# grace

Pronunciation: say "GRAYS" /ɡɹeɪs/

## Noun

1. Free and undeserved favor, especially from God; divine help given to people for their salvation, holiness, or strength against sin.
   - Simple: Kindness and help freely given by God, even though people have not earned it.
   - _The preacher reminded the congregation that God's grace is a gift no one can earn._
   - _The sermon explored how divine grace works in the lives of ordinary people._
2. The charming, pleasing qualities of manner or character that make a person or thing attractive and agreeable.
   - Simple: Charming, pleasing qualities that make someone or something nice to be around.
   - _There is a quiet grace in the way she treats strangers._
   - _The old house had a faded grace that charmed every visitor._
3. Elegance and ease of movement; balance and poise in the way the body moves.
   - Simple: A smooth, beautiful way of moving the body.
   - _The skater landed the jump with effortless grace._
   - _He carried the heavy tray through the crowd with unexpected grace._
6. A brief prayer offering thanks at a meal, said either before or after eating.
   - Simple: A short prayer to say thank you before or after eating a meal.
   - _The family paused to say grace before the holiday feast._
   - _He mumbled a quick grace and reached for the bread._
7. Extra time allowed after a deadline, especially for a payment, before a penalty applies or the obligation must be met.
   - Simple: Extra time to do something, such as pay a bill, before you get a penalty.
   - _The lender offered thirty days' grace before applying any late penalties._
   - _With a short period of grace, the borrower avoided defaulting on the loan._
8. An honorific, preceded by His, Her, or Your, for addressing or referring to a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop.
   - Simple: A title for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, used after His, Her, or Your.
   - _His Grace the Archbishop declined to comment on the synod's vote._
   - _If it pleases Your Grace, the guests will now be shown into the dining hall._
10. Enough decency and regard for others to act with courtesy or do what is proper, as in having the grace to apologize.
   - Simple: Being kind and decent enough to act politely or do the right thing.
   - _The senator did not even have the grace to admit the mistake._
   - _To his credit, the departing manager had the grace to thank every member of staff by name._
11. A quick ornamental note added to decorate a melody, not essential to its harmony.
   - Simple: A small extra note played quickly to decorate a tune.
   - _The flutist ornamented the melody with a delicate grace before the downbeat._
   - _Baroque players often improvised graces over the written line._
9. Mercy, pardon or leniency, especially as granted by one who holds the power to punish, or patience toward someone's mistakes.
   - Simple: Mercy, forgiveness or patience shown to someone who has done wrong or made a mistake.

## Verb

4. To adorn or decorate something, adding beauty or dignity, including ornamenting a melody with extra notes.
   - Simple: To make something more beautiful, for example as a decoration or with extra notes in music.
   - _Marble columns grace the entrance of the old courthouse._
   - _Her photographs graced the cover of the magazine._
5. To honor or dignify someone or something through an act of favor or distinguished attention.
   - Simple: To honor someone or something by giving it special attention or favor.
   - _The queen chose to grace the new hospital with an official visit._
   - _Celebrities grace the gala each year to lend it prestige._
12. To endow a person with heavenly grace; to fill them with divine favor.
   - Simple: To fill a person with God's holy help and blessing.
   - _The liturgy asks God to grace the newly baptized with His favor._
   - _Believers trust that the Spirit will grace them in their weakest moments._

## Other meanings

- (noun) In games of patience or solitaire, a special move that is normally against the rules but is allowed as an exception.
- (noun) A formal act or decree issued by the governing body of an English university.

## Origin

This word came through Middle English and Old French grace from Latin grātia ('kindness, favor, esteem'), which came from grātus ('pleasing') and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to praise, welcome'. It replaced several native Old English words for grace, such as held, ēst, and ār.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/grace (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).