Elegante

/ˌɛl.ɪˈɡɑn.teɪ/ adjective

Definition

A borrowed Spanish or Italian word meaning elegant, graceful, or refined; sometimes used in English in artistic or musical contexts.

Etymology

From Spanish elegante or Italian elegante, both deriving from Latin elegans. In English, this form typically appears in borrowed contexts, particularly in music and dance terminology where Romance languages are common.

Kelly Says

You'll hear elegante in flamenco, classical music, and dance instruction because Spanish and Italian were the languages of European courts where style was everything—so when you're being *really* graceful, you're being elegante!

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