aesthete
UK: ˈiːsθiːt | US: ˈɛsθiːt
n. a person who has or affects a highly developed appreciation of beauty, especially in art or nature.
aesthete = aesthe<perception/feeling> + te<agent noun suffix>
- aesthe (from Greek aisthēt- "perceiving, sensitive")
- te (agentive suffix, indicating a person associated with the root)
Etymology Origin:
The word "aesthete" originates from the Greek aisthētēs (one who perceives), derived from aisthanesthai (to perceive or feel). It entered English in the late 19th century, popularized by the Aesthetic Movement, which emphasized art for art's sake. The term often carries connotations of refined sensitivity—sometimes to the point of pretension.
The gallery was filled with aesthetes admiring the abstract paintings.
As an aesthete, she could spend hours discussing the nuances of Renaissance sculpture.
Critics dismissed him as a mere aesthete, more concerned with style than substance.
The poet’s work appealed deeply to aesthetes who valued lyrical beauty.
His reputation as an aesthete grew after he curated the avant-garde exhibition.