Elegant

Elegant describes something that displays refined grace, tasteful propriety, or efficient effectiveness. It is often used of appearances, manners, or processes that are aesthetically pleasing while avoiding unnecessary complexity. In everyday usage, an elegant object or solution combines simplicity with coherence, achieving a strong effect with minimal elements.

Etymology and sense development: The word derives from Old French elegant or élégant, from Latin elegans, the present participle of eligere "to choose, select." The original sense—carefully chosen or refined—evolved into the current connotation of graceful, tasteful, and well-proportioned.

Domains of use: In fashion, design, and architecture, elegance signals timelessness and restraint rather than ostentation. In science, mathematics, and computer science, an elegant solution is simple, efficient, and conceptually clear. In prose and rhetoric, elegant writing is clear, precise, and well-structured.

Related terms: elegance (noun) and elegantly (adverb). Antonyms include inelegant or gaudy and overly ornate. The nuance of elegance lies in balance between form and function, where beauty arises from coherence and economy as much as from appearance.