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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Grace, n. Also: graice, grayce, grais; grase; grece, gres. [ME. grace (c 1175), OF. grace.]

1. Favourable disposition towards a person desiring help or kindness. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1586.
The king in gret effectioun Resavit him in speciall grace c1420 Wynt. ii. 787.
Partoloym … besoucht the kyng off gras Tyll tak thame tyll hym off duellyng Ib. viii. 6053.
The Kyng his malancholy Forgawe and tuk hym till his grace c1450-2 Howlat 86.
I will go to that gud [sc. the Pope], his grace for to grap Ib. 863.
Thai wald Natur bespeike, of hir gret grace To discend that samyn hour c1515 Asl. MS. I. 239/15.
The forsaid erle … put him … in the kingis grace, and the king resauit him till his grace 1535 Stewart 22194.
Of his gude grace gif he wald him dedane In that mater to mak thame sum remeid Ib. 43907.
Do as ȝe will, I put me in ȝour grace c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 86.
Blyith in countenance, richt fair of face, And stude weill ay in his Ladies grace 1560 Rolland Seven S. 293.
With ȝour gude grace I saillit the sey vpon

2. Favour, or an instance of this, shown to a person. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2541.
I pray ȝw, … of sum-quhate do grace me till a1500 Henr. Robin & Mah. 117.
My hairt is on thé sett, … Nevir to faill, … Quhat grace that evir I gett c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiv. 19.
Me think my spreit rynnis away full gast Beseikand grace, on kneis ȝow befoir 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 211.
Rune is thair glas, and gone now is thair graces, In to respect of this foule tratorie

b. Favour shown by pardoning, forgiving, or leaving unharmed. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1534.
The seire counsall … decretit that Anthenore Sulde banist be, … As than to pas grauntede hime grace c1420 Wynt. ii. 176.
The Jubilé Fyrst in his tym fundyn was, And [C. That] nowe we call the yherys [C. ȝhere] off grace 1456 Hay I. 88/27.
Do him grace or punycioun efter his meritis, for merci quilum is mare just na is rigour Ib. 121/6.
Gif the duk of the bataill be tane, he suld have merci and grace c1475 Wall. xi. 1382.
Tharfor till ask me think thow suld be bane Grace off our King a1500 Seven S. 537.
Gentill and sempill als he slewe; Fra he thaim saw thai gat na grace c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 216.
Quhy … gert [thou] … mercy seme, quhare that I fand no grace? 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 22.
He … sone eftyr cummys … wepyng and askand grace Ib. xi. xiii. 107.
As he besocht for grace … Scho doublit on hir dyntis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 111.
The Emprioure incontinent gaue pardoun and grace baith to him, his wiffe, and brether c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 819.
To that falt is na grace, Bot eirdit quik, to the laif examplair 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 216.
Syne hangit hie but grace vpon the gallous

c. A special favour, concession, or privilege. 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 410/2.
To prowe gif the forsayde personaris walde seke hym othir with tretys, grace, or lauch 1456 Hay I. 275/4.
Quhat thing that ples the prince in privelegis extraordinaris, and gracis, and remissiouns is tholit and has strenth in the lawe Ib. II. 93/31.
Gif ony gracis, remissiounis or legitimaciounis was to be done 1498 Acta Conc. II. 202.
The brekin of his actis of Parliament be the … purchesing of ane exhorbitant grace expectative in the Court of Rome

