Inelegance is a twelve-letter word that refers to the lack of grace or polish in one's appearance, behavior, or mannerisms. It is spelled as /ɪˈnɛləɡəns/, with the initial sound /ɪ/ indicating the short 'i' vowel sound. This is followed by the unstressed syllable represented by /ˈnɛl/ and ending with the accent on the second-to-last syllable, /-əɡəns/. The final 'e' in the spelling is silent, making the word contain four syllables in total.
Inelegance is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being lacking in grace, refinement, or sophistication. It encompasses the absence of elegance, elegance being characterized by tastefulness, stylishness, and beauty. Therefore, inelegance represents the opposite: the presence of clumsiness, crudeness, or an unrefined and unaesthetic manner.
Inelegance can manifest itself in various aspects of life, such as in physical appearances, behaviors, manners, or artistic creations. It denotes a lack of ability to present oneself or one's ideas in an aesthetically pleasing or graceful manner. In relation to fashion or personal style, it may refer to the inability to combine clothes harmoniously or to exhibit good taste in the choice of accessories.
Furthermore, inelegance can relate to social behaviors and etiquette. It may refer to the absence of poise, tact, or the ability to navigate social situations with grace and charm. Awkwardness, clumsiness, or the absence of finesse are all attributes associated with inelegance in these contexts.
Inelegance can also apply to artistic or creative endeavors. It signifies a lack of aesthetic judgment, refinement, or attention to detail in the execution of a piece of art, literature, or any form of creative expression.
Overall, "inelegance" encapsulates the essence of lacking grace, refinement, or sophistication in various domains of life, ranging from physical appearances to behaviors and artistic creations.
Want of beauty or polish, as in language or manners.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "inelegance" originated from the combination of the prefix "in-" meaning "not" or "without", and the noun "elegance". The term "elegance" is derived from the Latin word "elegantia", which signifies refinement, gracefulness, or tastefulness. The suffix "-ance" is added to the adjective "elegant" to form the noun "elegance", which refers to the quality of being elegant. Therefore, "inelegance" refers to the state or quality of lacking elegance or elegance itself.