style
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: stīl
ipa: /staɪl/
homophone: stile
homophone: Styal
rhymes: -aɪl
Forms: form: styles
form: stile
form: stylee
form: stile
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English stile, stel, stele, stiel, stiele, stil, still, stille, styele, style, styill, styll, styyl (“writing tool, stylus; piece of written work; characteristic mode of expression, particularly one regarded as high quality; demeanour, manner, way of life; person's designation or title; stem of a plant; period of time”) (compare semantic development to по́черк (póčerk, “handwriting, style”)), from Old French style, estile, stil, stile (modern French style), or from Medieval Latin stylus, both from Latin stilus (“pointed instrument, pale, spike, stake; writing tool, stylus; act of setting down in writing, composition; characteristic mode of expression, style; stem of a plant”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp; to pierce, prick, puncture, stab; to goad”). Doublet of stylus.
The English word is cognate with Catalan estil (“engraving tool, stylus; gnomon; manner of doing something, style; fashionable skill, grace”), German Stiel (“handle; stalk”), Italian stilo (“needle, stylus; fountain pen; beam; gnomon; part of pistil, style”), Occitan estil, Portuguese estilo (“writing tool, stylus; manner of doing something, style”), Spanish estilo (“writing tool, stylus; manner of doing something, style; fashionable skill, grace; part of pistil, style”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Senses: examples: text: Thus while his Thoughts the lingring Day beguile, / To gentle Arcite let us turn our Style; [...]
ref: 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, book II, page 26:
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
A sharp stick used for writing on clay tablets or other surfaces; a stylus; (by extension, obsolete) an instrument used to write with ink; a pen.
examples: text: From Job xix. 24. it appears to have been usual in his day, to write or engrave upon Plates of Lead, which might easily be done with a Pen, or Graver, or Style of Iron, or other hard metal.
ref: 1821, James Townley, chapter I, in Illustrations of Biblical Literature, Exhibiting the History and Fate of the Sacred Writings, from the Earliest Period to the Present Century; […], volume I, London: Printed [by B. Crompton] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], →OCLC, part I (From the Giving of the Law to the Birth of Christ), page 27:
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
A tool with a sharp point used in engraving; a burin, a graver, a stylet, a stylus.
examples: text: Laſt of all fit a Triangular Iron, whoſe angular point being laid to the Center of the Dyal Plane, one ſide muſt agree with the Subſtilar Line, and its other ſide with the Stilar Line; ſo is the Stile made. And this Stile you muſt erect perpendicularly over the Subſtilar Line on the Dyal Plane, and there fix it. Then is your Dyal finiſhed.
ref: 1697, Joseph Moxon, “Operat[ioni] II. To Describe a Dyal upon a Horizontal Plane.”, in Mechanick Dyalling: Teaching any Man, though of an Ordinary Capacity and Unlearned in Mathematicks, to Draw a True Sun-dial on any Given Plane, […], 3rd edition, London: Printed for James Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 17:
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
The gnomon or pin of a sundial, the shadow of which indicates the hour.
examples: text: The calyx of Theophraſta is a ſmall, permanent perianthium, divided into five obtuſe ſegments, making obtuſe angles alſo with one another: [...] the ſtyle is ſubulated, and ſhorter than the corolla: the ſtigma is acute.
ref: 1751, John Hill, A General Natural History: Or, New and Accurate Descriptions of the Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals of the Different Parts of the World; […], London: Printed for Thomas Osborne, […], →OCLC, page 268:
topics: biology
botany
natural-sciences
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
The stalk that connects the stigma(s) to the ovary in a pistil of a flower.
synonyms: stylet
topics: medicine
sciences
surgery
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
A kind of surgical instrument with a blunt point, used for exploration.
synonyms: stylet
topics: biology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
A small, thin, pointed body part.
synonyms: stylet
examples: text: the anal styles of insects
topics: biology
entomology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.
A small, thin, pointed body part.
