grace en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ɡɹeɪs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
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”)).
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) Charming, pleasing qualities.
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.
1783, Hugh Blair, “Critical Examniation of the Style of Mr. Addison in No. 411 of The Spectator”, in Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres:The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.
Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversations:
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(countable) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.
- (countable) In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
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(countable) A grace note.
The Trill being the most usual Grace, is usually made in Closes, Cadences, and when on a long Note Exclamation or Passion is expressed, there the Trill is made in the latter part of such Note; but most usually upon binding Notes and such Notes as precede the closing Note.
1683, John Playford, An Introduction to the Skill of Musick: In Three Books, page 47:
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(uncountable) Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.
The dancer moved with grace and strength.
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(uncountable) 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.
With mounting anger the King denounced the pair, both father and son, and was about to condemn them to death when his strength gave out. Faint and trembling he was unable to walk and the sword fell from his hands as he murmured: 'May the Protector of the Buddhist Faith grant me but seven more days grace of life to be quit of this disloyal couple, father and son'.
1990, Claude de Bèze, translated by E. W. Hutchinson, 1688 revolution in Siam: the memoir of Father de Bèze, s.j, University Press, page 153:
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(countable, uncountable) Favor, sanction or beneficence.
The minister has extended his grace to our effort.
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(uncountable) Favor, sanction or beneficence. ▸ Free and undeserved favour from God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.
divine grace
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed vpō me, was not in vaine: But I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me:
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 15:10:When she sang in the kirk, folk have told me that they had a foretaste of the musick of the New Jerusalem, and when she came in by the village of Caulds old men stottered to their doors to look at her. Moreover, from her earliest days the bairn had some glimmerings of grace.
1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:Near-synonyms: Divine Providence, Providence
the grace of God
- (countable, uncountable) An act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
- (archaic, countable, uncountable) Mercy, pardon.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| graces | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
grace-cup · begrace · special grace · lack-grace · social grace · grace period · scapegrace · gracism · good graces · year of grace · airs and graces · engrace · covenant of grace · grace stroke · grace and favour · say grace · but for the grace of God · coup de grace · means of grace · time of grace · your grace · free grace · herb of grace · grace note · with ill grace · expectative grace · cooperating grace · graceless · prevenient grace · ungrace · irresistible grace · with good grace · gracist · misgrace · overgrace · heart of grace · fall from grace · grace and favor · state of grace · graceworthy · with bad grace · coup-de-grace · gracesome · there but for the grace of God go I · graceful · bowgrace · gracelike · saving grace
Relateds
gratitude (Terms related to grace (noun)) · God's gift · grateful (Terms related to grace (noun)) · gracious (Terms related to grace (noun))
Synonyms
Providence · gracefulness · Divine Providence
Translations (203)
pt carência (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · nl elegantie (elegant movement, poise or balance) · it tolleranza (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · it leggiadria (elegant movement, poise or balance) · fr grâce (elegant movement, poise or balance) · fa منت (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · bg грация (elegant movement, poise or balance) · nn nåde (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ja 恩恵 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ang milts (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · pt graça (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ru благода́ть (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ro grație (elegant movement, poise or balance) · mk гра́ција (elegant movement, poise or balance) · de Tischgebet (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr ihsan (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · el χάρη (elegant movement, poise or balance) · tr görgü (elegant movement, poise or balance) · fi armo (divine assistance in resisting sin) · he בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · ja 雅やか (elegant movement, poise or balance) · it benevolenza (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · it dilazione (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · hu asztali ima (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · mk ми́лост (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · id kasih karunia (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · sv uppskov (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ru ми́лость (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fi armo (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Gunst (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ur کَرَم (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · nb bordbønn (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · mk гре́јс перио́д (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ja 祈り (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr merhamet (divine assistance in resisting sin) · hy ողորմածություն (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Anmut (elegant movement, poise or balance) · bg благоволение (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ru милосе́рдие (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · mk благона́клоност (divine assistance in resisting sin) · grc χάρις (elegant movement, poise or balance) · fi sulous (elegant movement, poise or balance) · de Aufschub (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · mk елега́нтност (elegant movement, poise or balance) · non náð (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · la gratia deis (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ga grásta (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · pl gracja (elegant movement, poise or balance) · fa ناز (elegant movement, poise or balance) · gd loinn (elegant movement, poise or balance) · he חֵן (elegant movement, poise or balance) · mk о́тменост (elegant movement, poise or balance) · sv stöd (divine assistance in resisting sin) · it garbo (elegant movement, poise or balance) · el ευλογία (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · es gracia (elegant movement, poise or balance) · hu méltóság (elegant movement, poise or balance) · de Huld (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · tr letafet (elegant movement, poise or balance) · el χάρη (divine assistance in resisting sin) · hu elegancia (elegant movement, poise or balance) · it grazia (elegant movement, poise or balance) · sv bordsbön (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · cmn 恩惠 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Zahlungsfrist (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · pt graça (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · mk грацио́зност (elegant movement, poise or balance) · es gracias (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · hu kegy (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · pl dziękczynienie (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · hu haladék (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · hi आशीर्वाद (divine assistance in resisting sin) · pdt Gonst (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ru благоскло́нность (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · nl gratie (elegant movement, poise or balance) · it grazia (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ja 優雅 (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ro har (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Gnade (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ru ми́лость (divine assistance in resisting sin) · hi कृपा (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ro grație (divine assistance in resisting sin) · km លីឡ្ហា (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ru благоволе́ние (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · hu kecsesség (elegant movement, poise or balance) · tr lütuf (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · it benedicite (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr incelik (elegant movement, poise or balance) · hu báj (elegant movement, poise or balance) · bg отсрочка (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · et söögipalve (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr ertelenme süresi (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · es merced (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · tr kayra (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ca gràcia (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ja 恩寵 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ms limpah kurnia (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · sv bistånd (divine assistance in resisting sin) · eo gracio (elegant movement, poise or balance) · sv anstånd (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ms tempoh (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ja 加護 (divine assistance in resisting sin) · hu étkezés előtti/utáni ima (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · ro perioadă de grație (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ln ngolu (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ko 은혜 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · es donaire (elegant movement, poise or balance) · hy նազանք (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ru переды́шка (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · yi חן (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · hu kegyelem (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Fristverlängerung (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · fi ylväys (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ur عِنایَت (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · tr şükran duâsı (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · el παραχώρηση (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · hu jóindulat (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fa سپاسه (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fr miséricorde (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · pt graça (divine assistance in resisting sin) · yi חסד (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Gnade (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fo borðbøn (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · ga grásta (divine assistance in resisting sin) · mk бла́годат (divine assistance in resisting sin) · pam kalam (divine assistance in resisting sin) · th ความเมตตากรุณา (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · nb nåde (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · km សីល (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ms doa (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · fr grâce (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · gl graza (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ro rugăciune de mulțumire (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · pl łaska (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · hy շնորհ (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ru отсро́чка (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · hi फ़ैज़ (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · tr zarafet (elegant movement, poise or balance) · id rahmat (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · yue 恩典 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fr grâces (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · pl wdzięk (elegant movement, poise or balance) · hu türelmi idő (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · got 𐌰𐌽𐍃𐍄𐍃 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · he חֶסֶד (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · et palve (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · ota دعا (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · eo tablopreĝo (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · bni ngolu (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · eo graco (divine assistance in resisting sin) · he חֶסֶד (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · nl genade (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · cmn 恩典 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fi vapaajakso (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · nn bordbønn (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · ee amenuveve (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ga grástúlacht (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ru изя́щество (elegant movement, poise or balance) · mk мо́литва (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · fi ruokarukous (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr lutuf (divine assistance in resisting sin) · nl uitstel van betaling (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ro eleganță (elegant movement, poise or balance) · es benedícite (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · la gratia (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ro grație (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · eo graco (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · fr bénédicité (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · mk ми́лост (divine assistance in resisting sin) · pt graças (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · de Gunst (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · th พระคุณ (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · sv grace (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ga cairde (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ms lemah lembut (elegant movement, poise or balance) · es gracia (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · el χάρη (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · sw neema (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · it eleganza (elegant movement, poise or balance) · mk префи́нетост (elegant movement, poise or balance) · sv nåd (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ko 우아 (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ru моли́тва (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · hi आशीष (divine assistance in resisting sin) · bg елегантност (elegant movement, poise or balance) · it ringraziamento (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · tr sofra duası (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · no betalingsutsettelse (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · hu asztali áldás (short prayer of thanks before or after a meal) · hi अदा (elegant movement, poise or balance) · ja 加護 (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Huld (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ja 支払猶予期間 (allowance of time granted to a debtor — see also grace period) · ur ادا (elegant movement, poise or balance) · cy gras (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · hy շնորհ (divine assistance in resisting sin) · fr grâce (divine assistance in resisting sin) · ca gràcia (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · de Grazie (elegant movement, poise or balance) · cmn 優雅 /优雅 (elegant movement, poise or balance) · mk благона́клоност (free and undeserved favour, especially of God) · ru гра́ция (elegant movement, poise or balance) · grc χάρις (free and undeserved favour, especially of God)