Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-GRAT'U-LATE, v.t. [L. congratulor; con and gratulor, from gratus, grateful, pleasing. See Grace.]

To profess one's pleasure or joy to another on account of an event deemed happy or fortunate, as on the birth of a child, success in an enterprise, victory, escape from danger, &c.; to wish joy to another. We congratulate the nation on the restoration of peace. Formerly this verb was followed by to. “The subjects of England may congratulate to themselves.” Dryden. But this use of to is entirely obsolete. The use of with after this verb, “I congratulate with my country,” is perhaps less objectionable, but is rarely used. The intransitive sense of the verb may therefore be considered as antiquated, and no longer legitimate.