Grace \Grace\, n. [F. gr[^a]ce, L. gratia, from gratus beloved,
dear, agreeable; perh. akin to Gr. ? to rejoice, ? favor,
grace, Skr. hary to desire, and E. yearn. Cf. Grateful,
Gratis.]
1. The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition
to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege
conferred.
To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee.
--Milton.
2. (Theol.) The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as
distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His
mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of
acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works. --Rom.
xi. 6.
My grace is sufficicnt for thee. --2 Cor. xii.
9.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
--Rom. v. 20.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand. --Rom. v.2
3. (Law)
(a) The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as
pardon.
(b) The same prerogative when exercised in the form of
equitable relief through chancery.
4. Fortune; luck; -- used commonly with hard or sorry when it
means misfortune. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
5. Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic
fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.
He is complete in feature and in mind. With all good
grace to grace a gentleman. --Shak.
I have formerly given the general character of Mr.
Addison's style and manner as natural and
unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those
graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over
writing. --Blair.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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