Elegancy

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Elegance \El"e*gance\, Elegancy \El"e*gan*cy\, n. [L. elegantia,
     fr. elegans, -antis, elegant: cf. F. ['e]l['e]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.
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              That grace that elegance affords.     --Drayton.
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              The endearing elegance of female friendship.
                                                    --Johnson.
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              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.
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     2. That which is elegant; that which is tasteful and highly
        attractive.
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              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.
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