svelte

[ svelt, sfelt ]

adjective

, svelt·er, svelt·est.

1. slender, especially gracefully slender in figure; lithe.
2. suave; blandly urbane.

svelte

/ sfɛlt; svɛlt /

adjective

1. attractively or gracefully slim; slender
2. urbane or sophisticated

Word History and Origins

Origin of svelte¹

1810–20; < French < Italian svelto < Vulgar Latin *exvellitus pulled out (replacing Latin ēvulsus, past participle of ēvellere ), equivalent to Latin ex- ex- ¹ + velli-, variant stem of vellere to pull, pluck + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of svelte¹

C19: from French, from Italian svelto, from svellere to pull out, from Latin ēvellere, from ex- ¹+ vellere to pull

Example Sentences

It’s a svelte, melodic style of dance music pitched between European deep house, jazzy R&B and local styles like kwaito and gqom.

From Los Angeles Times

“That’s very cool,” Winter said, adding that the bird seemed graceful as a ballerina, “the most aloof, elegant, svelte creature ever.”

From Los Angeles Times

Why do some dog breeds struggle to stay svelte?

From Science Magazine

The downsides: It’s hard to fit ice cubes in the opening, and the svelte bottles are less visible carried inside a backpack.

From Los Angeles Times

Experts have unearthed numerous fossils of the svelte tyrannosaur, including some relatively complete skeletons, with the adults reaching more than 26 feet in length and weighing more than two tons in life.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• graceful
• lithe
• slender