style

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a slender bristlelike or tubular process

   a cartilaginous style

2. 2
   noun

   a particular kind (as to appearance)

   this style of shoe is in demand

3. 3
   noun

   a way of expressing something in language, art, music etc. that is characteristic of a particular person, group of people, or period

   All the reporters were expected to adopt the style of the newspaper.

4. 4
   verb

   make consistent with certain rules of style

   style a manuscript

5. 5
   verb

   designate by an identifying term

   They styled their nation `The Confederate States'

6. 6
   noun

   Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.

   Thus while his Thoughts the lingring Day beguile, / To gentle Arcite let us turn our Style; [...]

7. 7
   noun

   A particular manner of expression in writing or speech, especially one regarded as good.

   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?

8. 8
   noun

   A particular manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art.

   [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.

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 to…