— graciously , adv. — graciousness, graciosity /gray'shee os"i tee/ , n.
/gray"sheuhs/ , adj.
1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
2. characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury: gracious suburban living; a gracious home.
3. indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, esp. to inferiors.
4. merciful or compassionate: our gracious king.
5. Obs. fortunate or happy.
interj.
6. (used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)
[ 1250-1300; ME gracious gratiosus amiable, equiv. to grati ( a ) GRACE + -osus -OUS ]
Syn. 1. benign, friendly, favorable, polite. See kind 1 . 4. tender, clement, mild, gentle.
Ant. 1. churlish. 4. cruel.