Part 577

Gra"cious (gr"shs), a. [F. gracieux, L. gratiosus. See Grace.] 1. Abounding in grace or mercy; manifesting love, or bestowing mercy; characterized by grace; beneficent; merciful; disposed to show kindness or favor; condescending; as, his most gracious majesty.

A god ready to pardon, gracious and merciful.

Neh. ix. 17.

So hallowed and so gracious in the time.

Shak.

2. Abounding in beauty, loveliness, or amiability; graceful; excellent.

Since the birth of Cain, the first male child, . . . There was not such a gracious creature born.

Shak.

3. Produced by divine grace; influenced or controlled by the divine influence; as, gracious affections.

Syn. -- Favorable; kind; benevolent; friendly; beneficent; benignant; merciful.

Gra"cious*ly (?), adv. 1. In a gracious manner; courteously; benignantly. Dryden.

2. Fortunately; luckily. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gra"cious*ness, n. Quality of being gracious.

Grac"kle (?), n. [Cf. L. graculus jackdaw.] (Zoˆl.) (a) One of several American blackbirds, of the family IcteridÊ; as, the rusty grackle (Scolecophagus Carolinus); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula, or Q. versicolor). See Crow blackbird, under Crow. (b) An Asiatic bird of the genus Gracula. See Myna.

Gra"date (?), v. t. [See Grade.] 1. To grade or arrange (parts in a whole, colors in painting, etc.), so that they shall harmonize.

2. (Chem.) To bring to a certain strength or grade of concentration; as, to gradate a saline solution.

Gra*da"tion (?), n., [L. gradatio: cf. F. gradation. See Grade.] 1. The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks; as, the gradation of castes.

2. The act or process of bringing to a certain grade.

3. Any degree or relative position in an order or series.

The several gradations of the intelligent universe.

I. Taylor.

4. (Fine Arts) A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing.

6. (Mus.) A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.

Gra*da"tion, v. t. To form with gradations. [R.]

Gra*da"tion*al (?), a. By regular steps or gradations; of or pertaining to gradation.

Grad"a*to*ry (?), a. [See Grade.] 1. Proceeding step by step, or by gradations; gradual.

Could we have seen [Macbeth's] crimes darkening on their progress . . . could this gradatory apostasy have been shown us.

A. Seward.