- grace
- [[t]gre͟ɪs[/t]]
graces, gracing, graced1) N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp If someone moves with grace, they move in a smooth, controlled, and attractive way.
He moved with the grace of a trained boxer...
Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.
2) N-UNCOUNT If someone behaves with grace, they behave in a pleasant, polite, and dignified way, even when they are upset or being treated unfairly.The new King seemed to be carrying out his duties with grace and due decorum...
The young woman had grace beyond her years.
3) N-PLURAL: oft adj N The graces are the ways of behaving and doing things which are considered polite and well-mannered.She didn't fit in and she had few social graces.
4) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N Grace is used in expressions such as a day's grace and a month's grace to say that you are allowed that amount of extra time before you have to finish something.She wanted a couple of days' grace to get the maisonette cleaned before she moved in...
We have only a few hours' grace before the soldiers come.
5) VERB If you say that something graces a place or a person, you mean that it makes them more attractive. [FORMAL][V n] He went to the beautiful old Welsh dresser that graced this homely room...
[be V-ed with/by n] Her shoulders were graced with mink and her fingers sparkled with diamonds.
6) VERB If you say that someone important will grace an event or an organization, you mean that they have agreed to be present at the event or to be part of the organization. [FORMAL][V n] He had been invited to grace a function at the evening college.
7) N-UNCOUNT In Christianity and some other religions, grace is the kindness that God shows to people because he loves them.It was only by the grace of God that no one died.
8) N-VAR When someone says grace before or after a meal, they say a prayer in which they thank God for the food and ask him to bless it.Leo, will you say grace?
...a Latin grace.
9) N-VOC; N-PROPER: det-poss N You use expressions such as Your Grace and His Grace when you are addressing or referring to a duke, duchess, or archbishop.Your Grace, I have a great favour to ask of you.
10) → See also , saving grace11) PHRASE: V inflects If someone falls from grace, they suddenly stop being successful or popular. [mainly WRITTEN]All went well at first, and I was in high favour; but presently I fell from grace...
The reasons for his apparent fall from grace are not clear.
12) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to-inf (approval) If someone has the good grace to do something, they are polite enough or honest enough to do it.He did not even have the grace to apologise...
Many of us do stupid things in our youth, but we should have the good grace to admit them and to learn from the experience.
13) PHRASE If you are talking about someone who is in a bad situation and you say `There but for the grace of God go I', you mean that you are lucky not to be in the same situation as them and you feel sympathy for them.14) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something unpleasant with good grace or with a good grace, you do it cheerfully and without complaining. If you do something with bad grace or with a bad grace, you do it unwillingly and without enthusiasm.He accepted the decision with good grace, and wished me the very best of luck...
With appallingly bad grace I packed up and we drove north.
You're so eager to stay in the good graces of the King that nothing else matters to you.
English dictionary. 2008.
