Agency Dictionary
elegance
nounPronunciation: /ˈɛl.ɪ.ɡəns/
In Portuguese: elegância
DesignWhat does “elegance” mean?
The quality of being graceful, stylish, refined, and harmoniously proportioned in appearance, demeanor, or design.
Etymology
From Middle French élégance, from Latin elegantia, "taste, refinement", from elegans, "choice, fastidious, tasteful", a word related to eligere, "to pick out", formed from e- ("out") and legere ("to gather, to choose"). The root idea is that of careful selection. In English from the early modern period, first of dress and style of writing; the use for a neat and economical solution in science or design is an extension of the same idea.
Usage note
Beyond dress and manners, the word is a term of praise in mathematics, programming and design for a solution that does much with little.
Synonyms
- grace
- refinement
- style
- polish
- sophistication
- poise
Word family
- elegant
- elegantly
- inelegant
- inelegance
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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