Etymology: < Anglo-Norman grase, graze, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French grace, Anglo-Norman and Middle French grasse (Middle French, French grâce ) favour, benevolence, an instance or manifestation of favour, (specifically) the benevolent influence and favour shown by God to humankind (all end of the 11th cent.), (chiefly in plural) thanks (1135), talent, virtue (second half of the 12th cent.), (in plural) prayer of thanksgiving after a meal (c1160), pardon, mercy, forgiveness (last quarter of the 12th cent.), pleasing quality, agreeableness, attractiveness (c1276), favour shown by granting a delay in the performance of an action, or the discharge of an obligation, or immunity from penalty during a specified period (late 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, apparently originally in jur de grace day of grace; not paralleled in continental French until considerably later: 1710), dispensation, permission, privilege (end of the 13th cent.), (with premodifying possessive pronoun, e.g. vostre ‘your’) as a form of address (late 14th cent. or earlier) < classical Latin grātia favour, goodwill, partiality, gratitude, thanks, popularity, esteem, pleasing quality, agreeableness, attractiveness, in post-classical Latin also divine grace (early 3rd cent. in Tertullian), state of grace, favour received, benefit, gift of God, talent (Vulgate), pardon (5th cent. in Augustine), prayer of thanksgiving before or after a meal (from 8th cent. in British sources), (with vestra ‘your’, etc.) as a form of address (from 12th cent. in British sources), permission (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), privilege, license, postponement (13th cent. in British sources), papal dispensation (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), academic dispensation (from 13th cent. in British sources) < grātus pleasing, grateful (see grate adj.) + -ia -ia suffix¹.Compare Old Occitan gracia , Catalan gràcia (c1200), Spanish gracia (12th cent.), Portuguese graça (13th cent.), Italian grazia (first half of the 13th cent.); also Middle Dutch grācie (Dutch gratie ), Middle Low German grātie , and (now only in senses of branch III.) German Grazie (second half of the 14th cent. as grācie , grātie ). Sense 6 appears to show a specific semantic development within English; it is only paralleled later, and rarely attested, in French (end of the 14th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation). With senses 8a and 8b compare similar use of German Gnade ‘favour, grace’ with genitive or possessive pronoun premodifier (from 14th cent.; in later use chiefly in Euer Gnaden (early 16th cent. or earlier)). In sense 9 after classical Latin grātia in its post-classical Latin sense ‘academic dispensation’ (see above). With to say grace (also †graces) at sense 11 compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French dire ses graces (c1160), Middle French dire graces (end of the 14th cent. or earlier). In sense 16 after classical Latin Grātiae, ancient Greek Χάριτες, both plural; this sense is not paralleled in French until later than in English (1587 or earlier). In sense 18 after French le jeu des grâces (although this is apparently first attested later: 1866–7 in Littré; also les grâces, plural noun (1866–7 in Littré)), apparently so called because it develops the graceful movement of the arms.

Etymology: Originally (in sense 1) < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French gracier, Old French graciier to thank (end of the 11th cent.; Middle French, French gracier chiefly in the specific senses ‘to remit (a punishment)’ (1336) and ’to pardon (a criminal)’ (1832)) < post-classical Latin gratiare to thank (9th cent.; from 12th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin grātia grace n. In later use independently < grace n. Compare Italian graziare to grant, concede (something) to (a person) (14th cent.), to pardon (a criminal) (1527).In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix).