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# gracious

adjective (gracious, more gracious, most gracious); exclamation (gracious!, goodness gracious!)

«gracious» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Kind, polite and generous, especially to people who have less power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#m1)
2. Graceful, comfortable and elegant: gracious living. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#m2)
3. (exclamation, old-fashioned) Gracious! or Goodness gracious! shows surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#m3)
4. (church) Full of mercy and kindness, as when Christians say God is gracious. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories it describes a polite host, a kind queen or a good loser; in church language it describes God's mercy. Phrases: a gracious host, gracious in defeat, goodness gracious, good gracious me.

### Examples

- The queen was gracious to everyone she met. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x1)
- Be gracious in defeat and shake hands with the winners. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x2)
- Goodness gracious, look at the mess in here! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x3)
- Our host was gracious and made us feel at home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x4)
- Christians believe God is gracious and forgiving. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x5)
- They lived in a gracious old house with big gardens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x6)
- Thank you, that's very gracious of you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: ungracious or rude. Noun: grace; adverb: graciously. Goodness gracious! is an old-fashioned, polite way to show surprise, often used by grandparents. Do not confuse with graceful (moving beautifully).

## In Jewish tradition

The words merciful and gracious begin the list of God's qualities that God told Moses on Sinai.

**Interpretation.** Jewish tradition calls these the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. They are recited on fast days and in the Selichot prayers and the High Holy Day services as a plea for forgiveness.

### Examples

- The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; (Torah NUM.6.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x1)
- And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; (Torah EXO.34.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x2)
- for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin; wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto Me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. (Torah EXO.22.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x3)
- Hath God forgotten to be gracious? (Writings PSA.77.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x4)
- A gracious woman obtaineth honour; and strong men obtain riches. (Writings PRO.11.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x5)
- Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is compassionate. (Writings PSA.116.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/#x6)

### Note

Opposite: ungracious or rude. Noun: grace; adverb: graciously. Goodness gracious! is an old-fashioned, polite way to show surprise, often used by grandparents. Do not confuse with graceful (moving beautifully).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gracious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gracious/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gracious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gracious.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «gracious» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gracious/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gracious» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/gracious.html) on Mova free.