e-l-e-g-a-n-c-e
ELEGANCE Refined grace and dignified propriety; tasteful richness without ostentation; scientific or mathematical simplicity and effectiveness. Worth 11 base points in word games.
11
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Elegance transcends mere beauty to achieve perfection through restraint. It's the art of maximum impact with minimum effort—Audrey Hepburn's little black dress, Einstein's E=mc², a Bach fugue's mathematical precision. True elegance strips away excess to reveal essential form. Whether in fashion, architecture, mathematics, or movement, elegance emerges when nothing can be added or removed without diminishing the whole. It's sophistication that whispers rather than shouts.
Throughout history, elegance marked cultural pinnacles. Ancient Greek columns balanced strength with grace; Japanese tea ceremonies elevated simplicity to art; Renaissance proportions sought divine harmony. Chanel liberated women through elegant simplicity; Bauhaus made functionalism beautiful; Apple products proved technology could be elegant. Each era redefines elegance, yet core principles endure: proportion, balance, restraint, quality. Elegance resists trends by embodying timelessness, achieving relevance through rejection of the superfluous.
In mathematics and science, elegance describes solutions of breathtaking simplicity. Euler's identity (e^(iπ) + 1 = 0) unites five fundamental constants elegantly. Darwin's natural selection explains life's diversity through elegant logic. The double helix structure of DNA exemplifies nature's elegant engineering. Physicists seek "elegant universes" where complex phenomena emerge from simple laws. This intellectual elegance—Occam's Razor in practice—suggests truth often wears elegant clothes.
For Scrabble strategists, ELEGANCE exemplifies balanced scoring potential. The word offers solid 8-letter value with reasonable drawing probability. Common letters like E (appearing thrice) increase formation likelihood, while the G provides modest point boost. Building from GALA, LANCE, or LEG maximizes board efficiency. The word's positive associations make it memorable during challenges. Players appreciate how ELEGANCE, like its meaning, achieves effectiveness without ostentation—reliable scoring through refined simplicity.
ELEGANCE stems from Latin "elegantia," from "elegans" meaning "choice, fine, tasteful." The root "eligere" means "to select, choose out"—connecting elegance with discernment and careful selection. Entering English via French in the 15th century, it initially meant "tastefulness" in rhetoric and writing. The meaning expanded to include refinement in appearance, manner, and design. This etymology reveals elegance's essence: the result of thoughtful choices, selecting only what enhances while rejecting excess. The word itself embodies its meaning through euphonious sound.
•Coco Chanel's rule of elegance: "Before leaving the house, remove one accessory"
•Mathematical elegance: Euler's formula contains exactly 5 fundamental constants in perfect balance
•Swan's elegant neck contains more vertebrae than a giraffe's—23 bones enabling fluid grace
"True elegance is refusal," Diana Vreeland declared, defining style through what you leave out."
"The bridge's elegant arc required no ornamentation—its form was its beauty."
Other 8-letter words embodying sophistication and style:
Total base points: 11 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 4 (E, E, A, E) | Consonants: 4 (L, G, N, C)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like ELEGANCE