A ActivateWords

Dictionary / grace

grace

/ɡɹeɪs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • noun
  • verb
  • from Old French

Charming, pleasing qualities.

▶ Play the mastery game

1 All current definitions

Every sense of “grace” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. countableuncountableCharming, pleasing qualities.

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

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

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

  3. countableIn the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
  4. countableA grace note.
  5. uncountableElegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

    The dancer moved with grace and strength.

  6. uncountableAn 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.

  7. countableuncountableFavor, sanction or beneficence.

    The minister has extended his grace to our effort.

  8. Favor, sanction or beneficence.uncountableFree and undeserved favour from God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.

    divine grace

  9. countableuncountableAn act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. archaiccountableuncountableMercy, pardon.
Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb

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

    He graced the room with his presence.

  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 marriage1612–1634, [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. transitiveTo 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:

Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (9)
  1. noun(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence — also: saving grace, state of grace
  2. nounelegance and beauty of movement or expression — also: gracility
  3. nouna sense of propriety and consideration for others — also: seemliness
  4. nouna disposition to kindness and compassion — also: good will, goodwill
  5. noun(Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
  6. nouna short prayer of thanks before a meal — also: blessing, thanksgiving
  7. noun(Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God — also: grace of God, free grace
  8. verbmake more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc. — also: decorate, adorn, ornament, embellish, beautify
  9. verbbe beautiful to look at — also: deck, adorn, decorate, embellish, beautify
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: mense

Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)grace
  2. Middle Englishgrace
  3. Old Frenchgrace (modern French grâce)
  4. Latingrātia “kindness, favour, esteem”
  5. Latingrātus “pleasing”
  6. Proto-Indo-European*gʷerH- “to praise, welcome”

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, mercy”)).

Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “grace”

begracebowgracecoup-de-graceengracegrace-cupgracefulgracelessgracelikegracesomegraceworthygracismgracistlack-gracemisgraceovergracescapegraceungrace

Phrases & compounds

airs and gracesbut for the grace of Godcooperating gracecoup de gracecovenant of graceexpectative gracefall from gracefree gracegood gracesgrace and favorgrace and favourgrace notegrace periodgrace strokeheart of graceherb of graceirresistible gracemeans of graceprevenient gracesaving grace

Related terms

graciousgratefulgratitudeGod's gift
Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “grace” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “grace” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
Old French
Old French grace (modern French grâce)
Oldest written form
Latin
Latin grātus “pleasing”
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- “to praise, welcome”
Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“to praise, welcome”
Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

grace n. [F. gr, L. gratia, from gratus beloved, dear, agreeable; perh. akin to Gr. cha`ris favor, grace, Skr. hary to desire, and E. yearn. Cf. Grateful, Gratis.]

  1. The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
  2. 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.
  3. The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon.
  4. The same prerogative when exercised in the form of equitable relief through chancery.

grace v. t.

  1. To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
  2. To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
  3. To supply with heavenly grace.
  4. To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: Charming, pleasing qualities.

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

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:

nounMeaning: A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.

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

nounMeaning: Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

The dancer moved with grace and strength.

nounMeaning: An 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.

nounMeaning: Favor, sanction or beneficence.

The minister has extended his grace to our effort.

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

divine grace

the grace of God

nounMeaning: (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

nounMeaning: elegance and beauty of movement or expression

a beautiful figure which she used in subtle movements of unparalleled grace

nounMeaning: a sense of propriety and consideration for others

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

nounMeaning: a disposition to kindness and compassion

the victor's grace in treating the vanquished

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “grace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

grace

/ɡɹeɪs/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

grace

/ɡɹeɪs/ · noun, verb

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “grace” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) Charming, pleasing qualities.
2. (noun) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
3. (noun) In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
4. (noun) A grace note.
5. (noun) Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

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

A. Favor, sanction or beneficence.
B. Charming, pleasing qualities.
C. Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

Circle the meaning used.

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

A. In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
B. A grace note.
C. A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.

Circle the meaning used.

“The dancer moved with grace and strength.”

A. Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.
B. A grace note.
C. In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “grace” come into English from?   A. Medieval Latin  B. Old Norse  C. French  D. Old French

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “grace” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH-. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “grace” to mean: Charming, pleasing qualities.
Write a sentence using “grace” to mean: A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
Write a sentence using “grace” to mean: In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — grace

Which meaning, sentence 1: B. Charming, pleasing qualities.

Which meaning, sentence 2: C. A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.

Which meaning, sentence 3: A. Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.

Origin: D. Old French (Old French grace)

Journey: English grace ← Middle English grace ← Old French grace ← Latin grātia ← Latin grātus ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH-

Some derivatives: begrace, bowgrace, coup-de-grace, engrace, grace-cup, graceful, graceless, gracelike

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- — “to praise, welcome”

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.

Sources: Wiktionary “grace” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/grace#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/grace