graciously

What it means

1. In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy.

   The lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings[…]

   1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

   3 more examples

   At this moment Lord Meersbrook stopped at Lady Anne's stand, and took out his pocket-book, on which, though much fluttered, she smiled most graciously, saying, "Thank you, my lord, I am most happy to see you, you are going to bring me good fortune. Here are purses, my lord, card-cases, pincushions———"

   1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXXIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 196

   Why, there has gone already to Rome a messenger to crave a second dispensation from his Popeship, and the King himself hath signed the request, praying that you and I should graciously be permitted to wed!

   1905, Samuel Rutherford Crockett, May Margaret: called "the fair maid of Galloway," - Page 184

   Now that he was next in line to the minister of state security himself, an 82 year old man whose dodderings Fang graciously covered up to save everyone's face, Fang had a huge problem.

   2001, Seth Kohn, Escape on the Silk Road, page 7

In a sentence

The lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings[…]

1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishgraciously
2. Englishgraciously

From Middle English graciously, graciousliche; equivalent to gracious + -ly.