gracious

gracious
[[t]gre͟ɪʃəs[/t]]
1) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone, especially someone you think is superior to you, as gracious, you mean that they are very well-mannered and pleasant. [FORMAL]

She is a lovely and gracious woman.

Syn:
2) ADJ-GRADED If you describe the behaviour of someone in a position of authority as gracious, you mean that they behave in a polite and considerate way. [FORMAL]

She closed with a gracious speech of thanks.

Derived words:
graciously ADV-GRADED ADV with v

Hospitality at the Presidential guest house was graciously declined.

3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n You use gracious to describe the comfortable way of life of wealthy people.

He drove through the gracious suburbs with the swimming pools and tennis courts.

4) EXCLAM (feelings) Some people say good gracious or goodness gracious in order to express surprise or annoyance.

Good gracious, look at that specimen will you?


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gracious — Жанры Прогрессивный рок Годы 1964 1971, с 1995 Страна …   Википедия

  • Gracious — Gra cious (gr[=a] sh[u^]s), 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,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gracious! — was a British progressive rock band. It was formed at late 1960 s and recorded first unreleased album in 1968. Vertigo relased their album Gracious! in 1970 and Philips relased album This is...Gracious!! 1971. Songs of these albums were written… …   Wikipedia

  • gracious — gracious, cordial, affable, genial, sociable are used to describe persons or their words or acts who or which are markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse. Gracious implies kindliness and courtesy especially to inferiors. When it carries… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • gracious — c.1300, filled with God s grace, from O.Fr. gracios courteous, pleasing, kind, friendly (12c., Mod.Fr. gracieux), from L. gratiosus enjoying favor, agreeable, obliging; popular, acceptable, from gratia (see GRACE (Cf. grace)). Meaning merciful,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • gracious — [grā′shəs] adj. [ME < OFr < L gratiosus, in favor, popular, kind < gratia: see GRACE] 1. having or showing kindness, courtesy, charm, etc. 2. merciful; compassionate 3. indulgent or polite to those held to be inferiors 4. characterized… …   English World dictionary

  • gracious — index benevolent, charitable (benevolent), charitable (lenient), civil (polite), favorable (expressing approval) …   Law dictionary

  • gracious — [adj] kind, giving accommodating, affable, amiable, amicable, approachable, beneficent, benevolent, benign, benignant, big hearted, bland, bonhomous, charitable, chivalrous, civil, compassionate, complaisant, congenial, considerate, cordial,… …   New thesaurus

  • gracious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) courteous, kind, and pleasant. 2) showing the elegance and comfort associated with high social status or wealth. 3) (in Christian belief) showing divine grace. ► EXCLAMATION ▪ expressing polite surprise. DERIVATIVES graciously… …   English terms dictionary

  • gracious — gra|cious [ˈgreıʃəs] adj 1.) behaving in a polite, kind, and generous way, especially to people of a lower rank ▪ Sibyl was the most gracious, helpful, and generous person to work with. ▪ a gracious apology 2.) having the kind of expensive style …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gracious — adj. 1) gracious to, towards (she is gracious to all) 2) gracious to + inf. (it was gracious of him to make the offer; she was gracious enough to introduce me to them) * * * [ greɪʃəs] towards (she is gracious to all) gracious to gracious to +… …   Combinatory dictionary

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