23 September 2006
The Hierarchies of Beauty
I have taken the liberty of looking up each of these definitions on Dictionary.com. They all have very similar by-the-book definitions and yet we are so prudent in our seemingly precise use of each word. Why? (And am I missing any?)
Cute : attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty
Beautiful : having beauty; having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind
Hot : sexy; attractive
Handsome : having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance suggestive of health and strength; good-looking (did you know that according to the examples in the dictionary, a woman can be handsome too??)
Pretty : pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness
Cute : attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty
Beautiful : having beauty; having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind
Hot : sexy; attractive
Handsome : having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance suggestive of health and strength; good-looking (did you know that according to the examples in the dictionary, a woman can be handsome too??)
Pretty : pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness
