gracious
- Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially in a way that shows good taste or generosity.
- Used as an exclamation expressing surprise or relief (e.g., 'Gracious me!').
In a sentence
- She was gracious enough to thank every volunteer by name at the end of the evening.
- The gracious host made sure every guest felt welcomed and comfortable.
Usage note. 'Gracious' implies both warmth and a certain social elegance; 'polite' is more neutral and does not carry the same connotation of generosity.
Where it comes from
English gracious — “kind, courteous, elegant” · entered English 14th c.
From Old French 'gracieus' and Latin 'gratiosus' (enjoying favor, agreeable), derived from 'gratia' (favor, grace, thanks). Entered English in the 14th century. Ultimately traces to Proto-Indo-European root *gwer- (to favor, praise). (Source: Oxford, Merriam-Webster)