Beau"ty (bū"t?), n.; pl.
Beauties (?). [OE. beaute, beute, OF.
beauté, biauté, Pr. beltat, F.
beauté, fr. an assumed LL. bellitas, from L.
bellus pretty. See Beau.]
1. An assemblage of graces or properties pleasing
to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the æsthetic faculty, or the
moral sense.
Beauty consists of a certain composition of color and
figure, causing delight in the beholder.
Locke.
The production of beauty by a multiplicity of
symmetrical parts uniting in a consistent whole.
Wordsworth.
The old definition of beauty, in the Roman school,
was, "multitude in unity;" and there is no doubt that such is the principle
of beauty.
Coleridge.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or
excellence; anything beautiful; as, the beauties of
nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful
woman.
All the admired beauties of Verona.
Shak.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion.
[Obs.]
She stained her hair yellow, which was then the
beauty.
Jer. Taylor.
Beauty spot, a patch or spot placed on the face
with intent to heighten beauty by contrast.