grace (v.) c.1200, "to thank," from O.Fr. gracier, from grace (see grace (n.)). Meaning "to show favor" (mid-15c.) led to that of "to lend or add grace to something" (1580s, e.g. grace us with your presence), which is the root of the musical sense in grace notes (1650s). Related: Graced; gracing. Grace fem. proper name, lit. "favor, grace;" see grace. graceful (adj.) mid-15c., "full of grace," also "pleasant, sweet," from grace (n.) + -ful. Meaning "with pleasing or attractive qualities" is from 1580s. Related: Gracefully; gracefulness. graceless (adj.) late 14c., "not in a state of grace," from grace (n.) + -less. Meaning "wanting charm or elegance" is from 1630s. Related: Gracelessly; gracelessness. grace (n.) late 12c., "God's favor or help," from O.Fr. grace "pardon, divine grace, mercy; favor, thanks; elegance, virtue" (12c.), from L. gratia "favor, esteem, regard; pleasing quality, good will, gratitude" (cf. It. grazia, Sp. gracia), from gratus "pleasing, agreeable," from PIE root *gwere- "to favor" (cf. Skt. grnati "sings, praises, announces," Lith. giriu "to praise, celebrate," Avestan gar- "to praise"). Sense of "virtue" is early 14c., that of "beauty of form or movement, pleasing quality" is mid-14c. In classical sense, "one of the three sister goddesses (L. Gratiæ, Gk. Kharites), bestowers of beauty and charm," it is first recorded in English 1579 in Spenser. The short prayer that is said before or after a meal (early 13c.; until 16c. usually graces) has a sense of "gratitude." coup de grace 1690s, from Fr. coup de grâce, lit. "stroke of grace;" the merciful death-blow that ends another's suffering (see coup). scapegrace (n.) 1809, from scape (v.) + grace (n.); as if "one who escapes the grace of God." Possibly influenced by scapegoat (q.v.). charisma (n.) "gift of leadership, power of authority," c.1930, from German, used in this sense by Max Weber (1864-1920) in "Wirtschaft u. Gesellschaft" (1922), from Gk. kharisma "favor, divine gift," from kharizesthai "to show favor to," from kharis "grace, beauty, kindness" (Charis was the name of one of the three attendants of Aphrodite) related to khairein "to rejoice at," from PIE root *gher- "to desire, like" (see hortatory). More mundane sense of "personal charm" recorded by 1959. Earlier, the word had been used in English with a sense of "grace, talent from God" (1875), directly from Latinized Greek; and in the form charism (pl. charismata) it is attested in English from 1640s. Middle English, meanwhile, had karisme "spiritual gift, divine grace" (c.1500). gracious (adj.) c.1300, "filled with God's grace," from O.Fr. gracios "courteous, pleasing, kind, friendly" (12c., Mod.Fr. gracieux), from L. gratiosus "enjoying favor, agreeable, obliging; popular, acceptable," from gratia (see grace). Meaning "merciful, benevolent" is from late 14c. As an exclamation, elliptically for gracious God, attested from 1713. gratify (v.) c.1400, "to bestow grace upon;" 1530s, "to show gratitude to," from Fr. gratifier (16c.) or directly from L. gratificari "to do favor to, oblige, gratify," from gratus "pleasing" (see grace) + root of facere "make, do, perform" (see factitious). Meaning "to give pleasure to" is from 1560s. Related: Gratified; gratifying.
