aes=B7thet=B7ic or es=B7thet=B7ic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (s-thtk) adj. Relating to the philosophy or theories of aesthetics. Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste: the aesthetic faculties. Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty. Artistic: The play was an aesthetic success. Informal. Conforming to accepted notions of good taste. n=2E A guiding principle in matters of artistic beauty and taste; artistic sensibility: "a generous Age of Aquarius aesthetic that said that everything was art" (William Wilson). An underlying principle, a set of principles, or a view often manifested by outward appearances or style of behavior: "What troubled him was the squalor of the colonel's aesthetic" (Lewis H. Lapham). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- German =E4sthetisch, from New Latin aesthticus, from Greek aisthtikos, of sense perception, from aisthta, perceptible things, from aisthanesthai, to perceive. See au- in Indo-European Roots. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- aes=B7theti=B7cal=B7ly adv. Download Now or Buy the Book Source: The American Heritage=AE Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright =A9 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. aes=B7thet=B7ics or es=B7thet=B7ics ( P ) Pronunciation Key (s-thtks) n=2E (used with a sing. verb) The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as in the fine arts. In Kantian philosophy, the branch of metaphysics concerned with the laws of perception. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the psychological responses to beauty and artistic experiences. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A conception of what is artistically valid or beautiful: minimalist aesthetics. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An artistically beautiful or pleasing appearance: "They're looking for quality construction, not aesthetics" (Ron Schram). Download Now or Buy the Book Source: The American Heritage=AE Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright =A9 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. aes=B7thet=B7ics or es=B7thet=B7ics (s-thtks) n=2E The study of psychological aspects of beauty, especially with the components thereof as they relate to appearance. Source: The American Heritage=AE Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright =A9 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. aesthetics n : (art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art); "traditional aesthetics buttumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value" syn: esthetics Source: WordNet =AE 2.0, =A9 2003 Princeton University
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