I. grace 1 /ɡreɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin gratia 'pleasing quality, kindness' , from gratus ; ⇨ ↑ grateful ]
1 . WAY OF MOVING [uncountable] a smooth way of moving that looks natural, relaxed, and attractive SYN gracefulness :
Lena moved with the grace of a dancer.
2 . BEHAVIOUR
a) [uncountable] polite and pleasant behaviour:
The hotel maintains traditional standards of elegance, style, and grace.
have the grace to do something
He didn’t even have the grace to apologize (=he was not polite enough to apologize) .
b) graces [plural] the skills needed to behave in a way that is considered polite and socially acceptable:
Max definitely lacked social graces.
3 . MORE TIME [uncountable] ( also grace period American English ) more time that is allowed to someone to finish a piece of work, pay a debt etc
a day’s/week’s etc grace
I got a few days’ grace to finish my essay.
4 . with (a) good/bad grace in a willing and pleasant way, or an unwilling and angry way:
Kevin smiled and accepted his defeat with good grace.
With typical bad grace, they refused to come to the party.
5 . GOD’S KINDNESS [uncountable] formal God’s kindness that is shown to people:
We are saved by God’s grace.
6 . there but for the grace of God (go I) used to say that you feel lucky not to be in the same bad situation as someone else
7 . PRAYER [uncountable] a prayer thanking God, said before a meal:
My father said grace.
8 . SOUL [uncountable] the state of someone’s soul when it is free from evil, according to Christian belief:
He died in a state of grace (=when God has forgiven you for the wrong things you have done) .
9 . Your/His etc Grace used as a title when talking to or about a ↑ duke , ↑ duchess , or ↑ archbishop
10 . the Graces three beautiful Greek goddesses who often appear in art
⇨ airs and graces at ↑ air 1 (9), ⇨ fall from grace at ↑ fall 1 (17), ⇨ saving grace at ↑ save 1 (14)
II. grace 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . grace something/somebody with your presence to bring honour to an occasion or group of people by coming to something – said humorously when someone comes late or does not often come to meetings etc:
Ah, so you’ve decided to grace us with your presence!
2 . formal to make a place or an object look more attractive:
His portrait graces the wall of the drawing room.