For years New York, the capital of lawyers, graciously welcomed attorneys from other states.

The Provost at the time, Condoleezza Rice, graciously welcomed us at the start of a daylong visit that captivated Chelsea.

Mrs. Lewis answered and graciously welcomed them into the home.

The Abbasid caliph in Baghdad graciously welcomed Saladin's assumption of power and declared him "Sultan of Egypt and Syria."

When we dismounted, Marcello Dorea graciously welcomed me to the polo fraternity.

Jekri graciously welcomed everyone individually, thanking them personally and assuring them of eventual victory.

They graciously welcomed two journalists into their threadbare rooms, offered coffee and talked for three hours.

Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty, the Vietnamese are graciously welcoming of foreigners who come as guests not conquerors.

On arrival at the turreted spa I find myself in a well-heated baronial hall, welcomed graciously but summoned to appear in 30 minutes for preliminary assessment.

But he is a friendly giant, and he graciously welcomes the American visitors who have turned up at his door unexpectedly on a Sunday afternoon.