elegant
英 ['el?g(?)nt]
美 ['?l?g?nt]
助記提示
1. 一只露出大腿的螞蟻.
分析：e——“鵝”的拼音；leg——腳；ant——螞蟻。
記憶：鵝的腳上趴著一只優雅的螞蟻。
中文詞源
elegant 優雅的e-, 向外。-leg, 收集，選出，詞源同college, eligible. 即選出來的，優秀的，優雅的。
英文詞源
- elegant
- elegant: [15] Someone who made careful, fastidious choices was termed in Latin ēlegāns. This was the present participle of a hypothetical verb *ēlegāre, a derivative of ēligere ‘pick out, select’ (source of English elect). Originally it seems to have been a derogatory term – ‘fussy, foppish’ – but by classical times it signified more approvingly ‘making refined choices’, and was also transferred to the things chosen – ‘choice, tasteful’. English probably acquired the word via French.
=> elect - elegant (adj.)
- late 15c., "tastefully ornate," from Middle French élégant (15c.), from Latin elegantem (nominative elegans) "choice, fine, tasteful," collateral form of present participle of eligere "select with care, choose." Meaning "characterized by refined grace" is from 1520s. Latin elegans originally was a term of reproach, "dainty, fastidious;" the notion of "tastefully refined" emerged in classical Latin. Related: Elegantly.
Elegant implies that anything of an artificial character to which it is applied is the result of training and cultivation through the study of models or ideals of grace; graceful implies less of consciousness, and suggests often a natural gift. A rustic, uneducated girl may be naturally graceful, but not elegant.
雙語例句
- 1. She produces elegant wedding gowns in a variety of sumptuous fabrics.
- 她用各種華貴的布料制作高雅的婚紗。
來自柯林斯例句
- 2. An elegant occasional table is framed in the window.
- 一張雅致的供重大活動使用的餐桌被擺放在櫥窗里。
來自柯林斯例句
- 3. She brought in a tray heavy with elegant sandwiches, scones and cakes.
- 她端進來一只盤子，里面盛滿了精美的三明治、烤餅和蛋糕。
來自柯林斯例句
- 4. Two elegant Scotsmen travelling together wore dashing kilts at dinner.
- 兩名結伴旅行的優雅蘇格蘭男子就餐時穿了瀟灑的蘇格蘭方格呢短裙。
來自柯林斯例句
- 5. He was a baroque figure dressed in theatrical, but elegant, clothes.
- 他是個巴羅克式的人物，衣著華麗但又不失優雅。
來自柯林斯例句