GRACIOUS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does gracious mean? 

• GRACIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective GRACIOUS has 4 senses:

1. characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit

2. characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects

3. exhibiting courtesy and politeness

4. disposed to bestow favors

  Familiarity information: GRACIOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRACIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit

Context example:

he bears insult with gracious good humor

Similar:

elegant; graceful; refined (suggesting taste, ease, and wealth)

merciful ((used conventionally of royalty and high nobility) gracious)

Also:

friendly (characteristic of or befitting a friend)

refined ((used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel)

Antonym:

ungracious (lacking charm and good taste)

Derivation:

grace (elegance and beauty of movement or expression)

graciousness (excellence of manners or social conduct)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects

Synonyms:

benignant; gracious

Context example:

our benignant king

Similar:

kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)

Derivation:

grace (a disposition to kindness and compassion)

graciousness (the quality of being kind and gentle)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exhibiting courtesy and politeness

Synonyms:

courteous; gracious; nice

Context example:

a nice gesture

Similar:

polite (showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.)

Derivation:

grace (a sense of propriety and consideration for others)

graciousness (excellence of manners or social conduct)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Disposed to bestow favors

Context example:

thanks to the gracious gods

Similar:

propitious (presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success)

Derivation:

graciousness (the quality of being kind and gentle)

 Context examples 

"Oh, gracious! What shall I say?" cried Sallie, as Fred ended his rigmarole, in which he had jumbled together pell-mell nautical phrases and facts out of one of his favorite books.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But this good prince was so gracious as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promise that he would do so no more, without special orders.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

She made it easy for him; and the gracious spirit with which she did it made him love her more madly than ever.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"I am much indebted to you for your gracious permission," said the angry Professor; for never was a man so intolerant of every form of authority.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Good gracious!" exclaimed the man, and he bowed very low indeed before her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Mr. Collins returned most punctually on Monday fortnight, but his reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his first introduction.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Good gracious me, Peggotty,” returned my mother, “what a nonsensical woman you are! when you know that she took offence at the poor dear boy's ever being born at all.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, do you mean to tell me that, all the time I was talking to Bannister in this room, we had the man prisoner if we had only known it?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Not at all—it bears the most gracious message in the world: for the rest, you are not my conscience-keeper, so don't make yourself uneasy.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But when she was led in she ate nothing, and said: “The gracious and merciful God who has supported me in the tower, will soon set me free.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)