Where does “elegant” come from?
Elegant comes from Middle French elegant, from Latin elegans, meaning "select or choice," derived from eligens, the present participle of eligo, meaning "to pick out," formed from ex- and lego, meaning "to gather or choose."
elegant (English): Characterised by or exhibiting elegance;...
Definitions
- Characterised by or exhibiting elegance;...
Ancestry of “elegant”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | elegant | elegant |
| 2 | Latin | ēlegāns | fine, elegant, handsome |
| 3 | Latin | ēligere | — |
| 4 | Latin | ēligō | to choose, to pluck or root out, extract |
| 5 | Latin | legō | to collect, gather, bring together, catch |
| 6 | Latin | lēx | a proposition or motion for a law made to the people by a magistrate, a bill |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | lēg- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ-s | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ- | to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to... |