English
elegant
Elegant comes from Latin ēlegāns, from legō ‘choose, select, appoint’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- ‘to gather’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElegō‘choose, select, appoint’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēlegāns
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600elegant
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500elegaunt
- Englishearliest quotation 1863elegant
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leǵ-‘to gather’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*léǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*legōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElegō‘choose, select, appoint’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēlegāns
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600elegant
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500elegaunt
- Englishearliest quotation 1863elegant
Earliest quotation: 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu: “'An' how are ye, Jemmie—how's every inch iv you?'…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- ‘to gather’
technology, logic, collect, apology, catalogue, trilogy, sociology, terminology, physiology, pathology, logos, analogy, astrology, monologue, prologue, pathologist, epilogue, archaeologist, logistic, eulogy, leach, cosmology, etymology, lexicon, epistemology, lexical, gynecologist, homologous, entomology, etiology, dialectical, dialectic, lignite, lignin, apologia, bacteriology, alexia, lexis, syllogism, bacteriologist, 151 more
through Proto-Italic *legō
intelligence, selection, intelligent, intellectual, ineligible, elector, legionnaire, legionella, legionary, 17 more
through Latin legō ‘choose, select, appoint’
college, collection, election, lesson, elite, collective, select, legend, lecture, eligible, colleague, collector, coil, legacy, elect, negligence, legion, delegation, collegiate, negligible, diligent, negligent, delegate, cull, legible, lectern, legation, ineligibility, collegium, lector, legate, 25 more
Today it means
adj Characterised by or exhibiting elegance; having grace, refinement, or tasteful simplicity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- / elegant