grace

¹

[ greys ]

noun

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action:

   We watched her skate with effortless grace across the ice.

   Synonyms: class, refinement, charm, attractiveness

2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment:

   He lacked the manly graces.

3. favor or goodwill.

   Synonyms: benevolence, benignity, love, kindliness, kindness

4. a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior:

   It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.

   Synonyms: charity, forgiveness

   Antonyms: disfavor, enmity, animosity

5. mercy; clemency; pardon:

   He was saved by an act of grace from the governor.

   Synonyms: reprieve, leniency, lenity

6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against them or a penalty applied: Compare grace period.

   The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses.

8. Theology.
   1. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
   2. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
   3. a virtue or excellence of divine origin:

      the Christian graces.

   4. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength:

   the grace to perform a duty.

10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given:

    Grandfather will now say grace.

11. Usually Grace. a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually preceded by your, his, etc.).
12. Graces, Classical Mythology. the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae.
13. Music. grace note.

verb (used with object)

, graced, grac·ing.

1. to lend or add grace to; adorn:

   Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.

   Synonyms: enhance, ornament, decorate, deck, beautify, embellish

   Antonyms: demean, desecrate, disfigure

2. to favor or honor:

   to grace an occasion with one's presence.

   Synonyms: exalt, elevate, glorify

   Antonyms: dishonor, disrespect

Grace

²

[ greys ]

noun

1. William Russell, 1832–1904, U.S. financier and shipping magnate, born in Ireland: mayor of New York City 1880–88.
2. a female given name.

Grace

¹

/ ɡreɪs /

noun

1. GraceW(illiam) G(ilbert)18481915MEnglishSPORT AND GAMES: cricketer W ( illiam ) G ( ilbert ). 1848–1915, English cricketer

grace

²

/ ɡreɪs /

noun

1. elegance and beauty of movement, form, expression, or proportion
2. a pleasing or charming quality
3. goodwill or favour
4. the granting of a favour or the manifestation of goodwill, esp by a superior
5. a sense of propriety and consideration for others
6. plural
   1. affectation of manner (esp in the phrase airs and graces )
   2. in someone's good graces regarded favourably and with kindness by someone
7. mercy; clemency
8. Christianity
   1. the free and unmerited favour of God shown towards man
   2. the divine assistance and power given to man in spiritual rebirth and sanctification
   3. the condition of being favoured or sanctified by God
   4. an unmerited gift, favour, etc, granted by God
9. a short prayer recited before or after a meal to invoke a blessing upon the food or give thanks for it
10. music a melodic ornament or decoration
11. See days of grace
    See days of grace
12. with bad grace
    with bad gracewith a bad grace unwillingly or grudgingly
13. with good grace
    with good gracewith a good grace willingly or cheerfully

verb

1. tr to add elegance and beauty to

   flowers graced the room

2. tr to honour or favour

   to grace a party with one's presence

3. to ornament or decorate (a melody, part, etc) with nonessential notes

Grace

³

/ ɡreɪs /

noun

1. preceded byyour, his, or her a title used to address or refer to a duke, duchess, or archbishop

Other Words From

• grace·like adjective
• un·graced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grace¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin grātia “favor, kindness, esteem,” derivative of grātus “pleasing”

Word History and Origins

Origin of grace¹

C12: from Old French, from Latin grātia, from grātus pleasing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. but for the grace of God, under less fortunate circumstances:

   But for the grace of God, the brick that just fell from the roof would have hit me on the head!

2. by the grace of God, thankfully; fortunately:

   By the grace of God, I won't have to deal with tax returns for another year.

3. fall from grace,
   1. Theology. to relapse into sin or disfavor.
   2. to lose favor; be discredited:

      He fell from grace when the boss found out he had lied.

4. have the grace to, to be so kind as to:

   Would you have the grace to help, please?

5. in someone's good / bad graces, regarded with favor (or disfavor) by someone:

   It is a wonder that I have managed to stay in her good graces this long.

6. with bad grace, reluctantly; grudgingly: Also with a bad grace.

   He apologized, but did so with bad grace.

7. with good grace, willingly; ungrudgingly:

   She took on the extra work with good grace.

More idioms and phrases containing grace

see fall from grace ; in someone's bad graces ; in someone's good graces ; saving grace ; say grace ; there but for the grace of god ; with good grace .

Example Sentences

For all the power, grace and technical skill demanded of elite gymnastics, the true measure of greatness is determined by fractions of a point awarded by a panel of judges.

From Washington Post

In the opening of “Smoke,” Isaiah has put his little house in East Long Beach on the market, bid a painful farewell to the love of his life, an artist named Grace, and hit the road.

From Washington Post

In the last chat, Grace said, “Porto isn’t very good this year.”

From FiveThirtyEight

Hutchings nonetheless took a moment to ask for grace from frustrated parents, teachers and students.

From Washington Post

He spread his grace on everything and every one he came in contact with.

From Washington Post

But there is a big twist in this story that has left both Grace Castro and Lozoya frustrated and grasping for more answers.

From The Daily Beast

That is a reality that still eats at Grace Castro and Yvonne Lozoya.

From The Daily Beast

Twin girls, Greta and Grace, run around the floor in circles, wearing pink playsuits with tiny pink wings attached.

From The Daily Beast

They made quiet plans together, saying that when they had a child together, they wanted a girl called Grace.

From The Daily Beast

“Light trumps darkness, hope beats despair, grace wins over sin, love defeats hate, life conquers death,” the cardinal said.

From The Daily Beast

Many of them were delicious in the role; one of them was the embodiment of every womanly grace and charm.

From Project Gutenberg

They ranged from moving trunks to cleaning cisterns, and, by grace of all of them, Sim was doing very well.

From Project Gutenberg

She was growing a little stout, but it did not seem to detract an iota from the grace of every step, pose, gesture.

From Project Gutenberg

May looked along at the dimpled grace, And then at the saint-like, fair old face, “How funny!”

From Project Gutenberg

See the ease and grace of the lady in the sacque, who sits on the bank there, under the myrtles, with the guitar on her lap!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adorn
• bedeck
• decorate