# grace

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡɹeɪs/ · frequency rank #2,680

## Definitions
1. Charming, pleasing qualities.
2. A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
3. In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
4. A grace note.
5. Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise.
6. An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which they are free of at least part of their normal obligations towards the creditor.
7. Free and undeserved favour, especially of God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.
8. An act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
9. Mercy, pardon.

## Etymology
From Middle English grace, from Old French grace (modern French grâce), from Latin grātia (“kindness, favour, esteem”), from grātus (“pleasing”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (“to praise, welcome”); compare grateful.
The word displaced the native Middle English held, hield (“grace”) (from Old English held, hyld (“grace”)), Middle English este (“grace, favour, pleasure”) (from Old English ēst (“grace, kindness, favour”)), Middle English athmede(n) (“grace”) (from Old English ēadmēdu (“grace”)), Middle English are, ore (“grace, mercy, honour”) (from Old English ār (“honour, grace, kindness, mercy”)).

## Easily confused with
- **GRE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gre)
- **gray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gray)
- **gram** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gram)
- **grad** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grad)
- **gran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gran)
- **Gras** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gras)
- **Graf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-graf)
- **grand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grand)
- **grade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grade)
- **grant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grant)
- **grass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grass)
- **grave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grave)
- **grain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grain)
- **graph** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-graph)
- **grasp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grasp)
- **grove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grove)
- **grams** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grams)
- **grape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-grape)
- **gravy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-gravy)
- **graft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/grace-vs-graft)

## Common misspellings (7)
`garce`, `ggrace`, `gracce`, `graec`, `grcae`, `grrace`, `rgace`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/grace