Gratify, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gratified; p. pr. & vb. n. Gratifying.] — Webster enters it under “gratify”
Etymology: [F. gratifier, L. gratificari; gratus pleasing + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
1. To please; to give pleasure to; to satisfy; to soothe; to indulge; as, to gratify the taste, the appetite, the senses, the desires, the mind, etc. For who would die to gratify a foe Dryden.
2. To requite; to recompense. [Obs.] It remains . . . To gratify his noble service. Shak.
Syn. -- To indulge; humor please; delight; requite; recompense. -- To Gratify, Indulge, Humor. Gratify, is the generic term, and has reference simply to the pleasure communicated. To indulge a person implies that we concede something to his wishes or his weaknesses which he could not claim, and which had better, perhaps, be spared. To humor is to adapt ourselves to the varying moods, and, perhaps, caprices, of others. We gratify a child by showing him the sights of a large city; we indulge him in some extra expense on such an occasion; we humor him when he is tired and exacting.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for gratifying; he lists it under delightful.
Where he writes about it:
Grateful is stronger than agreeable or gratifying, indicating whatever awakens a feeling akin to gratitude. — from delightful