El'e-gance or El'e-gan-cy, n.

n. [Lat. elegantia, from elegans; Fr. élégance, Sp. elegancia, It. eleganza.]

1Sense 1. The state or quality of being elegant; beauty as resulting from the complete absence of that which deforms or impresses unpleasantly; grace given by art or practice; refinement;—said of manners, language, style, form, architecture, and the like. “That grace that elegance affords.” Drayton.

2Sense 2. That which is elegant; that which pleases by its nicety, symmetry, purity, or beauty. “The beautiful wildness of nature, without the nicer elegancies of art.” Spectator.

Synonyms—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, &c.; elegant furniture; an elegant house, &c. Grace, as the term 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.

These, choicely culled, and elegantly arranged, Shall form a garland for Narcissa’s tomb. Young.

Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In all her gestures dignity and love. Milton.