ELEGANCE

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A refined quality of gracefulness and good taste

Example:

she conveys an aura of elegance and gentility

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("elegance" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "elegance"):

dash; elan; flair; panache; style (distinctive and stylish elegance)

daintiness; delicacy; fineness (the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance)

courtliness (elegance suggestive of a royal court)

tastefulness (elegance indicated by good taste)

breeding; genteelness; gentility (elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression)

chic; chichi; chicness; last word; modishness; smartness; stylishness; swank (elegance by virtue of being fashionable)

brilliance; grandeur; grandness; magnificence; splendor; splendour (the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand)

eclat; pomp (ceremonial elegance and splendor)

class (elegance in dress or behavior)

Antonym:

inelegance (the quality of lacking refinement and good taste)

Derivation:

elegant (refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style)

elegant (suggesting taste, ease, and wealth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quality of neatness and ingenious simplicity in the solution of a problem (especially in science or mathematics)

Example:

the simplicity and elegance of his invention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("elegance" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Derivation:

elegant (displaying effortless beauty and simplicity in movement or execution)

Credits

Context examples:

This time, Neptune, the planet of beauty, art romance, and unconditional love, will be in beautiful angle to the Sun and full moon, adding grace, compassion, tenderness, and elegance at the January 10 eclipse.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

There also I saw the keen features of Dada Mendoza, the Jew, just retired from active work, and leaving behind him a reputation for elegance and perfect science which has, to this day, never been exceeded.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Oh!” cried Jane, with a blush and an hesitation which Emma thought infinitely more becoming to her than all the elegance of all her usual composure—“there would have been no danger.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The merest awkward country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Their collective appearance had left on me an impression of high- born elegance, such as I had never before received.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The elegance of the breakfast set forced itself on Catherine's notice when they were seated at table; and, luckily, it had been the general's choice.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Then you'd dash out as an heiress, scorn everyone who has slighted you, go abroad, and come home my Lady Something in a blaze of splendor and elegance.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Lady Dalrymple, Lady Dalrymple," was the rejoicing sound; and with all the eagerness compatible with anxious elegance, Sir Walter and his two ladies stepped forward to meet her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The living in incessant noise was, to a frame and temper delicate and nervous like Fanny's, an evil which no superadded elegance or harmony could have entirely atoned for.