grace

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a disposition to kindness and compassion

   the victor's grace in treating the vanquished

2. 2
   noun

   (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God

   God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners

3. 3
   noun

   a sense of propriety and consideration for others

   a place where the company of others must be accepted with good grace

4. 4
   noun

   elegance and beauty of movement or expression

   They made subtle movements of unparalleled grace.

5. 5
   noun

   a short prayer of thanks before a meal

   their youngest son said grace

6. 6
   noun

   Charming, pleasing qualities.

   The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.

7. 7
   noun

   A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.

   It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.

8. 8
   noun

   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.

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,…