elegance : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: elegance	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for elegance
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
elegance n a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste; "she conveys an aura of elegance and gentility" Antonym(s): inelegance a quality of neatness and ingenious simplicity in the solution of a problem (especially in science or mathematics); "the simplicity and elegance of his invention"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Elegance \El"egance\, Elegancy \El"egancy\, n. [L. elegantia, fr. elegans, -antis, elegant: cf. F. [82]l[82]gance.] 1. The state or quality of being elegant; beauty as resulting from choice qualities and the complete absence of what deforms or impresses unpleasantly; grace given by art or practice; fine polish; refinement; -- said of manners, language, style, form, architecture, etc. That grace that elegance* affords. --Drayton. The endearing elegance of female friendship. --Johnson. A trait of native elegance, seldom seen in the masculine character after childhood or early youth, was shown in the General's fondness for the sight and fragrance of flowers. --Hawthorne. 2. That which is elegant; that which is tasteful and highly attractive. The beautiful wildness of nature, without the nicer elegancies of art. --Spectator. Syn: {Elegance}, {Grace}. Elegance implies something of a select style of beauty, which is usually produced by art, skill, or training; as, elegance of manners, composition, handwriting, etc.; elegant furniture; an elegant house, etc. Grace, as the word is here used, refers to bodily movements, and is a lower order of beauty. It may be a natural gift; thus, the manners of a peasant girl may be graceful, but can hardly be called elegant.