Grace

[greɪs] or [ɡres]

Definition

(noun.) a disposition to kindness and compassion; 'the victor's grace in treating the vanquished'.

(noun.) (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God; 'God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners'; 'there but for the grace of God go I'.

(noun.) elegance and beauty of movement or expression; 'a beautiful figure which she used in subtle movements of unparalleled grace'.

(noun.) a short prayer of thanks before a meal; 'their youngest son said grace'.

(noun.) (Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors.

(noun.) (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence; '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'.

Checker: Rhonda--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.

(n.) 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.

(n.) The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon.

(n.) The same prerogative when exercised in the form of equitable relief through chancery.

(n.) Fortune; luck; -- used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune.

(n.) Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.

(n.) Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.

(n.) 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.

(n.) The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.

(n.) Thanks.

(n.) A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.

(n.) 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.

(n.) An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.

(n.) 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.

(v. t.) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.

(v. t.) To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.

(v. t.) To supply with heavenly grace.

(v. t.) To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.

Editor: Pratt

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Favor, kindness, condescension, benignity, love, good-will.[2]. Divine goodness or favor, divine influence, God's love.[3]. Piety, devotion, devoutness, holiness, religion, sanctity.[4]. Pardon, forgiveness, mercy.[5]. Elegance, polish, refinement, accomplishment.[6]. Beauty, symmetry, comeliness, gracefulness, ease.[7]. Short prayer (over food at table).[8]. (Music.) Embellishment (appoggiatura, shake, trill, turn).

v. a. [1]. Adorn, decorate, beautify, embellish, deck.[2]. Dignify, honor.

Typist: Lottie

Synonyms and Antonyms

SYN:Favor, beauty, condescension, kindness, elegance, charm, excellence, pardon,mercy

ANT:Disfavor, deformity, unkindness, pride, inelegance, awkwardness, gawkiness

Checked by Jennie

Definition

n. easy elegance in form or manner: what adorns and commends to favour: embellishment: favour: pardon: the undeserved mercy of God: divine influence: eternal life or salvation: a short prayer at meat: an act or decree of the governing body of an English university: a ceremonious title in addressing a duke or an archbishop: (pl.) favour friendship (with good): (myth.) the three sister goddesses in whom beauty was deified (the Greek Charites) Euphrosyne Aglaia Thalia.—v.t. to mark with favour: to adorn.—n. Grace′-cup a cup or health drunk at the last of the feast.—adjs. Graced (Shak.) virtuous chaste; Grace′ful elegant and easy: marked by propriety or fitness becoming.—adv. Grace′fully.—n. Grace′fulness.—adjs. Grace′less wanting grace or excellence: depraved: wicked.—adv. Grace′lessly.—n. Grace′lessness.—ns. Grace′-note (mus.) a note introduced as an embellishment not being essential to the harmony or melody; Grace′-stroke a finishing stroke coup de gr鈉e; Graciō′so a clown in Spanish comedy a favourite.—adj. Grā′cious abounding in grace or kindness: benevolent: proceeding from divine favour: acceptable.—adv. Grā′ciously.—ns. Grā′ciousness state or quality of being gracious affability; Grācious′ity the same but usually in a bad sense as implying duplicity.—Days of grace three days allowed for the payment of a note or bill of exchange after being due according to its date; Fall from grace to backslide to lapse from the state of grace and salvation—an impossibility according to Calvinists.—Good gracious an exclamation of surprise.—In the good graces of in the friendship of; Saving grace divine grace so bestowed as to lead to salvation; Take heart of grace to take courage from favour shown.

Checked by Harriet