Elegance

Elegance (Latin Elegantia ) refers in particular, fashion taste ' and in general, dexterity '. The Duden gives as meanings " gentility " in " with respect to the external appearance ", " elegant appearance "; " Agility, flexibility in movement " and " cultured, elegant shape and texture " to.

The adjective for elegant, tastefully chosen, stylish ' was decorated in the 18th century by the French élégant, ' borrowed. With the noun Elegant was around 1800 a, dressed according to the last fashion man ' referred to. In French, as in the German language, the adjective characterized elegantly from the 16th century, the " perfection of form of linguistic and artistic representation, and later the outer fashionably - tasteful appearance of persons and things." First elegantia stood as the rhetoric borrowed from the Latin term for, tasteful fine choice, especially fineness of expression, decency '; as well as in French changed the meaning since the 18th century to the modern sense.

Meyers Great Conversation dictionary defines 1905 elegance and delicacy, grace and " linguistically " as a gentle " with the Romans associated with clarity correctness of speech, so that the expression is thought reproduces faithful and true and at the same time grammatically correct, of course, is appropriate and fitting " in the broader sense elegance " at all that which gives the impression of well -complacent, especially with the addition of the new term and fashion moderating. ; so especially in clothing, in home furnishings, etc. " Paul Valéry 1922 general formulated as follows: " Elegantia - This means transferred freedom and economy into the visible - informality, ease - difficult matters. "

In the natural sciences, especially mathematics, it means elegance "as much as simplicity and transparency of evidence, a solution ".