3. The favour, benevolence, or kindness of God.Freq. in Goddis grace, the grace of God.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 456.
His menȝe, throu goddis grace, War weill releyit with armyng a1400 Leg. S. xix. 560.
Ȝet that stule, be godis grace, Vndir hyme as vax moltine was 1456 Hay II. 64/10.
All sik folyis … castis men of Goddis grace c1475 Wall. ix. 811.
Throw Goddis grace we sall bettir eschew c1500-c1512 Dunb. xviii. 51.
And so I sall, with Goddis grace, Keip his command in to that cace 1591 Reg. Morton I. 177.
I sall be at hame, vith Goddis graice, on Vedinsday at ewin(2) 1447 Edinb. Chart. 68.
James be the grace of God King of Scottis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 287/27.
It is mervell, except the grace of god, & he part hym thairfra c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvii. 85.
Is none but grace of God That can in ȝewth considdir this 1518 Glenartney Doc.
James be the grace of God King of Scottis(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1430.
His servand Sanct Morise … throu his grace Benefice has ekit to the place c1420 Wynt. i. 618.
Syne god … inclynyd was Thus tyll a pagane of hys gras Ib. v. Prol. 34.
Gywe god wyll grawnt hys grace thar till 1456 Hay I. 70/30.
Off quhilk. bot god of his hye grace set remede, I se na way [etc.] a1500 Henr. III. 147/53.
The hie God of his gracis Him self dispisit ws to speid c1515 Asl. MS. I. 229/21.
With helpe & grace of the haly gast c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1153.
Quhow god, of his speciall grace, Send thame the thrid sonne a1578 Pitsc. I. 192/34.
Prayand to his Lord God, thankand him of his greit graice and mercie and benefeittis

b. In the phrase the ȝere of grace. 1391 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 13.
This endentoure mayd … the yere off gras [1391] witnes that it is accordit [etc.] 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
The yhere of grace Mill' fourehundreth and the seconde 1421 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 45.
The yer of grace a thousand four hundreth and ellewin

4. Divine favour bringing help or good fortune. 1375 Barb. i. 450.
Our lord sic grace thaim sent That thai … Come till gret hycht Ib. xiv. 361.
Thai … held thair livis, as god gaf grace 1456 Hay I. 80/27.
Thai have the hert and the curage grete, and that is a grace of God 1549 Compl. 97/21.
Their gryt pouer had na grace to fulfil there enterprise

5. A complimentary title or form of address used of or to a king, queen, or regent. In phrases, as his, ȝour, the Kingis grace etc., his gude grace.(a) 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 226/1.
The gift of the feuferm aucht to his gude grace of the landis of Cullard c1500-c1512 Dunb. lix. 14.
Ȝour Grace beseik I of remeid 1535 Treas. Acc. VI. 260.
Clippand the Kingis gracis scheip 1539 Ib. VII. 64.
To be his grace ane riding coit 1568 Fleming Q. Mary 511.
The inventar of the Quenis graces cleithing … send to hir grace furth of Loch Leuin 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 122.
This day the Regentis grace, with his cumpany, come to the Cannongait a1578 Pitsc. II. 50/25.
Thay besocht the governouris grace to continew the erle of Angus 1590–1 Exch. R. XXII. 133.
Item, … for malt gevin to the kingis grace hors(b) 1518–9 Acta Conc. MS. XXXII. 83.
To caus the quenis graice anneird to him 1524 Douglas Corr. 95.
Ambaxater to the Kingis grais of England 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 49.
I trast ȝour grays hes hard how [etc.] 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 189.
Apprewit be all hir graissis predicessouris sinsyne a1578 Pitsc. I. 90/3.
For luife he buire to the kingis graice(c) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 185.
Your gras sall wit c 1548 Ib. 225.
Wretis to my lord protaktwris gres Ib.
Hys gres has sad that we sall be na lesars

6. Grace before or after meat. In phrases, as to begin, say grace. c1450-2 Howlat 848.
The Pape begynnis the grace, as greably ganit a1500 Henr. Fab. 270.
Withouttin grace thay wesche and went to meit a1500 Prestis of Peblis 27.
The eldest than began the grace & said 1567 G. Ball. 18.
Certane gracis to be sung or said befoir meit or efter 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 11.
At xi ryng to the dennar; at grace knel; to repetition eftyr grace ring a1578 Pitsc. I. 249/4.
He that aught the house and maid the bankit sould say the grace and blise the meate