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gracious - 4 dictionary results

gra⋅cious

[grey-shuhs]
–adjective
1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
2. characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury: gracious suburban living; a gracious home.
3. indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, esp. to inferiors.
4. merciful or compassionate: our gracious king.
5. Obsolete. fortunate or happy.
–interjection
6. (used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)

Origin:
1250–1300; ME gracious < OF < L grātiōsus amiable, equiv. to grāti(a) grace + -ōsus -ous


gra⋅cious⋅ly, adverb
gra⋅cious⋅ness, gra⋅ci⋅os⋅i⋅ty [grey-shee-os-i-tee] , noun


1. benign, friendly, favorable, polite. See kind 1 . 4. tender, clement, mild, gentle.


1. churlish. 4. cruel.
gra·cious   (grā'shəs)   
adj.  
  1. Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy.
  2. Characterized by tact and propriety: responded to the insult with gracious humor.
  3. Of a merciful or compassionate nature.
  4. Condescendingly courteous; indulgent.
  5. Characterized by charm or beauty; graceful.
  6. Characterized by elegance and good taste: gracious living.
  7. Archaic Enjoying favor or grace; acceptable or pleasing.
interj.  Used to express surprise or mild emotion.

[Middle English, from Old French gracieus, from Latin grātiōsus, from grātia, good will; see grace.]
gra'cious·ly adv., gra'cious·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean marked by kindness, sympathy, and unaffected politeness: gracious to visitors; a cordial welcome; a genial guest; enjoyed a sociable chat.
Antonym: ungracious

Gracious

Gra"cious\, a. [F. gracieux, L. gratiosus. See Grace.]

1. Abounding in grace or mercy; manifesting love,. or bestowing mercy; characterized by grace; beneficent; merciful; disposed to show kindness or favor; condescending; as, his most gracious majesty.

A god ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. --Neh. ix. 17.

So hallowed and so gracious in the time. --Shak.

2. Abounding in beauty, loveliness, or amiability; graceful; excellent.

Since the birth of Cain, the first male child, . . . There was not such a gracious creature born. --Shak.

3. Produced by divine grace; influenced or controlled by the divine influence; as, gracious affections.

Syn: Favorable; kind; benevolent; friendly; beneficent; benignant; merciful.
Language Translation for : gracious
Spanish: cortés, educado,
German: wohlwollend,
Japanese: 優しい

gracious

see goodness gracious.

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