GRACIOUSNESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does graciousness mean? 

• GRACIOUSNESS (noun)
  The noun GRACIOUSNESS has 2 senses:

1. excellence of manners or social conduct

2. the quality of being kind and gentle

  Familiarity information: GRACIOUSNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRACIOUSNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Excellence of manners or social conduct

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("graciousness" is a kind of...):

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "graciousness"):

blandness; smoothness; suaveness; suavity (the quality of being bland and gracious or ingratiating in manner)

Antonym:

ungraciousness (an offensive lack of good manners)

Derivation:

gracious (exhibiting courtesy and politeness)

gracious (characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being kind and gentle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

benignancy; benignity; graciousness

Hypernyms ("graciousness" is a kind of...):

good; goodness (moral excellence or admirableness)

Derivation:

gracious (disposed to bestow favors)

gracious (characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects)

 Context examples 

They might in fact, have borne down a great deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them beyond the want of graciousness and warmth.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"You like Henley," Brissenden said, his expression changing swiftly to large graciousness and tenderness.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Emma longed to know what Frank's first opinion of Mrs. Elton might be; how he was affected by the studied elegance of her dress, and her smiles of graciousness.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

True, at first I suffered; and then, with all the graciousness of spring, it dawned upon me that I was happy, very happy. It was a most amazing discovery.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person— for Lucy was particularly distinguished—whom of all others, had they known as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Emma could have wished Mrs. Elton elsewhere; but she was in a humour to have patience with every body; and as Mrs. Elton met her with unusual graciousness, she hoped the rencontre would do them no harm.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly despising them all four.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

But perseverance in humility of conduct and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)