artistic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɑːˈtɪs.tɪk/ (UK); /ɑɹˈtɪs.tɪk/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French artistique, from artiste (“artist”) (see artist),^[2] or formed from artist and -ic.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of, pertaining to or befitting an artist: 1753.^[4][2][5]

Semantic evolution

Of or pertaining to art, especially in the aesthetic sense, is from 1854,^[4] and showing excellence of design and execution follows.^[2] The native artist-like is recorded from 1711, artistly from 1754 and artistical from 1798.^[2]

Timeline

• 1711 – artist-like.^[2]
• 1753 – artistic.^[4][2]
• 1854 – of art.^[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Having or showing creative skill or talent in art.
2. Relating to art or artists.
3. Pleasing in appearance; aesthetically done.

Word family

• artistically
• interartistic
• nonartistic
• preartistic
• unartistic

Related words

• artist
• art
• artisan
• artful

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster