Sveltely
/ˈsvɛlt.li/noun
In a slender, graceful, or stylish manner.
Did you know?Svelte ultimately traces to Latin roots associated with pulling or plucking out, linking modern elegance to an ancient image of being drawn into a slender shape.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*welh₁-
“To pluck, tear, or pull away.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vellere
“To pluck, pull, or tear.”
Classical Latin
Latin
evellere
“To pull out or extract; the source of Italian svellere.”
Medieval Italian
Italian
svelto
“Pulled out, extended, and consequently slender or slim.”
19th Century
French
svelte
“Slender and graceful; borrowed from Italian.”
19th-20th Century
English
svelte
“Elegant, slender, and stylish.”
Modern English
English
sveltely
“In a svelte or gracefully slender manner.”
Explore more surprising origins