grace English · revision 4473

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la gratus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡreɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|grace]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|grace|t=pardon, divine grace, mercy; favour, thanks; elegance]] (12th century, modern grâce),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|grātia|t=favour, esteem; pleasing quality, goodwill, gratitude]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from grātus “pleasing, agreeable”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[ine-pro|*gʷerH-|alt=*gwere-|t=to favour, praise]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Latin grātus is cognate with Sanskrit gūrta “welcome”, possibly from an ancient Indo-European religious term.^(Barnhart 1988) In Church Latin gratia translated Greek kharisma.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[grateful]], [[gratitude]] and [[gratis]].^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ God's unmerited favour or help: the late 12th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably before 1200 in Barnhart, in the Ancrene Riwle,^(Barnhart 1988) the 12th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A prayer of blessing or thanksgiving before or after a meal is from the early 13th century, until the 16th century usually ''graces'', with a sense of “gratitude”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Goodness or virtue is from about 1330,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and beauty of form, movement or manner, pleasing quality, from 1340, in the Ayenbite of Inwyt,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) As a title of honour, as in ''Your Grace'', it is from about 1500.^(Etymonline) One of the three Graces, the sister goddesses who gave beauty and charm, is in English by 1579, in Spenser.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In music, an ornamental note is from the 1650s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb meant “to thank” about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “to show favour” from the mid-15th century, and “to add grace to”, as in ''grace us with your presence'', from the 1580s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Gracious'' is from about 1303,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''graceful'' from before 1449.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 12th century – God's favour.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1200 – verb, to thank.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – a prayer at a meal.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1330 – virtue.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – charm, beauty of movement.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – a title of honour.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1579 – the Graces.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – verb, to add grace to.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – in music.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Effortless beauty or charm of movement, form or proportion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pleasing or refined quality; good manners and a sense of what is fitting: ''she had the grace to apologize''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(theology)'' The free and unmerited favour and love of God.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[mercy|alt=Mercy]] or [[clemency]]; also a period of delay allowed as a favour: ''a week's grace''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short [[prayer]] of thanks before or after a meal.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''Grace'': a title used for a duke, duchess or archbishop: ''Your Grace''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To honour or favour: ''grace us with your presence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To add beauty or elegance to; to adorn.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gracelike]]

+ * [[bowgrace]]

+ * [[graceful]]

+ * [[graceless]]

+ * [[scapegrace]]

+ * [[coup de grace]]

+ * [[grace note]]

+ * [[grace period]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gracious]]

+ * [[grateful]]

+ * [[gratitude]]

+ * [[gratis]]

+ * [[gratuity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}