Aesthetical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. This term refers to concepts tied to the evaluation of beauty in art and nature, including sensory reactions and philosophical discussions on aesthetic values
2. It signifies an approach that prioritizes the senses in relation to the beauty of artistic compositions and experiences, capturing both emotional and intellectual engagement
3. This term describes a perspective that emphasizes the importance of sensory beauty in various forms of art and nature, integrating both emotional satisfaction and intellectual analysis

Etymology: "Aesthetical" is simply "aesthetic" with the adjectival suffix "-al" added on top, and the two forms sit side by side in English with almost identical meanings. The base word goes back to the ancient Greek "aisthēsis," meaning perception by the senses, which came from "aisthanesthai," to perceive or feel. In Greek, then, the root concerned sensation in general, not beauty; the sense of the beautiful only emerged when the word was revived in eighteenth-century Germany. The modern term was coined in Latin form as "aesthēticus" in New Latin, passed into German as "Ästhetik" and into French as "esthétique," and reached English in the nineteenth century as "aesthetic." English then added "-al," a suffix borrowed through Old French from Latin "-ālis," which turns a noun or adjective into a related adjective, to produce "aesthetical." Like many such pairs, the longer form has tended to sound more formal or dated, so the shorter word has largely won out in everyday use.

Synonyms: artistic, beautiful, esthetic, tasteful, attractive