I. el·e·gant -nt adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French elegant, from Latin elegant- elegans; akin to Latin eligere to choose, select — more at elect
1.
a. : characterized by refined grace or dignified propriety especially in appearance or manner : tastefully correct and refined
she is not conventionally beautiful … but she is charming to look at and elegant to her fingertips — John Martin
b. : characterized by tasteful richness especially of design or ornamentation : luxurious or sumptuous in a refined way
carrying his briefcase, an elegant piece of luggage of excellent leather and the best bronze hardware — Lionel Trilling
in the glade, still standing in it, many of them after two hundred years, are thirty-nine elegant white houses — New Yorker
c. : characterized by dignified gracefulness and restrained beauty especially in style or performance : polished
an elegant novel, one with the richness, restraint, and subtle obliquity which belong properly to elegance — Saturday Review
d. : characterized by scientific precision, neatness, and simplicity
mathematicians say of a problem, a demonstration, or a solution in their science, when it exhibits perfect lucidity and form, that it is elegant — Isabel Paterson
2. pharmacy : pleasant in taste, attractive in appearance, and free from objectionable odor
an elegant nontoxic emulsion
3. : of a high grade or quality : excellent , fine , splendid
he agreed with her that it must be an elegant place and he didn't wonder she wanted to go there — J.C.Lincoln
Synonyms: see choice
II. ele·gant noun
or élé·gant ālāgäⁿ
( plural elegants or élégants -äⁿ(z))
Etymology: French élégant, from élégant, adjective, from Middle French elegant
: a fashionable man : dandy