Part 3663

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; <as>as, <ex>eleemosynary</ex> assistance</as>.</def> "<i>Eleemosynary</i> cures."

<i>Boyle.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Supported by charity; <as>as, <ex>eleemosynary</ex> poor</as>.</def>

<h1>Eleemosynary</h1> <Xpage=478>

<hw>El`ee*mos"y*na*ry</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Eleemosynaries</plw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>.</plu> <def>One who subsists on charity; a dependent.</def>

<i>South.</i>

<h1>Elegance, Elegancy</h1> <Xpage=478>

<hw><hw>El"e*gance</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>El"e*gan*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>elegantia</ets>, fr. <ets>elegans</ets>, <ets>-antis</ets>, elegant: cf. F. <ets>\'82l\'82gance</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>That grace that <b>elegance</b> affords. <i>Drayton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The endearing <b>elegance</b> of female friendship. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A trait of native <b>elegance</b>, 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. <i>Hawthorne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is elegant; that which is tasteful and highly attractive.</def>

<blockquote>The beautiful wildness of nature, without the nicer <b>elegancies</b> of art. <i>Spectator.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Elegance</er>, <er>Grace</er>. <i>Elegance</i> implies something of a select style of beauty, which is usually produced by art, skill, or training; <as>as, <ex>elegance</ex> of manners, composition, handwriting, etc.; <ex>elegant</ex> furniture; an <ex>elegant</ex> house, etc.</as> <i>Grace</i>, 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 <i>graceful</i>, but can hardly be called <i>elegant</i>.</syn>

<h1>Elegant</h1> <Xpage=478>

<hw>El"e*gant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>elegans</ets>, <ets>-antis</ets>; akin to <ets>eligere</ets> to pick out, choose, select: cf. F. <ets>\'82l\'82gant</ets>. See <er>Elect</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Very choice, and hence, pleasing to good taste; characterized by grace, propriety, and refinement, and the absence of every thing offensive; exciting admiration and approbation by symmetry, completeness, freedom from blemish, and the like; graceful; tasteful and highly attractive; <as>as, <ex>elegant</ex> manners; <ex>elegant</ex> style of composition; an <ex>elegant</ex> speaker; an <ex>elegant</ex> structure.</as></def>

<blockquote>A more diligent cultivation of <b>elegant</b> literature. <i>Prescott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Exercising a nice choice; discriminating beauty or sensitive to beauty; <as>as, <ex>elegant</ex> taste</as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Tasteful; polished; graceful; refined; comely; handsome; richly ornamental.</syn>

<h1>Elegantly</h1> <Xpage=478>

<hw>El"e*gant*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a manner to please nice taste; with elegance; with due symmetry; richly.</def>

<h1>Elegiac</h1> <Xpage=478>

<hw>E*le"gi*ac</hw> <tt>(?; 277)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>elegiacus</ets>, Gr. <?/: cf. F. <ets>\'82l\'82giaque</ets>. See <er>Elegy</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Belonging to elegy, or written in elegiacs; plaintive; expressing sorrow or lamentation; <as>as, an <ex>elegiac</ex> lay; <ex>elegiac</ex> strains.</as></def>

<blockquote><b>Elegiac</b> griefs, and songs of love. <i>Mrs. Browning.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Used in elegies; <as>as, <ex>elegiac</ex> verse; the <ex>elegiac</ex> distich or couplet, consisting of a dactylic hexameter and pentameter.</as></def>