Main Entry:

svelte

Pronunciation:

\ˈsvelt, ˈsfelt\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

svelt·er; svelt·est

Etymology:

French, from Italian svelto, from past participle of svellere to pluck out, modification of Latin evellere, from e- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable

Date:

circa 1817

1 a: slender, lithe b: having clean lines : sleek2: urbane, suave

— svelte·ly adverb

— svelte·ness noun