grace
/ɡreɪs/
noun
Origin
Latin
gratia — favor, charm, thanks
Overview
Meaning Now
- Simple elegance or refinement of movement.
- The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
- A period of time allowed beyond a deadline as a favor or concession.
Literal older meaning
favor, thanks, or pleasing quality
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
grace
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The term evolved significantly from the Roman concept of 'gratia' (reciprocal favor) into the Christian theological emphasis on unmerited divine assistance, and later into the secular sense of aesthetic poise.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*gʷer-
“to favor or praise”
- Latin
gratia
“favor, charm”
- Old French
grace
“favor, mercy, elegance”
- Middle English
grace
“divine favor, elegance”
Connections
Word parts
grace
root
divine favor or physical elegance
Related across languages
French
grâce
grace, mercy
Spanish
gracia
grace, charm
Italian
grazia
grace
Explore next
Related to grace
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.