grace
/ɡɹeɪs/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms graces gracing graced
- noun (countable, uncountable) Charming, pleasing qualities. “The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.”
- noun (countable) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal. “It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.”
- noun (countable, card games) In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
- noun (countable, music) A grace note.
- noun (uncountable) Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise. “The dancer moved with grace and strength.”
- noun (uncountable, finance) An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which they are free of at least part of their normal obligations towards the creditor. “The repayment of the loan starts after a three-year grace.”
- noun Favor, sanction or beneficence. “The minister has extended his grace to our effort.”
- noun (uncountable, theology) Free and undeserved favour from God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin. “divine grace”
- verb (transitive) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify. “He graced the room with his presence.”
- verb (transitive) To dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour.
- verb (transitive) To supply with heavenly grace.
- verb (transitive, music) To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
- proper noun (countable) A female given name from English.
- proper noun (countable) A surname.
- proper noun A minor city in Caribou County, Idaho.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Kentucky.
- proper noun A census-designated place and unincorporated community in Issaquena County, Mississippi.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Carroll County, Missouri.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Laclede County, Missouri.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Silver Bow County, Montana.
Synonyms
gracefulness Divine Providence Providence mense saving grace state of grace gracility seemliness good will goodwill blessing thanksgiving grace of God free grace decorate adorn ornament embellish beautify deck
Etymology
From Middle English grace, from Old French grace (modern French grâce), from Latin grātia (“kindness, favour, esteem”), from grātus (“pleasing”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (“to praise, welcome”); compare grateful.
The word displaced the native Middle English held, hield (“grace”) (from Old English held, hyld (“grace”)), Middle English este (“grace, favour, pleasure”) (from Old English ēst (“grace, kindness, favour”)), Middle English athmede(n) (“grace”) (from Old English ēadmēdu (“grace”)), Middle English are, ore (“grace, mercy, honour”) (from Old English ār (“honour, grace, kindness, mercy”)).
From the noun grace, first used by Puritans in the 16th century. In Roman Catholic use it may refer to Our Lady of Graces, cognate with Italian Grazia.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
- noun The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.
- verb To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
- verb To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
Etymology [F. grâce, L. gratia, from gratus beloved, dear, agreeable; perh. akin to Gr. hary to desire, and E. yearn. Cf. Grateful, Gratis.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “grace”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details