A long, slender, bristle-like process near the anal region.
synonyms: stylet
examples: text: May I not vvrite in such a ſtile as this? / In ſuch a method too, and yet not miſs / Mine end, thy good? vvhy may it not be done?
ref: 1678, John Bunyan, “The Author’s Apology for His Book”, in The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC:
text: Read Lord Bolingbroke's [book] with great attention, as well as to the ſtyle as to the matter. I wiſh you could form yourſelf ſuch a ſtyle in every language. Style is the dreſs of thoughts, and a well-dreſſed thought, like a well-dreſſed man, appears to great advantage.
ref: 1752 January 21 (indicated as 1751 Old Style), Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, “Letter CCVIII”, in Letters Written by the Late Right Honourable Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to His Son, Philip Stanhope, Esq; […] In Four Volumes, 6th edition, volume III, London: Published by Mrs. Eugenia Stanhope, […]; printed for J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1775, →OCLC, page 113:
text: The public will naturally expect, that in chuſing a Patron for the Life of Cicero, I should addreſs myſelf to ſome perſon of illuſtrious rank, diſtinguished by his parts and eloquence, and bearing a principal share in the great affairs of the Nation; who, according to the uſual ſtyle of Dedications, might be the proper ſubject of a compariſon with the Hero of my piece.
ref: 1790, Conyers Middleton, “To the Right Honorable John Lord Hervey, Lord Keeper of His Majesty’s Privy Seal”, in The History of the Life of M. Tullius Cicero, new edition, volume I, Basel: Printed for J. J. Tourneisen [i.e., Johann Jakob Thurneysen]; and J. L. Legrand, →OCLC, page iii:
text: After all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but his style; facts, scientific discoveries, and every kind of information, may be seized by all; but an author's diction cannot be taken from him.
ref: 1806 February, Isaac D’Israeli, “Remarks on Style”, in The Literary Magazine, and American Register, volume V, number XXIX, Philadelphia, Pa.: Published by J[ohn] Conrad & Co. [et al.], →OCLC, page 105, column 1:
text: Methods for more "intelligent" spellchecking as well as for automatic checking of grammar and style are on the way, but they will require the support of electronic dictionaries.
ref: 1995, “Perspectives”, in Henning Bergenholtz, Sven Tarp, editors, Manual of Specialised Lexicography: The Preparation of Specialised Dictionaries (Benjamins Translation Library; 12), Amsterdam; Philadelphia, Pa.: John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 236:
glosses: A particular manner of expression in writing or speech, especially one regarded as good.
raw_tags: from sense 1.1
examples: text: Near-synonyms: term of address, form of address, title
text: Monarchs are often addressed with the style of Majesty.
text: The villagers styled him as my Liege, and this style, once established, was seldom forgone.
text: Every Printing-houſe is by the Cuſtom of Time out of mind, called a Chappel; and all the Workmen that belong to it are Members of the Chappel: and the Oldeſt Freeman is the Father of the Chappel. I ſuppoſe the ſtile was originally conferred upon it by the courteſie of ſome great Churchman, or men, (doubtleſs when Chappels were in more veneration than of late years they have been here in England) who for the Books of Divinity that proceeded from a Printing-houſe, gave it the Reverend Title of Chappel.
ref: 1683, Joseph Moxon, “§ 25. The Office of the Warehouse-keeper. [(As an Appendix.) Ancient Customs Used in a Printing-house.]”, in Mechanick Exercises: Or, The Doctrine of Handy-books. Applied to the Art of Printing, volume II, London: Printed for Joseph Moxon […], →OCLC, number XXII, page 356:
text: One ſtyle to a gracious benefactor, another to a proud, inſulting foe.
ref: 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam], on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, in the House of Lords, by the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Lauderdale, Early in the Present Sessions of Parliament, London: Printed for J. Owen, […], and F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 10:
text: During the whole of the reign of George I., the money was of the same species and value as that of Queen Anne, but to his style upon the reverse, were added his German titles, with Fidei Defensor [Defender of the Faith], which then, for the first time, appeared upon the coins, although it had been constantly used in the style of our monarchs from Henry VIII., on whom it was conferred by Pope Leo X., in the year 1521.
ref: 1821 May 26, “Annals of the Coinage of Britain and Its Dependencies, from the Earliest Period of Authentic History to the End of the Fiftieth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George III. By the Rev. Rogers Ruding, […] The Second Edition, Corrected, Enlarged, and Continued to the Close of the Year 1818. 5 vols. 8vo. With a 4to. vol. of Plates. London, 1819. [book review]”, in The Literary Chronicle and Weekly Review; […], volume III, number 106, London: Printed by Davidson, […], published by [John] Limbird, […], sold also by Souter [et al.], →OCLC, page 327:
glosses: A particular manner of expression in writing or speech, especially one regarded as good.
