grace Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
    state of grace; saving grace.
    • the conception of grace developed alongside the conception of sin
    • it was debated whether saving grace could be obtained outside the membership of the church
    • the Virgin lived in a state of grace
  2. noun elegance and beauty of movement or expression
    gracility.
    • a beautiful figure which she used in subtle movements of unparalleled grace
  3. noun a sense of propriety and consideration for others
    seemliness.
    • a place where the company of others must be accepted with good grace
  4. noun a disposition to kindness and compassion
    good will; goodwill.
    • the victor's grace in treating the vanquished
  5. noun (Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
  6. noun a short prayer of thanks before a meal
    blessing; thanksgiving.
    • their youngest son said grace
  7. noun (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God
    free grace; grace of God.
    • God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners
    • there but for the grace of God go I
  8. verb make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
    ornament; embellish; beautify; decorate; adorn.
    • Decorate the room for the party
    • beautify yourself for the special day
  9. verb be beautiful to look at
    deck; embellish; beautify; decorate; adorn.
    • Flowers adorned the tables everywhere

WordNet

Grace noun
Etymology
F. grâce, L. gratia, from gratus beloved, dear, agreeable; perh. akin to Gr. to rejoice, favor, grace, Skr. hary to desire, and E. yearn. Cf. Grateful, Gratis.
Definitions
  1. The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
    To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee. Milton.
  2. (Theol.) 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.
    And if by grace, then is it no more of works. Rom. xi. 6.
    My grace is sufficicnt for thee. 2 Cor. xii. 9.
    Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20.
    By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Rom. v.2
  3. (Law) (a) The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon. (b) The same prerogative when exercised in the form of equitable relief through chancery.
  4. Fortune; luck; -- used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune. Obs. Chaucer.
  5. Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.
    He is complete in feature and in mind. With all good grace to grace a gentleman. Shak.
    I have formerly given the general character of Mr. Addison's style and manner as natural and unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over writing. Blair.
  6. Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.
    Grace in women gains the affections sooner, and secures them longer, than any thing else. Hazlitt.
    I shall answer and thank you again For the gift and the grace of the gift. Longfellow.
  7. pl. (Myth.) Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.
    The Graces love to weave the rose. Moore.
    The Loves delighted, and the Graces played. Prior.
  8. The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.
    How fares your Grace ! Shak.
  9. (Commonly pl.) Thanks. Obs.
    Yielding graces and thankings to their lord Melibeus. Chaucer.
  10. A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.
  11. pl. (Mus.) Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes, appeggiaturas, turns, etc.
  12. (Eng. Universities) An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree. Walton.
  13. pl. A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops. Syn. -- Elegance; comeliness; charm; favor; kindness; mercy. -- Grace, Mercy. These words, though often interchanged, have each a distinctive and peculiar meaning. Grace, in the strict sense of the term, is spontaneous favor to the guilty or undeserving; mercy is kindness or compassion to the suffering or condemned. It was the grace of God that opened a way for the exercise of mercy toward men. See Elegance.
Grace transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Graced ; present participle & verbal noun Gracing
Definitions
  1. To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
    Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line. Pope.
    We are graced with wreaths of victory. Shak.
  2. To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
    He might, at his pleasure, grace or disgrace whom he would in court. Knolles.
  3. To supply with heavenly grace. Bp. Hall.
  4. (Mus.) To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.

Webster 1913