graceful
- Moving or behaving in a smooth, beautiful, and elegant way that is pleasant to watch.
- Handling a difficult or embarrassing situation in a polite and dignified way.
In a sentence
- The swan moved across the lake in a slow, graceful glide.
- He gave a graceful speech after losing the election, congratulating his opponent sincerely.
Usage note. 'Graceful' describes both physical movement and social behavior, so make sure context makes clear which sense you mean.
Where it comes from
English graceful · entered English 16th c.
Built in English from 'grace,' which came through Old French 'grace' from Latin 'gratia,' meaning 'favor, charm, or thankfulness,' derived from 'gratus' meaning 'pleasing.' The suffix '-ful' was added in English, and the combined form 'graceful' appeared in the 16th century.