adj. & int.
--adj.
1. kind; indulgent and beneficent to inferiors.
2 (of God) merciful, benign.
3 poet. kindly, courteous.
4 a polite epithet used of royal persons or their acts (the gracious speech from the throne).
--int. expressing surprise.
Phrases and idioms:
gracious living an elegant way of life.
Derivatives:
graciosity n. graciously adv. graciousness n.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L gratiosus (as GRACE)