GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
    Elegance (?), Elegancy (?),  n. [L. elegantia, fr. elegans, -antis, elegant: cf. F. élégance.]
   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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