svelte
Use Svelte in a sentence
adjective, svelt·er, svelt·est.
1.
slender, especially gracefully slender in figure; lithe.
2.
suave; blandly urbane.
Origin:
1810–20; < French < Italian svelto < Vulgar Latin *exvellitus pulled out (replacing Latin ēvulsus, past participle of ēvellere), equivalent to Latin ex- ex- + velli-, variant stem of vellere to pull, pluck + -tus past participle suffix
1810–20; < French < Italian svelto < Vulgar Latin *exvellitus pulled out (replacing Latin ēvulsus, past participle of ēvellere), equivalent to Latin ex- ex- + velli-, variant stem of vellere to pull, pluck + -tus past participle suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To svelte
Collins
World English Dictionary
svelte (svɛlt, sfɛlt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | attractively or gracefully slim; slender |
| 2. | urbane or sophisticated |
| [C19: from French, from Italian svelto, from svellere to pull out, from Latin ēvellere, from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Svelte
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
svelte
"slender, lithe," c.1817, from Fr. svelte "slim, slender," from It. svelto "slim, slender," originally "pulled out, lengthened," from pp. of svellere "to pluck or root out," from V.L. *exvellere, from L. ex- "out" + vellere "to pluck, stretch."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The svelte device has a built-in motion detector that senses my approach, lighting my way.
And it's not quite skinny or svelte enough to qualify as a thin and light.
However, this svelte design doesn't come without a price.
The shapes are generally close to the body, lengths skim the knees and the effect is svelte and sophisticated.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