A legal or traditional term or formula of words used to address or refer to a person, especially a monarch or a person holding a post or having a title.
raw_tags: from sense 1.1
examples: text: [T]here are two distinct styles in history painting; the grand, and the splendid or ornamental. The great style stands alone, and does not require, perhaps does not so well admit, any addition from inferior beauties. The ornamental style also possesses its own peculiar merit. However, though the union of the two may make a sort of composite style, yet that style is likely to be more imperfect than either of those which goes to its composition.
ref: 1825, Joshua Reynolds, “Discourse IV. Delivered at the Royal Academy.”, in Discourses on Painting and the Fine Arts, Delivered at the Royal Academy, London: Printed for Jones and Co., […], →OCLC, page 23, column 1:
text: To our English tastes it is unnecessary to advocate the style of [Diego] Velazquez. [...] Sir Joshua [Reynolds], [George] Romney, and [Henry] Raeburn, whether from imitation or instinct, seem powerfully imbued with his style, and some of our own time, even to our landscape painters, seem to possess the same affinity.
ref: 1843, Allan Cunningham, chapter XI, in The Life of Sir David Wilkie; […] In Three Volumes, volume II, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 472:
text: This style was sometimes called Palladian from the fact of [Andrea] Palladio having fully developed and absorbed into his own system the styles of his great predecessors of the [Florentine] school, [...]
ref: 1863 April 4, “Italian Architecture and Its Various European Offshoots”, in George Godwin, editor, The Builder. An Illustrated Weekly Magazine for the Architect, Engineer, Archæologist, Constructor, & Art-lover, volume XXI, number 1052, London: Publishing office, York Street, Covent Garden, W.C. [printed by Cox and Wyman], →OCLC, page 239, column 1:
text: His style is slow-build rave-up soul; the music, not the lyrics, relates the message.
ref: 2004, Ethan Mordden, “Big Deals”, in The Happiest Corpse I’ve Ever Seen: The Last Twenty-Five Years of the Broadway Musical, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 108:
glosses: A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.
examples: text: As a dancer, he has a lot of style.
text: Backstabbing people is not my style.
text: Running would feel better than hiding and waiting. It was not her style to hole up in the shadows.
ref: 2015, Zachary Brown, The Darkside War (The Icarus Corps; book 1), London; New York, N.Y.: Saga Press, →ISBN, pages 197–198:
glosses: A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.
A particular manner of acting or behaving; (specifically) one regarded as fashionable or skilful; flair, grace.
glosses: A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.
A particular way in which one grooms, adorns, dresses, or carries oneself; (specifically) a way thought to be attractive or fashionable.
examples: text: applying styles to text in a wordprocessor  Cascading Style Sheets
text: In today's assignment, you need to: [...] Right justify your heading in 12 point Helvetica font and plain text style.
ref: 2001, Dee L. Fabry, Sally A. Seier, “Speaking, Technology, Analysis, and Reading through Research”, in Opening Doors to Reading: Building School-to-work Skills, Englewood, Colo.: Teacher Ideas Press, Libraries Unlimited, →ISBN, page 64:
text: The concept of creating styles has been around since long before the Web. Desktop publishing programs, such as Adobe InDesign, and even word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, have long used styles to manage the formatting and editing of text on printed pages.
ref: 2011, Janine Warner, “Cascading Style Sheets”, in Dreamweaver CS3 for Dummies, New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.
