aesthetic

• æsthetic, esthetic

From German Ästhetik or French esthétique, both from Ancient Greek αἰσθητικός (aisthētikós, “of sense perception”), from αἰσθάνομαι (aisthánomai, “I feel”).

• (Conservative RP) IPA^(key): /es.ˈθe.tɪk/, /iːs.ˈθe.tɪk/
• (Contemporary RP) IPA^(key): /ɛs.ˈθɛ.tɪk/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪs.ˈθe.tɪk/, /iːs.ˈθe.tɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɛs.ˈθɛ.tɪk/

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• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

aesthetic (comparative more aesthetic, superlative most aesthetic)

1. Concerned with beauty, artistic impact, or appearance.
2. (nonstandard) Beautiful or appealing to one's sense of beauty and/or art.

   It works well enough, but the shabby exterior offends his aesthetic sensibilities.

   • 1881, W. S. Gilbert, Patience, Act I:

     If you're anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic line as a man of culture rare,
     You must get up all the germs of the transcendental terms, and plant them everywhere.

   Synonyms: aesthetical, esthetic, tasteful

   Antonyms: inaesthetic, unaesthetic

aesthetic (plural aesthetics)

1. The study of art or beauty.
2. That which appeals to the senses.
3. (Internet slang) The artistic motifs defining a collection of things, especially works of art; more broadly, their vibe

   Her most recent works have this quirky, half-serious 90's teen culture-inspired aesthetic.

• "aesthetic" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 31.

• cheatiest