style

I. noun Etymology: Middle English stile, style, from Latin stilus spike, stem, stylus, style of writing; perhaps akin to Latin instigare to goad — more at stick Date: 14th century 1. designation, title 2. a. a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech) <

writes with more attention to style than to content

> <

the flowery style of 18th century prose

> b. a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself <

the formal style of the court

> <

his style is abrasive

>; also a particular mode of living <

in high style

> c. a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed <

a unique style of horseback riding

> <

the classical style of dance

> 3. a. stylus b. gnomon 1b c. the filiform usually elongated part of the pistil bearing a stigma at its apex — see flower illustration d. a slender elongated process (as a bristle) on an animal 4. a distinctive quality, form, or type of something <

a new dress style

> <

the Greek style of architecture

> 5. a. the state of being popular ; fashion <

clothes that are always in style

> b. fashionable elegance c. beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique <

an awkward moment she handled with style

> 6. a convention with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic arrangement and display followed in writing or printing Synonyms: see fashion • styleless adjective • stylelessness noun II. transitive verb (styled; styling) Date: circa 1580 1. to call or designate by an identifying term ; name 2. a. to give a particular style to b. to design, make, or arrange in accord with the prevailing mode • styler noun