Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Gracious(e, Gratious(e, a. Also: graciows, gracius, -yus; gratiows(e, -yous, -yows; gratius, -yws. [ME. gracious (14th c.), gracius (a 1300), also e.m.E. gratious, -ius (1555), OF. gracious, gratious, gratieus.]

1. Kindly, benevolent, condescending: a. Of persons or the deity.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 2091.
To ȝow that are gracious I leif the thochtis of amourous Ib. 2581.
Gracius, glaid and plesand, Debonare, sueit and auenand 1456 Hay II. 156/28.
Alsua that he be sum part gracious to symple folk that makis faultis reklessly a1487 Gud Wife & D. 141.
[That she be] gracious ay till hir menȝhe a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 429.
I thank your gracious grete lord and his gude wil c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 35.
Ȝe sa gracious ar, and meik, That on ȝour hienes followis eik Ane vthir sort 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 190.
We beleif your lordschip wilbe so gracius to pardone ws 1549 Compl. 162/28.
The kyng of Ingland vil be na mair gracius, curtas nor merciful [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 117.
Beseikand hir for to be gracious, … and set on syde all euill(b) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 396.
Quhen thai cum to gret houore, … Of helynes thai pas mesour, … And conterfyttis hie gratious a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 118.
Then spak schir Gawaue the gay, gratious and gude 1535 Stewart 60120.
Traistand als gentill he suld be him till, … Als gude, als gratius, als clement 1562-3 Winȝet I. 13/24.
We … ernestlibeseikis thy Maiestie, maist gratious Souerane [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 129/3.
To be gratious and merciefull to all men that ar becom penitent of thair misdeidis 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. xx. 16.
Ȝit (gratiows prince,) my myt to thee I owe 1641 Wemyss Corr. 68.
Most gratious Soveraine(2) a1500 Rauf C. 718.
Be the gracious God that bocht vs sa deir c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix. 50.
The gratious god mot governe me 1535 Stewart 39796.
Sen gratius God decreittit hes sic thing 1567 G. Ball. 20.
We thank thé God of thy gudnes, Throw Jesus Christ our gratius lord a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxii. 1.
O gratious god, almychtie and eterne

b. Of actions, character, or manifestations of kindly feeling.(a) 1424 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 15.
Thankand ȝour excellence … of ȝhur gracius benygn writing c1450-2 Howlat 451.
Ȝour gret giftis and grant ay gracious I fand c1460 Wisd. Sol. 728.
God of his hie gracious paciens a1500 Henr. Fab. 42.
Ȝour willis gracious 1470 Liber Aberbr. 162.
Suppos the said abbot and conuent dois ws fauor … of thar gracious tholance c1515 Asl MS. I. 179/25.
Thai haue neuer … dangerous manere, bot allway lufand and gracious chere c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvii. 25.
Me think his gracious countenance In riches is my sufficience 1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 207.
The Latynys … Of hys wys gracius answeris wonderand all 1533 Douglas Corr. 140.
Your good and gracyus letter 1533 Bell. Livy I. 151/22.
Thi gracius meritis done to me(b) 1567 Acts II. 548/2.
To praise God for hir … gratius government a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii. 75.
To open vp his blindit ees, that they Might clerelie see these gratious ees of thyn 1596 Dalr. I. 189/24.
Na benefite, thochte neuir sa gratious, thay wil acknowlege 1607 Lett. & State P. Jas. VI 107.
Ȝour maiesteis moist gratiowse fawour to me and myne c1650 Spalding I. 215.
We … have thocht fit to give this just and gratious ansuer

2. Characterized by, endowed with, spiritual grace or goodness. c1420 Wynt. vii. 611.
Clene and honest wes hys lyff, And gratyws was hys endyng Ib. ix. 1300.
Robert oure secownd kyng … That in his tyme wes worthy, Gracyows, wertuows, and happy c1420 Ratis R. 265.
Quharfor a gracious thing I say Is to kep weill thin handis tway a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 396.
Gud company … makis schrewis to becum gracious c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1200.
Those quhilks come of Sethis blude, Becaus thay wer gracious and gude, Suld nocht [etc.] c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 221.
The fructe, the proffeit, and the commodytie In to this gratius and godlie unitie a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxxi. 11.
As he was … Belovit of God and everie gracius vight

3. a. Having outward grace or beauty. 1456 Hay I. 55/1.
To leve that noble toune, and ground that was sa delytable and sa gracious that thai had sa grete regrate to leve it 1513 Doug. i. ix. 21.
Vp stude Enee … , Als gracyus for to behold … As evoir bone by craft of hand weill dycht c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 219 a/1.
Maist ameyn roseir, gratious and resplendent

b. Full of charm. 1513 Doug. xiii. v. 61.
Now dum and spechles that hed liggis thar, Quhilum … nane mair gracius into eloquens