gracious (only 3 is still current; 5 is not evidenced elsewhere in Eliz. literature)
1.
finding favour,
acceptable, popular AYL. I. ii.
202*,
3H6 III. iii. 117
“ in the people's
eye,”
Tit. I. i. 11, 170, 429
2.
attractive, graceful,
elegant, lovely Ado IV. i.
109, MND. IV. i. 226,
Mer.V. III. ii. 76
“a voice,”
John III. iv. 81
“a creature,”
R3 IV. iv. 205
“royal and
gracious.”
3.
kind (freq.); used as
a courteous epithet, e.g.
Tp. V. i. 253
“How fares my
sir?,”
LLL. V. ii. 737
“gracious lords.”
4.
godly, righteous,
pious, holy
Meas. III. ii. 238
“a brother Of
order,”
Troil. II. ii. 125
“To make it”
(a quarrel) “,”
Cæs. III. ii. 199
“ drops,”
Ham. V. ii. 87
“Thy state is the more
gracious.”
5.
happy, fortunate
Meas. V. i. 76
“her fortune,”
Wint. III. i. 22
“gracious be the
issue.”
