grace

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. delicacy, tact, culture; graciousness, courtesy; attractiveness, charm; compassion, mercy, clemency; saintliness, piety. See permission, gratitude, forgiveness, elegance, pity. —v. adorn, honor, decorate; improve. See beauty, taste, ornament, elegance.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The quality of being graceful]

Syn. suppleness, lithesomeness, lissomeness, ease of movement, nimbleness, agility, pliancy, smoothness, form, address, poise, dexterity, adroitness, symmetry, balance, style, elegance, harmony.

Ant. awkwardness*, stiffness, maladroitness.

2. [Mercy]

Syn. forgiveness, love, charity; see mercy 1 .

3. [Charm]

Syn. allure, attractiveness, comeliness, refinement, decorum, finesse; see also beauty 1 .

4. [A prayer at table]

Syn. invocation, thanks, thanksgiving, blessing, benediction, petition.

• fall from grace,

Syn. do wrong, misbehave, err; see sin .

• have the grace,

Syn. be proper or gracious, accept conditions, resign oneself; see agree , obey 1 , 2 .

• in the bad graces of,

Syn. in disfavor, rejected, disapproved; see hated .

• in the good graces of,

Syn. favored, accepted, admired; see approved .

• with bad grace,

Syn. sullenly, gracelessly, unwillingly; see reluctantly .

• with good grace,

Syn. graciously, willingly, generously; see gracefully .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. beauty and charm loveliness, attractiveness, elegance, appeal, pulchritude.

2. good form fluidity, symmetry, finesse, ease, *poetry in motion, form, agility, dexterity, poise, refinement, coordination.

3. manners thoughtfulness, savoir faire, decorum, tact, charm, cultivation, etiquette.

4. mercy forgiveness, clemency, leniency, compassion, reprieve, quarter, good will.

5. prayer benediction, thanksgiving, request for blessings.

6. god's favor love, virtue, divine influence, holiness. ''The outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul.''—William Hazlitt.

ANT.: 1. ugliness, repulsiveness. 2. clumsiness, awkwardness. 3. boorishness, rudeness, bad manners. 4. condemnation, damnation, ill will

II

v.

decorate, adorn, beautify, bedeck, ornament, enhance, garnish, dignify, honor, distinguish.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. Refined, effortless beauty of manner, form, and style: elegance, elegancy, polish, urbanity. See BEAUTIFUL, STYLE. 2. A sense of propriety or Tightness: conscience, decency. See RIGHT. 3. Kindly, charitable interest in others: altruism, beneficence, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, charitableness, charity, goodwill, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, philanthropy. See ATTITUDE, KIND. 4. Kind, forgiving, or compassionate treatment of or disposition toward others: charity, clemency, lenience, leniency, lenity, mercifulness, mercy. See FORGIVENESS. 5. A kindly act: favor, good turn, indulgence, kindness, service. Archaic: benefit. See HELP. 6. Temporary immunity from penalties: reprieve, respite. See CONTINUE. 7. A short prayer said at meals: benediction, blessing, thanks, thanksgiving. See GRATEFUL, RELIGION. II verb 1. To lend dignity or honor to by an act or favor: dignify, honor. See BEAUTIFUL. 2. To endow with beauty and elegance by way of a notable addition: adorn, beautify, embellish, enhance, set off. See BEAUTIFUL.