Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Milton. Freely we serve Because we freely love. Milton.

The state or quality of being free; freedom; liberty; openness; liberality; gratuitousness.

For nothing; without fee or recompense; freely; gratuitously.

A hospital, or place where the infirm or sick are lodged and nursed gratuitously, or where out-patients are treated.

1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighboring poor. Johnson.

h one employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must have been gratuitous. Erskine.

ude." I. Taylor. Onerous cause (Scots Law), a good and legal consideration; -- opposed to gratuitous.

The act of offering a book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., to the public by sale or by gratuitous distribution. The publication of these papers was not owing to our folly, but that of others. Swift.

in Ireland, a kind of servile tenure which subjected the tenant to maintain his chieftain gratuitously whenever he wished to indulge in a revel. Spenser.