grace

plural graces

1. countableuncountableCharming, pleasing qualities.

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

   2 more examples

   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

   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

2. countableA short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.

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

3. countablecard gamesIn the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
4. countableentertainmentA 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

5. uncountableElegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

   The dancer moved with grace and strength.

   Synonyms: gracefulness

6. uncountablebusinessAn 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.

   1 more example

   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

7. countableuncountableFavor, sanction or beneficence.

   The minister has extended his grace to our effort.

   1. uncountablelifestyleFree and undeserved favour from God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.

      divine grace

      4 more examples

      Near-synonyms: Divine Providence, Providence

      the grace of God

      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

      Synonyms: Divine Providence, Providence

8. countableuncountableAn act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
9. archaiccountableuncountableMercy, pardon.

present singular third person graces · participle present gracing · participle past graced · past graced

1. transitiveTo adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.

   He graced the room with his presence.

   5 more examples

   He graced the room by simply being there.

   His portrait graced a landing on the stairway.

   Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line.

   c. 1699 – 1703, Alexander Pope, “The First Book of Statius His Thebais”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC

   We are graced with wreaths of victory.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]

   I wasn't at the launch back in 2006, but I had attended Siemens and TPE unveiling the type's mock-up back in April 2004, with a picture that graced the cover of RAIL 486.

   2026 April 1, Philip Haigh, “Close encounter with '185s' inside Ardwick depot...”, in RAIL, number 1058, page 42

2. transitiveTo dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour.

   He might, at his pleasure, grace […]or disgrace whom he would in court.

   1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC

3. transitiveTo supply with heavenly grace.

   Thy first publique miracle graceth a marriage

   1612–1634, [Joseph Hall], “(please specify the page)”, in [Contemplations vpon the Principall Passages of the Holy Storie], volume (please specify |volume=I to VIII), London, →OCLC

4. transitiveentertainmentTo add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.

   For D and E, the G and A fingers are generally used for gracing, though E is sometimes more conveniently graced by F#.

   1987, L. E. McCullough, The Complete Irish Tin Whistle Tutor (New & Revised), page 22

plural Graces

1. countableA female given name from English.

   To The Handsome Mistress Grace Potter: As is your name, so is your comely face / Touch'd everywhere with such a diffused grace /

   1648, Robert Herrick, Hesperides

   4 more examples

   Grace does not belie her name; for she is indeed a sweet girl, modest and unassuming, and appearing to be unconscious of having done anything great or noble. - OBSERVER, Dec.16, 1838.

   1839, George William MacArthur Reynolds, Grace Darling, or the Heroine of the Fern Islands, page 24

   They named me Grace and waited for a light and agile dancer. / But some trick of genes mixed me up / And instead I turned out big and black and burly.

   1965 Naomi Long Madgett: Her Story, Star By Star, Harlo Press

   Had I given birth to a daughter of my own, I'd like to have called her Grace, a classic and poetic name, one that illuminates a person of dignity and poise.

   2002 June, Deborah Paul, “Amazing Grace”, in Indianapolis Monthly, page 249

   Whether at work or as the protective single mother to her teenage daughter, Abbie (Grace Kaufman), Margaret is a model of calculated control.

   2022 July 28, Jeannette Catsoulis, “‘Resurrection’ Review: Mother of Fears”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 30 Sep 2022

2. countableA surname.
3. A placename in the United States:
   1. countableuncountableA minor city in Caribou County, Idaho.
   2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Kentucky.
   3. countableuncountableA census-designated place and unincorporated community in Issaquena County, Mississippi.
   4. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Carroll County, Missouri.
   5. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Laclede County, Missouri.
   6. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Silver Bow County, Montana.
   7. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia.
   8. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Roane County, West Virginia.

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment.

   Since the Tibetan plateau contains a lot of “closed” catchments, from which meltwater cannot easily escape, large amounts of melting could happen without GRACE detecting them.

   2013 May 11, “The climate of Tibet: Pole-land”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2020, page 80