grace

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
grace/ɡreɪs/

▶noun

• 1 elegance of movement.

• 2 courteous good will.

  ■ (graces) an attractively polite manner of behaving.

• 3 (in Christian belief) the free and unearned favour of God.

  ■ a divinely given talent or blessing.

  ■ a person's favour: he fell from grace with the tabloids.

• 4 a period officially allowed for fulfilment of an obligation.

• 5 a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal.

• 6 (His, Her, or Your Grace) a title or form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.

▶verb lend honour to by one's presence.

■ be an attractive presence in or on.

– phrases
be in someone's good (or bad) graces be regarded by someone with favour (or disfavour).
the (Three) Graces Greek Mythology three beautiful goddesses, daughters of Zeus, believed to personify and bestow charm, grace, and beauty.
with good (or bad) grace in a willing (or reluctant) manner.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. gratia, from gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’; rel. to grateful.