A visual or other modification to text or other elements of a document, such as boldface or italics.
examples: text: the house style of the journal
text: If you have to settle for an expert typist who has not completed recent dissertations for your school, buy two copies of the style manual, one for you and one for the typist.
ref: 1993, Evelyn Hunt Ogden, “Spending Money and Using the 20th Century to Your Advantage”, in Completing Your Doctoral Dissertation or Master’s Thesis in Two Semesters or Less, 2nd edition, Lanham, Md.; Toronto, Ont.: ScarecrowEducation, Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, published 2003, →ISBN, page 60:
text: There are many excellent style manuals, and every good writer should have one or more of these at hand, along with the appropriate formatting instructions for the particular standard beng followed. This book is a how-to survival manual for students, researchers, and family members who need to learn and use APA [American Psychological Association] style and who would like to use some of the tools provided by Microsoft Word.
ref: 2012, Larry A. Pace, “Preface and Acknowledgments”, in Using Microsoft Word to Write Research Papers in APA Style, Anderson, S.C.: TwoPaces.com, →ISBN, page 5:
topics: media
printing
publishing
glosses: A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.
A set of rules regarding the presentation of text (spelling, typography, the citation of references, etc.) and illustrations that is applied by a publisher to the works it produces.
Derived terms: word: acanthostyle
word: Allman style
word: all style and no substance
word: anterostyle
word: antistyle
word: auricular style
word: Barney-style
word: bite someone's style
word: bodystyle
word: cafeteria-style
word: CalArts style
word: California-style pizza
word: Carolina style
word: cascading style sheet
word: Chicago style
word: Chicago-style
word: Chicago-style hot dog
word: Chicago-style pizza
word: Chicago-style relish
word: chicken cutlet Kiev-style
word: chicken cutlet Kyiv-style
word: chicken Kiev-style
word: chicken Kyiv-style
word: chipstyle
word: code style
word: continuation-passing style
word: continuation passing style
word: counterstyle
word: cramp someone's style
word: C-style comment
word: C-style string
word: cutlet Kiev-style
word: cutlet Kyiv-style
word: cyberstyle
word: cyclostyle
word: deathstyle
word: demostyle
word: disco-style
word: doggie-style
word: doggie style
word: doggy style
word: doggy-style
word: downstyle
word: down style
word: down-style
word: enstyle
word: enterostyle
word: entostyle
word: Eurostyle
word: execution-style
word: explanatory style
word: family-style
word: fingerstyle
word: flop style
word: folkstyle
word: foodstyle
word: free indirect style
word: freestyle
word: free-style
word: granny style
word: hairstyle
word: hamster style
word: handstyle
word: hardstyle
word: headline style
word: heptastyle
word: Hollywood-style flat
word: homestyle
word: house style
word: Indian style
word: in style
word: instyle
word: international style
word: jumpstyle
word: Kiev-style chicken
word: Kiev-style chicken cutlet
word: Kiev-style cutlet
word: Korean-style short ribs
word: kosher-style
word: k-style
word: Kyiv-style chicken
word: Kyiv-style chicken cutlet
word: Kyiv-style cutlet
word: Lexington-style barbecue
word: lifestyle
word: life style
word: like it's going out of style
word: lobate style
word: manual of style
word: mesostyle
word: metastyle
word: mindstyle
word: misstyle
word: mother-in-law style
word: multistyle
alt: N.S.
word: New Style
word: New York-style pizza
word: nonstyle
word: old-style
alt: O.S.
word: Old Style
word: one true brace style
word: parastyle
word: parenting style
word: playstyle
word: pretzel style
word: programming style
word: protostyle
word: pseudostyle
word: ranch-style
word: rawstyle
word: restyle
word: Singapore-style noodles
word: slopestyle
word: steez
word: steezy
word: streetstyle
word: stylable
word: stylebook
word: style brisé
word: styledom
word: style guide
word: styleless
word: stylelike
word: style manual
word: style of cause
word: style sheet
word: stylesheet
word: style sheet language
word: style-table
word: style up
word: stylewise
word: styleworthy
word: styliferous
word: stylise
word: stylish
word: stylishly
word: stylishness
word: stylism
word: stylista
word: stylistic
word: stylize
word: stylo
word: stylometry
word: stylous
word: substyle
word: tailor-style
word: tavern-style
word: t-style
word: tylostyle
word: typestyle
word: unstylish
word: unstylishly
word: unstylishness
word: Western-style toilet
word: white crane style
word: wildstyle
word: workstyle
Related terms: stylus
substance