Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GRACE, n. [Fr. grace; It. grazia; Sp. gracia; Ir. grasa; from the L. gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; W. rhad, grace, a blessing, a gratuity. It coincides in origin with Fr. gré, Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing. Class Rd. See Grade.]

1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as, a grant made as an act of grace. Or each, or all, may win a lady's grace. Dryden.
2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from. And if by grace, then it is no more of works. Rom. xi.
3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. My grace is sufficient for thee. 2. Cor. xii.
4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v.
5. A state of reconciliation to God. Rom. v. 2.
6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c., proceeding from divine influence.
7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Eph. iv. 29.
8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Eph. iii.8.
9. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Pet. i. 13.
10. Favor; mercy; pardon. Bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee. Milton.
11. Favor conferred. I should therefore esteem it a great favor and grace. Prior.
12. Privilege. To few great Jupiter imparts this grace. Dryden.
13. That in manner, deportment or language, which renders it appropriate and agreeable; suitableness; elegance with appropriate dignity. We say, a speaker delivers his address with grace; a man performs his part with grace. Grace was in all her steps. Milton. Her purple habit sits with such a grace / On her smooth shoulders. Dryden.
14. Natural or acquired excellence; any endowment that recommends the possessor to others; as, the graces of wit and learning. Hooker.
15. Beauty; embellishment; in general, whatever adorns and recommends to favor; sometimes, a single beauty. I pass their form and every charming grace. Dryden.
16. Beauty deified; among pagans, a goddess. The graces were three in number, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, the constant attendants of Venus. Lempriere. The loves delighted, and the graces played. Prior.
17. Virtue physical; as, the grace of plants. [Not used.] Shak.
18. The title of a duke or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England, meaning your goodness or clemency. His Grace the Duke of York. Your Grace will please to accept my thanks.
19. A short prayer before or after meat; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered.
20. In music, graces signifies turns, trills and shakes introduced for embellishment.
21. The gospel. Receive not the grace of God in vain. St. Paul.
22. In English universities, an act, vote or decree of the government of the institution. Day of grace, in theology, time of probation, when an offer is made to sinners. Days of grace, in commerce, the days immediately following the day when a bill or note becomes due, which days are allowed to the debtor or payor to make payment in. In Great Britain and the United States the days of grace are three, but in other countries more; the usages of merchants being different.